What kind of plug do you keep in your rear end?

[Rburns1776]

I have a DRT hitch skid that I leave in there. I like the DRT because it protects the safety chain eyes from getting bent. When I wash the truck I remove it, clear all the debris out, brush it and touch up the paint with some rattle can to prevent rust. The DRT hitch skid has a mount for a shackle and I use it for gentle recoveries, it's not meant for snatch / kinetic rope recoveries. I keep a Factor 55 hitch link in the truck that I use for snatching / kinetic rope recovery. I just saw the post about tearing off the receiver itself, but there's no way you're going to tear the receiver off the frame before you'd break one of the factory tow hooks. That doesn't make any sense at all to me. It's a great recovery point when you utilize it with the appropriate equipment. Just my 2 cents, I did not stay at a holiday inn Express last night for full context.

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[cafecito]

I thought it was like an unwritten rule that you had to hang truck nuts from your hitch if you were in a red state... ?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If you mean this one - picked it up at Mills Fleet Farm -

I always thought those rubber plugs only kept mud/sand/wet inside the hitch. Since they mount from the back, they act to trap anything that gets in there while you’re driving forward.

What gets in there generally stays in there. I've never seen any difference and every vehicle I've had for the last 30 years has had a receiver - some I have run with plugs like this, some I have not, and some I've done with and without - no difference.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I've had one of the Jeep rubber plugs in there since I bought it in 2019. I replaced it with one of these steps a couple months ago. I looked at quite a few of them, and eventually settled on the one that I was least likely to injure myself with.

KAYCENTOP Universal Hitch Step Anti Slip and Rust Towing Bumper Guard Black Hitch Steps for Most Cars SUV Trucks Pickups with Pin Fits 2 Inch Receivers https://a.co/d/ftfly3H

 

[4-Play]

 

[Jaxmax]

I actually run a Warfab hitch skid, with a locking pin, and a piece of heavy rubber wedged between the skid and the hitch, tight no rattle at all. Also use a rubber hitch plug that fits inside the receiver, with a twist I have the skid in regular and the rubber plug in from the front, just fits between spare tire to fit in, no sand or dirt inside receiver then. Before there would be sand all packed in receiver…..Jack

 

[Idlethunder]

I leave the ball mount in mine with a locking pin.

 

[mtudb24]

I run the BA skid plate with dampener so it doesn't rattle

 

[Gatorized]

My son purchased a 10 year old, one owner Tundra that the original owner had left the ball mount in the receiver since day one… it was rusted in solid. And still is. This was a well maintained, garaged truck in Massachusetts. How do you keep the same happening to any truck in the salt belt If you leave something in all the time?

 

[Dougstdig]

Don't use it as a recovery point. Seen too many videos of that being used and the hitch failing.

A tailgate step or skid plate are good choices though.

But remember that if your concern is "vibration wearing the paint causing rust" then you really don't want anything in there except softer plastic or rubber. Everything's going to vibrate in the receiver, you just need to make sure that whatever you put in there is significantly softer than the metal so it wears instead.

A simple wrap or two of electrical tape solves the clunking / vibration. Works like a charm.

 

[Geoarch]

Currently a standard rubberized plastic Jeep Plug (amazon).

Same here.

 

[Elff]

A guy goes to his Dr for some medical issues
The Dr. prescribes some suppository medication to help with the situation
2 weeks later the patient comes back for a follow up visit and is complaining about the same issue
The Dr. Asks "Did you properly take the medication I prescribed?"
the irate patient replies,

"Of course I did, Do I look like an idiot? it's not like I put them up my butt."

 

[BAT]

Get your mind out of the gutter...


So after leaving my receiver hitch in for quite awhile, I've decided that I probably shouldn't do that due to vibration wearing off the paint and whatnot, leading to rusting. So it got me thinking, if I take it out, what should I replace it with? Plastic plug? Nothing? Recovery point? A shield in case I get rear ended?

What are you guys running?

Been running a plastic plug in it for sometime but once my Diode Dynamics Reverse light plug comes in that will take its place

 

[Mav4x4Chris]

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-31007-T...mzn1.fos.fa474cd8-6dfc-4bad-a280-890f5a4e2f90

I had this Curt Hitch Skid Plate in the back of my JK for several years. Now it just stays installed on my JT unless I'm trailering.

 

[Commodus]

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-31007-Trailer-2-Inch-Receiver/dp/B0009YFNXQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=curt+hitch+skid+plate&qid=1669133474&sprefix=curt+hitch+skid,aps,101&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.fa474cd8-6dfc-4bad-a280-890f5a4e2f90

I had this Curt Hitch Skid Plate in the back of my JK for several years. Now it just stays installed on my JT unless I'm trailering.

My butt plug / BA skid

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