Looking for a trailer hitch for my 94 runner. Cannot seem to locate one anywhere, should I be looking for a factory unit at a wrecker?

 

UHAUL.com
http://store.uhaul.com/hitches.aspx?src=hitches

 

Also, http://www.reeseprod.com/
or http://www.hiddenhitch.com/

or http://www.draw-tite.com/

Where were you looking? At 7-11?

 

Depending on the weight of the trailer, there's a few options. For a light trailer (<1000 lbs GVWR / < 300 lbs tongue weight) you should be able to put a ball on the stock bumper. For a heavier trailer (>=1000 lbs GVWR or >= 300 lbs tongue weight) you'd need a frame mounted hitch and drawbar setup.

Most trailer dealers either stock, can get them, or can recommend where to get one, as can many muffler shops. Draw-tite (mentioned above) makes them as does Reese (http://www.reeseprod.com/) does as well (part #33023). I prefer Reese myself, but they are more expensive.

I recommend a brake controller on any trailer >1000 lbs. For the 4Runners with coils in the rear, I also recommend a weight distributing hitch system for any trailer with tongue weight > 300 lbs or if the combined weight of anything in the back of the vehicle and the tongue weight of the trailer exceeds 400 lbs to reduce fatigue on the coils.

And don't forget you'll likely need a trailer lighting converter to convert the yota's separate turn and brake lights to the combined turn / brake light system on most trailers.

 

www.etrailer.com

 

All the places I looked (minus u-haul) had showing on their site. When contacted they said they do not produce them anymore. I went t u-haul and they said it would be 2 weeks for the hitch. here's hoping.

 

etrailer has a Draw-Tite; similar to the one I used, it's heavy has HELL and bolted directly to the frame in several locations. Took hours to install.

http://www.etrailer.com/hitch-1994_Toyota_4Runner.htm

 

I just gave my factory hitch away. Those things hang way too low for any kind of off-roading.

 

Did anyone else look at the reese, hidden hitch, and draw-tite sites and think they were almost the same?

 

Do you not know any one who has a welder and the needed skills to make a simple receiver Hitch . Maybe you just want a simple ball mount. The factory hitches might not work if you plan on off roading more than a little.

You don`t tell us where you are perhaps someone is close by. I build these all the time for people that can`t wait due to poor planning on there part.

 

I live in the Great White North (Canada). I would make one but just don't have the time. That's all. Thanks for all the responses.

 

What do you plan on towing? I'm only towing a small trailer so I just bought a bad#ss TG bumper with a built in receiver. I've put this thing to the test and it's been plenty strong enough for me. It cleared up a hell of a lot of room in the back and looks awesome for about the same price you will pay for a hitch. Not sure if you do any off-roading or what you're 4Runner looks like, but I thought I'd mention it.

 

What's the tongue and trailer rating on the TG hitch? Probably no more than stock, right? Is it rated for weight distributing setups? Where are the safety chains? And the trailer light wiring hanging down like in the pic is a bad thing.
And that trailer can carry about 600 lbs before it needs brakes (looks like 3500# rated axle), yet I don't see brake drums behind the wheels.
That's a Big-Tex trailer, no?

 

Sure. There is no rating. Email them and ask. I've towed plenty more than 600# and my brakes have no problem stopping. I haven't seen very many single axle trailers with brakes around here. Weight distributing? For a 6.5x10 single axle trailer? You're kidding, right?

I can LEGALLY load over 2000lbs. into the trailer before I need brakes. Not sure where you get your info from?

 

Our trucks are the same (color/style). Hitch has been ordered. I haven't done any off-roading as of yet and this truck is my main vehicle so I can't see me doing much. I do more dump runs then I would off-road.

 

Ah, you probably wouldn't want what I have than. What hitch did you end up going with and what did it cost?

 

Have a link to the regulations that allow you 2000# without brakes? Remember that the rating includes the weight of the trailer as well.

 

Sure do. It's actually 3000# gross and my trailer is less than 1000#
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/FormatD...28&DocType=ARS

 

Anyhow, what I "recommend" has no technical, 'legal' basis, but is based on my experience with various vehicles and how they perform under certain conditions and minimizing negative effects on the tow vehicle.

 

So you're okay with towing a trailer weighing 3000 lbs, nearly the same weight as a 4Runner, without brakes on the trailer, with a 4Runner?