OY: rear ended the other day, pick-em-up trucks are the greatest! Options

[Sammy]

I got tagged in the rear a couple days ago on the 5 fwy (as if I didn't have enough things to worry about).
Traffic was very heavy, I was going around 10 mph when WAM!
We pulled over to the side and I first say the toyota small car that hit me, darn near totalled. Big hole in the bumper where my hitch went through, bumper smashed in, hood and fenders buckled, windshield cracked etc.

I took a long look at the back of my Toyota tundra pick-em-up, nope, nothing. Not a scratch, dent, ding anywhere. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
Evidently the trailer hitch and reciever took the whole hit and transfered all the energy to my frame.
I'm gonna get it on a rack to check for frame straightness and alignment, but that's it. I doubt they'll find anything wrong.

Iffn I was in a modern small car It'd be smashed.
Crumple zones my butt, give me a daily driver with a big strong frame behind me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[Sammy]

If I had removed my hitch from the reciever, my bumper would have been damaged, possibly damaging my tailgate and or fenders. I don't want that to happen.
As it was, my truck was not damaged severely. That is good. I didn't do anything wrong and I should have to get my property damaged.

If an old lady hits my truck when i am doing nothing except obeying the law and driving along trying to get home, should I really care about the condition of her car? I think not.
I could not care less if her car is completely smashed, as long as no one is hurt.
This particular person seemed to hit the gas instead of the brake. Even after the impact I felt my truck lurch a couple of times as she kept pushing on the gas. After the accident she asked, "what happen?" I think that's what she said, her accent was very strong and I don't speak Korean.
As I informed her that she ran into my truck I was thinking to myself, she should not be operating a motor vehicle.
This time it was my truck, next time it may be a bunch of kids at a school crossing. If someone gets confused between the gas and brake, I get nervous.

No, I leave my hitch in my receiver on purpose for two reasons:
One, to protect my vehicle and it's occupants from people who are not capable of operating a car without playing bumper pool,

and two because I never know when i might have to tow something at work and I don't want the reciever inside my truck rolling around and if I put it in the back it might get stolen.
I have an extrended cab and there is no "behind the seat", it's all passenger area.

Be warned world, if you rear end my truck you will get the hitch, ball and all.
I would mount large metal spikes around my truck if I could be sure they wouldn't hurt someone.
Yes, I am doing it on purpose to protect me, my family, and my property.
Who is really inconciderate here, me by leaving my hitch in the reciever, or the idiots who can't keep from running into other cars?
They are the inconciderate ones, not me.
I am conciderate in that I stop when someone is in my path. I do not run red lights. I avoid collisions. That is my idea of being conciderate. Strange concept, maybe it'll catch on.

Can you tell I don't like getting hit?
In the past 28 years i have been involved in one accident that was my fault (my first 914, I was 20 years old) and 7 that were not my fault. I do not loose any sleep over those 7, except for the one in 1980 that lied and said it wasn't his fault when he ran a stop sign and hit me, I think about him a lot.
Christian Grant of Anaheim, if you're out there, your day is coming (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spank.gif)
But I'm not bitter (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)