I'm tired of people parking by feel and crunching into my rear over, and over again...so I want to give them something else to smash into, aka the hitch.

Does anyone have an aftermarket hitch on their 3rd gen? Any suggestions for one, or should I just go with the OEM? It would be nice it it protruded outward more then the OEM.

I do realize the hitch digs large ruts on trails and I have no problem taking it off before I go offroad.

Thanks a bunch!

 

I have a Hidden Hitch, I like it because it doesn't stick out too far, but it saved my bumper a couple of times

 

Get yourself a hitch, then a 2" drop ball mount; turn the ball mount over so the ball mount is now a 2" riser. Now ya got yourself some distance between any car and your bumper, and they will pay the price with a punctured grill.

 

Thanks for the replies folks! The hidden hitch would be nice if I was looking for something inconspicuous...but I want something that says, LOOK THE HELL OUT...

The 2" drop ball mount flipped sounds like a plan! Cheap, too.

 

Reese then



its a good size hitch class III

 

I don't have a pic handy, but a Curt tube style is what I have. You can get them in like 10 colors... I'm really original so I got mine in black! It look really good and has a step basically built in. Google it...

 

hehe, brings back memories.....

Was driving on the freeway in stop and go traffic. The car following behind me kept braking a bit late and several time nearly hit me, then it happened, BANG! got rear ended.... I drove off, he had to pull over since his radiator was spewing all over. Thanks to my hitch and the reciever with ball, punched a nice hole in the front of his car. No damage to my 4Runner......

Now with my new bumper being so high up, most likely the car will go underneath my rig. I was thinking about building a new attachment that would wrap under the bumper with serrated edges(mad max style), so if a car does run underneath, it'll open it up like a tin can, but prevent it from going too far....


BTW them stock hitches can take quite a bit of abuse, and if you lived closer, I have one in my garage.....

 

factory hitch drops 2" lower than the hidden hitches (and reese) shown. I took my factory hitch off because I was dragging it every time I hit the trails. A few years later I put on a hidden hitch. less dragging - but a 265 / 75 r16 spare will be pushed into the pan-hard bar. so much so I have to remove all the air from my spare tire to fit.

EDIT - point being, as usual, there's no universal best hitch.

 

i have the OEM one and its awesome! i love it, it hangs a little lower than some after market ones but its great.