hey yinz...

i picked up a class III reese universal hitch (towpower HD or something like that, part number 37042HD, small pickup multi-fit) that says on the box it fits my truck (94 pickup short-bed regular cab), but it doesn't. (my rear bumper and rear springs are stock, so that isn't the problem.)

(the installation instructions give mounting directions with a diagram that looks sorta like the back of my frame/bumper mounts, but you can't line up the holes the way they say because the spring shackles are in the way...and, even if they weren't the geometry just isn't what they say it is is in the installation instructions...)

anyway, even if i could get it to fit, it seems like it would hang down below my rear bumper further than it needs to...so, imma gonna return it and look for a different one.

anyone have any recommendations?

i want it for a recovery point more than for hauling stuff, so i would like to find one that:

1. has a gross trailer weight rating of at least 5000lbs (without any weight distribution stuff).

2. hangs down below the bumper as little as possible so as to interfere with departure angle as little as possible (i.e., i would like to find one where the bar for the hitch is behind the bumper and only the hitch itself is below the bumper).

i know there has to be one out there that will work, but, given my experience with the one i bought, i am a little leary of buying another one without knowing it worked for someone else ahead of time.

thanks.

stan

 

On option is a tube bumper.



Better clearance compared to a stock bumper + aftermarket receiver. The better way is a custom bumper that puts the receiver in the middle, but that's more money.

My Smittybilt is listed at 2500 lbs towing capacity, but I've used my as a recovery point for a long time and it's never seemed to be a problem. It's going to be difficult to find a hitch that specifically says you can tow 5000 lbs with a Toyota truck, the liability of telling someone that bolting a Class III hitch on suddenly makes their 1/2 ton truck able to tow more than it's GVW has got to be huge.

 

i had the same exact hitch i just bought, didnt fit either, but that was my fault..ive got a 99 4runner...hitch says itd fit a 95-03 taco, i figured taco/4runner have the same frame, so itd fit...it hung down really low. i picked mine up from walmart. quality hitch is the hidden hitch. id check out their website. unless you wanted a whole new bumper, id say just get a solid class III hidden hitch.

 

http://www.hitchesonline.com/toyota_...up_84-98_2.htm

 

Stay away from the universal fit hitches. Get a custom fit hitch and you'll have no problems.

 

thanks for the input everyone.

yeah, i've come to the conclusion that i should prolly stay away from universal fit hitches.

i thought about getting a new bumper...but, i'm gonna take a welding class this fall, and i want to build my own bumpers after that and enough practice to do it right....so i'm gonna just get a hitch for now.

that putnam hitch looks good...prolly end up ordering one of those after i get my money back for the reese.

thanks again.

 

Sounds like a good plan. Should serve your purposes just fine. BTW, good idea to get a real recovery point, too many people don't think about them or worse use a tow ball bolted to a step bumper.