i've got a 1989 dlx pickup
read on here somewhere that the trailer hitch can be flipped over on newer runners but is this possible on my truck?

Anybody?

depends on your hitch, look under there and see what will get in the way if you flipped it.

Sure. Any removable ball hitch can be flipped over.
Is this a trick question?

I flipped mine. I removed the bolts (3 each side) that hold the crossbar cut the bumper and reinstalled. I don't think you can remount the parts that connect to the frame without some fabbing.

Pics Where Are They

Same as Zona4r (96 3rd gen), but not all the hitches have crossbars that you can unbolt...

You can actually see one of those bolts on the left side, it's the best I've got without getting off my fat butt and taking more...
I don't know about Zona4r, but I did have to do a little tweaking of the loops and the bumper to get it to fit.