Hitch Aid / Bumper Guard Behind Hitch Ball?

[Parker Buckley]

Hi all. Some time back, I came across a posting showing a curved metal piece that attached under the hitch ball to prevent backing the expensive, plastic covered, TV bumper into the trailer hitch. I've tried various search topics and can't find it. Anyone remember it?

Any negatives to using this device? Sure seems like it would be worth the investment if it saved only one bumper contact.

Thanks,
Parker

[Donna D.]

It was designed to be a hitching aid, not a bumper guard... although I can see how that would work too. My Scamp has a foot pad on the tongue jack, not a wheel.... I wouldn't want the jack sliding to meet the ball, I think that might bend the jack.

I'll change the topic title, so it will work for the next person using Search.

[Parker Buckley]

It was designed to be a hitching aid, not a bumper guard... although I can see how that would work too. My Scamp has a foot pad on the tongue jack, not a wheel.... I wouldn't want the jack sliding to meet the ball, I think that might bend the jack.

Donna,

Our Scamp 13 has a foot pad also, which sort motivates me to back as closely as possible to get the ball under the hitch. This thing looked like it would pay for itself if there's only one little lunge in backing up. However, I hadn't thought about the fact that using it to guide the hitch over the ball could cause the tongue to be shoved sideways, which certainly could stress the jack.

Parker

Parker

[ddayton]

I also have a 'foot pad' on my jack instead of a wheel. Here is something you can make in about 20 min (plus drying time), costs a couple of bucks, wont dent your bumper or bend your jack. Makes solo hook ups effortless. It is great when you have to back up at an angle to your trailer.

http://tinyurl.com/3bkx2a

Don

[Parker Buckley]

I also have a 'foot pad' on my jack instead of a wheel. Here is something you can make in about 20 min (plus drying time), costs a couple of bucks, wont dent your bumper or bend your jack. Makes solo hook ups effortless. It is great when you have to back up at an angle to your trailer.

http://tinyurl.com/3bkx2a

Don

Don,

I've been thinking of just such a setup. I saw something similar, maybe even a commercial product in a camp last year. At the time, we were still using our teardrop and could just about pick up the tongue and walk it up to the car! The Scamp is a little heavier and certainly has more tongue weight, so I'll probably put something together as you suggest.

Thanks,
Parker

[Donna D.]

Depending if you want to spend the time making them or the money to buy some, there are some similar ones available commercially:
<a href="http://garage-toys.com/alquichitgui.html" target="_blank">Align Quick Hitching Guides
</a>

I saw a set that someone had made out of vehicle radio antenna's, the kind that telescope. Makes for packing pretty simple! Throw them in the trunk of the tug for use when camping... takes up little space. The ones referenced in the link I posted also telescope.

[Tom Trostel]

I use a set that telescopes and has yellow foam balls at the ends. Got mine at Northern Tool, then found the same set at Harbor Freight for half the price. I use them always and find them very helpful.

Tom Trostel

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=95684

[Byron Kinnaman]

Mirrors haven't been mentioned yet. I use a mirror I got from here. These have been great.

[Parker Buckley]

My original concern when I started this thread was protection of my bumper if I get a little careless when backing up to the hitch. I just came across this bumper guard at etrailer.com e-Trailer - Bumper Guard which looks like it will do the job. Unlike the one we discussed earlier, this one is more about protecting the bumper than steering the hitch onto the ball, and I don't think this would exert a sideload on the jack. It's also a bit cheaper! Anyway, thought this may be of interest.

Parker

[ddayton]

If you make your own, like I did, or buy the ones such as Donna and Tom provided links for, try one thing different from the illustrations. Put the one on the tow vehicle on top of the ball - then as you back up, the hitch on the trailer will push the one on the ball and you can see when to stop. This is much easier than using depth perception to determine when to stop.

I also have a set of those that Tom has and as he said - they make it easy. The high visibility balls make a difference.

Don

[Frederick L. Simson]

My original concern when I started this thread was protection of my bumper if I get [b]a little careless when backing up to the hitch.
http://www.etrailer.com/c-bg.htm

If you were to look at [b]My bumper, you could see that that little guard wouldn't cut it for me.

[Joy A]

Parker,

I have a Couple-Mate purchased from J. C. Whitney. I use it with my 13 footer which has no wheel but a pad on the jack.

You back up gently, relatively in alignment with the trailer, when the trailer touchs you just backup a slight bit more.

My problem has never been side to side alignment but distance to the trailer. So this tool works great for me. I don't have to get in and out of the Jeep to see where the ball is, it's always under the tongue when I feel the tongue touch the guide.

I had the piece that goes under the ball welded on. That's because it tended to turn when the trailer hit it as the trailer slid into place. The guide "backstop" is removeable and much wider than the little one you posted. And yes, it does act as a bumper guard just don't have the trailer jacked too high. Too high is in the neighborhood of 2" above the ball.

[david duboe]

I use a set that telescopes and has yellow foam balls at the ends. Got mine at Northern Tool, then found the same set at Harbor Freight for half the price. I use them always and find them very helpful.

Tom Trostel

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=95684

Hi Tom, Thanks for posting. I finishied ordering these for us. Will save my life.

David