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86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

need trailer hitch

Old Nov 11, 2013 | 02:23 PM
  #1  
madmawler's Avatar
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Question need trailer hitch

I just bought a 94 4Runner a few weeks ago. It is a 2wd with 3.0 v-6 and A/T. The seller had neglected it for a couple of years, including letting the registration lapse since Jan. 2013, and it took a little tlc to get it up and running again. After replacing belts, vacuum lines, fluids, etc., and hosing off all the black widow webs that accumulated underneath it, I could tell that it had been pampered and garaged for most of its life. This is my first 4Runner, and now I am as familiar as everyone else about their Achille's heel, mechanically speaking: the issues with the window in the rear hatch! I will get that worked out, eventually. But my question is: how can I tow my tent trailer with the stock bumper on the rear? Do I need to buy an aftermarket bumper that I can mount a tow ball on, or can I find a hitch made for that specific vehicle that will bolt right on to the frame? Do I need I need to get a hitch custom welded on it, what are my options? This is my first post, and I think I did the right thing by joining this web site. It appears to me that a lot of the members here know their trucks and SUV's inside and out. Any input would highly appreciated. Thank you.
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Old Nov 11, 2013 | 02:46 PM
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From: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods
Red face

You should be able to find a premade one just do some searching.

A custom built one would likely be more expensive just depends how fast you need one.

In any case it should be bolted on but that is a personal preference .

Just depends what bumper you have on there now a bolt on receiver for a step bumper might be an option

A tent camper can`t be real heavy??
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Old Nov 11, 2013 | 02:53 PM
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From: florida
Make a pipe bumper they look better the the stock pos they protect the truck and they are generally strong enough to pull down a house
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Old Nov 11, 2013 | 04:10 PM
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nice find on the 2wd runner they are kinda rare. lots a companys make trailer hitches for the 4runners. 2wd and 4wd should take the same one.
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Old Nov 12, 2013 | 10:57 PM
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Wyoming, Stetson, and Chaser,
Thanks for the advice on bumpers and hitches for my 94 2wd runner. I bought it for my girlfriend originally, but she says it's too slow for her. She has a 94 Ford Ranger 2wd with a 4.0 V-6, which has plenty of power for a small truck. So I guess I'll have to keep the runner for myself. I can live with that. With the 3 liter motor and 235/65/17 tires, I probably won't be able to outrun the LAPD Crown Victorias, but it has more than enough power to pull my featherweight 10' long pop-up tent trailer or my 19' shallow V hull fiberglass ski boat. My runner has 220,000 miles on the original engine, but when I tested the compression, it passed with flying colors. I can get a few more horsepower out of it if I replace the stock air filter with a K & N filter, and I'm guessing it is probably new enough that I can find a chip for the ECU. I live in SoCal, so I should be able to find everything I need for my new project (beefing up my 4runner). Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
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Old Nov 12, 2013 | 11:02 PM
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From: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods
Red face

A word to the wise there are no chips for the ecu

If there would be don`t you think they would be sold with a upgraded rebuilt ECU??

I would so love to be proved wrong
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Old Nov 13, 2013 | 04:36 AM
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From: Iowa
The only way you are going to get good power is a 3.4 swap. Also k+n are a waste of money. The stock filter from Toyota is the best you can buy.
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Old Nov 13, 2013 | 09:17 AM
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Idk about on trucks but on atvs and the k&n filters are known to kill motors because of howmuch dirt the let into the motor sothere recommended for race only
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Old Nov 16, 2013 | 12:59 AM
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From: I live in New Tripoli Pa out in the woods
Red face

Yes with that engine just run the stock filter. The trick is it needs to be changed when it is needed just don`t go the out of site out of mind.

I use the wix filters on all my engines.
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Old Nov 16, 2013 | 01:47 AM
  #10  
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From: TENN Native Languishing in Virginia
I've had this hitch from etrailer.com for years. Can't beat it. Installation does require removing the rear bumper & reinstalling after the hitch.

http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitc...cleid=19942317

Last edited by TNRabbit; Nov 16, 2013 at 06:53 AM.
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