I have an '03, the receiver hitch is about three inches too short to accept my hitches. The spare tire prevents the receiver from being pushed in further. Toyota provides a new receiver, but that would not allow me to use what I already have. Any suggestions?

 

sounds to me like it is mounted wrong or something. as far as I knew, the things were all standard and they should accept any aftermarket stuff you need to put on there. I'll look at mine tonight when the wife gets home and see if mine has the same probl. I've never tried to put a receiver into the hitch of the '03 yet.

 

It would not take any of my hitches either.

I think you would have to change the receiver in order for it to accept a standard hitch.

I can't beleive I did not get a ball, just the hitch.

 

I found that odd too, no ball. just a hitch and some cotter pins! What size of shaft is that? 2" or 2.5?

 

They are standard 2" receivers. Some folks on this board have mentioned a problem with the original receiver from Toyota and the dealer replaced them. Do a search and you'll see a few threads.

I have a 2" Hidden Hitch bar inserted in mine and it fit fine. A hitch retailer did tell me that some accessories may not fit the 03 4Runner because of the spare. Hidden Hitch has a 7500 lbs aftermarket hitch available that will supposedly cure all the ill's of the factory receiver. www.hitch-web.com.

 

It is not so much the receiver width, but the depth that it will fit into the receiver. The tongue will only fit about four inches into the receiver. Keep your mind out of the gutter!

 

This is the email I have had with the service manager at my dealership we will see what I get on sat 6/14




Hi Russell, I have just gotten a communication from Toyota on your hitch, and have learned that it is the ball mount itself, this piece is what has been assembled incorrectly not the hitch, I will try to have one here for you for your appointment.

Thanks



Patrick Obed

Toyota Service Manager

Tel 603-634-1065

Fax 603-634-1069

1-800-888-288-6247 x1065

pobed@autofair.com

-----Original Message-----
From: vendingmachine [mailto:vendingmachine@attbi.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 5:56 PM
To: 'Patrick Obed'
Subject: RE: 2003 4runner hitch receiver



Thanks for the quick response. If there is a price difference between the two I will pay it. Just let me know what it is.

As for the receiver it is a known problem a bad batch got thru the line I know of people that have had them replaced and I would rather have the upgraded one.

It would be nice if you had one on hand for my 6/14//03 appointment it would save us both time and money.



Thanks





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Patrick Obed [mailto:pobed@autofair.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 2:34 PM
To: 'vendingmachine'



Hi Russell,

I have looked at all of our 4Runners and fount that they all have 2 inch receivers on them so as to why you drop does not fit we would have to take a look at your vehicle. As for the weight distributing hitch this is not something that we would be just changing to because the part has changed. Toyota reserves the right to change specifications without notice. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me with the info listed below.

Thank You



Patrick Obed

Toyota Service Manager

Tel 603-634-1065

Fax 603-634-1069

1-800-888-288-6247 x1065

pobed@autofair.com

-----Original Message-----
From: vendingmachine [mailto:vendingmachine@attbi.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2003 3:14 PM
To: pobed@autofair.com
Subject: 2003 4runner hitch receiver



Hi I would like some more information on 2003 4 runner I have an early release I got in Jan 03 I am bring it in for warranty service on 6/14/03 as the hitch receiver which is a class 3 will not take a 2 inch shaft and is currently only rated for 5000 pounds as I can see on the web site (LINK) after 5/1/03

It is rated for 7300/7000

V8 models (weight-distributing hitch)8


7,300/7,000


7,300/7,000


7,300/7,000


8Vehicles built after 05/01/03.

Will I receive the new hitch? The service department has no clue what im talking about



Thanks

 

BTW jc whitney has a hitch for 03

http://www.jcwhitney.com/productnoit...ml?CATID=39814

 

Make sure you double check that. JC Whitney has had that up since before Hidden Hitch made the hitch. I verified with Hidden Hitch that JC Whitney's listing was incorrect.

I srongly recommend you check Hidden Hitch to make sure the part number matches.

 

What shaft width did you come up with? I measured 1 1/2 inch shaft, nobody seems to sell a 2" ball on a 1 1/2" shaft.

 

When you say "shaft", do you mean the shank on the ball? Mine is one inch and fit nicely.

Check www.overtons.com under SUV>Trailering.

 

Actually, I have a 2" ball with a 1" shaft width and 1.5" shaft length. The 1" width is about .5" to skinny. In measuring the hole, I found it to be 1.5" wide. No literature in the Toyota hitch box.

 

Thanks, I went to Overtons. The shank/shaft is the part that is threaded. The width of this threaded shank is 1.5" and rated at 10,000lbs. I have a 1" shank/shaft width and it is too small. Why did Toyota provide a 10,000lbs hitch, when it is only rated to tow 5,000lbs?

 

I have a 2003 4Runner Sport.

What I found out is that the depth of the receiver hitch is shorter than most receiver hitches due to the spare tire mounted underneath the rear of the vehicle.

I had a drawbar that I used on my previous vehicle, and it was too long for the 4Runners receiver hitch. It wouldn't go in far enough for the pin hole to line up. The end of the drawbar would hit the spare tire before the holes lined up.

I took the drawbar to a machine shop, and for $10 they cut 1.25" off the drawbar so that it would slide further into the receiver hitch.

FWIW, the drawbar that came stock with the 4Runner fit perfectly, but I needed the drop/offset of the ball hitch I had from my previous vehicle.

 

SacState,

If I were you, I'd go back to Overtons and order the chrome drawbar with 2" drop, and a chrome bulley ball with a 1" shank. It all fits perfect in your 03 Toyota hitch receiver.

By the way, Overtons is local to you. You can just drive and see them.

 

Here is a pic of mine with the drawbar and ball I recommended. It's the correct height and again everything fit perfect.

 

Thanks for the help. Looks good, wish I had a jetski to tow, I am just towing a drop trailer with farm debris.