r0cky

Can any of you 4th gen. guys take a quick look under your truck and describe what your hitch receiver looks like and how/where it is attached to the vehicle?

I'll run out and take some pics of mine as well ... in the meantime, please help!!

r0cky

okay, here are some of mine ... does it look like the same receiver everyone else has? (i ask because it seems to be tilted down, yet it looks like it is flush with the frame) ...

r0cky

Am I correct in that this receiver is the class III from early '03 production? I just did some reading over at t4r.org and discovered that the dealership I was dealing with back then removed the class IV receiver (the one with weight distribution and more support sites) and replaced it with this one. They told me that all they were doing was switching it out with one that was better, a "new one" that was ordered due to a TSB on the part. However, looking at the info on t4r.org, it looks like they did the exact opposite. They took the stronger, better receiver - the newer one - and replaced it with something weaker and lied about the rest.

:hit:

PistonSlap

Unless your dealership had replaced your OE hitch with an aftermarket one before you looked at it, the one in the picture is the one that should be on your 4 runner.

4slomo

Hi Rocky,

My 05 hitch is the weight-distributing variety, it has a tube bent in probably four places, welded to end brackets that attach at the ends of the two side frame rails. The receiver is in-line with the tube mounts, if that makes any sense.

I found this photo in the following link from t4r shows what the back of the hitch looks like, it's not like yours. Sorry, I don't have a digital camera, or I'd post some pics of mine. Maybe someone else can get some shots for you.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showth...&threadid=7530

r0cky

Very interesting, because when I first bought it in 03, the receiver was different and more substantial (until they replaced it with this current one).

Lefty

Hmmm.... I might qualify for your question !

My hitch looks *very* similar to yours, but I don't believe it is exactly the same. I do know the dealer didn't mess with it during/after delivery, so it is the one from the Toy factory.

It may be a day or two before I get a chance to take a pic of it. I'll try to get more details in the meantime. BTW, I got mine in Feb '03, so maybe that is before or after the changes Toy made to the hitch ?

Crap, I dunno....

Steve

Lefty

OK. Just ran out and checked my hitch. It is *exactly* like yours. It's been a while since I read the owner's manual, but I believe we have a 5k pound towing capacity on our Runners, so what does that make the hitch ? Class III or Class IV ?

Dang it !

Steve

r0cky

It means you have the class III, 5000lbs towing capacity one ...

yarr.

trd2001

i can run out and take a pic of mine, but i have an 05 with the class VI hitch. Do you need a pic of it?

My hitch did break on my Tundra DC when i had it. Toyota refused to cover it since they said i "overloaded" the truck. Mine started to bend, and had large cracks where the welds are at.

Lefty

OK. Dragged out my owners manual and looked through the towing info. Much to my surprise, I found that my V8 4x4 has a 7k towing capacity. So its conceivable that the truck has a class IV receiver... Of course, they follow that up with the wonderfully vague statement of "don't exceed the maximum loading of your receiver", of which they don't specify what the load rating of the receiver is !

Grrrrr.... wonder if the window sticker would specify...

This sure is sucky.

Steve

PistonSlap

The pictures of the other hitch are for the limited which is a different hitch. You have the correct one. Reese makes a class 4 hitch that you can get in the aftermarket world.

v8sport4runner

From 03 to 04 they went to the weight distributing hitch, my 04 has a 7300 pound capacity. Heres some pics:

r0cky

Grant,

Thanks so much for posting those and taking those pics for me!

I did a little looking on the net and it seems like Reese has some and so does Drawtite ... the Reese one looks cool, but when you get into that type of price, it sort of feels like you might as well get a whole new rear bumper ... if I could eventually find someone to build me one.

Thank you again, Grant!

v8sport4runner

No problem, glad I could help.

HuntRunner

This looks like the early production weight carrying hitch (like I have). If you need the extra tow capacity for your v8, Hidden Hitch makes a weight distributing hitch for the 4th gen too; I have seen them for about $140 on etrailer. They include the mounting bracket for electrical hookups.