Rear Ended with Trailer Hitch - What to look for/ask at the shop?

Wife was rear ended at slow speed (~5-7mph) at a stop light in the Taco. Slight cosmetic damage to the plastic step by the receiver. I don't see any visual damage beside that, but we will be cut a check and will be taking it to the shop to check it out further for hidden damage. We've never been rear ended with a hitch before (estimate is on its way so I can't say what they are wanting to replace on said estimate), so all I really know is have them replace the hitch, check the frame mount points and frame straightness. Is there anything I'm missing or should look out for and/or ask the shop? TIA.

 

That's basically it, check the frame and if all is good there then its just cosmetic. But just like any other thread here that has included some sort of accident...

 

Should we replace the hitch for sure to be safe? We don't tow heavy or even tow 99.9% of the time, but I don't want any safety issues, even if it's all just "cosmetic" damage.

Here's the culprit:

 

Can you zoom out a bit? What am I looking at?

 

Have the body shop check it. With a accident that slow I can't imagine the hitch being effected. Worst case is a bolt is sheared and the hole is rounded out. Should only take a few minutes for the shop to check it. Just let them know your concerned.

 

Front bumper and license plate of the person who rear ended the truck. You can see the receiver indention in the plate. There's no point to zoom out pic, as this is the extent of the damage to their car. Slight bumper cracking and paint spidering, indent on the plate; that's it.

 

basically what @nDub said.

 

Imprint of Calvin's receiver hitch on the offending vehicle's bumper?

 

Yeah, this is a good question. Many years ago I had a similar accident with one of the early Hiluxes when I first started owning Toyota 4X4s. It turned out the hitch had a hairline crack in one of the welds that was very difficult to see, and what looked like almost no damage ended up needing a new hitch.

 

Just got the estimate emailed to me. Looks like they are paying for the hitch to be replaced as well as the plastic step pad.

Thanks guys!

 

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I've been rear ended in stop and go traffic, but the guy hit my hitch. Wasn't a scratch on my truck but left his front plate all bent up. We didn't even bother swapping info.

 

Best to play it safe when towing something behind a vehicle. The liabilities involved could be huge

 

They should really inspect more than just the hitch. The forces involved could have easily transferred from the hitch to the frame, and caused the same type of hairline crack that @oldtoyotaguy mentioned on the frame itself. Not likely, but freak accidents like that do happen.

 

He said the hairline crack was in the hitch welds.

 

I would want the hitch and all hitch bolts replaced. Would make me feel better when towing instead of hoping there are no hidden cracks in the hitch or bolts. A break away would be a disaster while towing.

 

I wasn't as lucky last Friday, good luck with your issue

 

Don't forget to do it the typical way these threads go, sue for loss of value of vehicle lol.

Like others have said, just get the frame checked.

 

Or,
now that your hitch is getting replaced its not the original factory hitch, I would demand a new truck.

 

Yes. And what was a hitch weld for him, could easily be a frame weld for you. Not all welds are created equal.

 

I think you should ask Toyota for a lifetime warranty now.