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Old 04-07-2021, 03:07 PM #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piggity View Post
OP, I bought a V8 hitch last year before the pandemic and it showed up without the plates. I haven't had a chance to install it yet but my plan is to install the hitch without the plates on the sides and the rear. I might also make it sunk further into the frame for more ground clearance....although I haven't looked at it enough to see if this will work.

Try to see if it works without the plates first. It might save you some money.
I considered installing without the plates until I talked to a veteran trailer and hitch guy. He stopped me 5 seconds into my explanation and said that I need the spacers. "If it had them installed, you'll need them", he said. Furthermore, after seeing them included on the install guide that was posted, it's clear they were fully intended to be used. When it comes to the safety of my family, and the camper, I'm not taking any shortcuts.

Last edited by mr_skittle; 04-07-2021 at 03:24 PM.
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Old 04-07-2021, 03:08 PM #17
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Originally Posted by mr_skittle View Post
I just picked up my "spacer kit" and no dice. It's the two smaller plates that go on the bumper hitch attachment. I've already started calling around to fabrication shops. Sooo, Beater, it looks like your lucky day. A topical thread for you and your missing parts. Look for a PM.
Check this website out ToyoDIY.com

You might be able to cross reference the part numbers with a newer Lexus GX460 for the side reinforcement plates.
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Old 04-07-2021, 09:48 PM #18
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Originally Posted by Piggity View Post
Check this website out ToyoDIY.com

You might be able to cross reference the part numbers with a newer Lexus GX460 for the side reinforcement plates.
Looks like a useful website but I struck out with the hitch part number. I did however decide to just do a google search for the part number and found the install guide for the GX. It's essentially identical to the Toyota one that was posted earlier and... it has the exact same hardware kit. So much for my idea that the spaces were to adapt the hitch to Toyota. This all really begs the question about what the fu*k the engineers were thinking when they designed a hitch that required spacers!!! This now has me thinking that I could do some searching through Lexus. The fact is I'm ready to move on with this job and have lined up an appointment at a fabrication shop. I'll bring in the one spacer that didn't fall apart and hopefully come home with new parts.
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Old 04-08-2021, 09:01 PM #19
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I'm happy to say the spacer plate saga is over.

I waited at the shop while they made them and walked out 30 mins later and $40 poorer. The owner was a nice guy and a top-notch B.S'er so we shot the breeze while I waited. I couldn't be happier. I got them cleaned up and ready for paint, prepped the hitch for a final coat of paint, picked up all the hardware, and even finished up all the painting before I had to pick up the kiddo from school at 2.

So I've gone way too many years without an angle grinder and finally picked one up earlier this year for a project on my camper. Since I've made it like 15 years as a bonafide DIY'er adult and got by without it, I figured I'd go for something cheap. I got the mid-level one from Harbor Freight and it's been a champ! It cost about $40 and it did everything I asked of it. Simple to change bits, no vibration and it wasn't even too loud.
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Tow hitch rehab job-20210408_114525_50-jpg  Tow hitch rehab job-20210408_114546_50-jpg  Tow hitch rehab job-20210408_115744_50-jpg  Tow hitch rehab job-20210408_135031_50-jpg 
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Old 04-09-2021, 02:55 PM #20
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First of all, I need to ask if my pictures are upside down for anyone else or if it's just me?

It's been rainy and gross here for 3 solid days so I haven't been able to put everything back together. I thought I post a few pictures of the cleaned up, "V6 hitch" attachment. I'm bummed that I forget to get a 'before' picture but the rust was pretty bad. You can see the substantial pitting left after all the rust was removed. I can hardly believe how well this process works! It was in the solution, hooked to the charger at 2 amps, for about 5 hrs. If I would have chipped off most of the rust flakes and given it a precleaning, it probably would have only taken an hour or two. Here are some pics. Hopefully they're not upside down.
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Tow hitch rehab job-20210406_223456_50-jpg  Tow hitch rehab job-20210409_134050_50-jpg  Tow hitch rehab job-20210406_223505_50-jpg 
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Old 04-09-2021, 03:26 PM #21
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The last picture isn't upside down, hard to tell on the others. It all looks good.
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Old 04-10-2021, 12:22 PM #22
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I guess some of them might just be upside down for the poster, me. The hitch hanging on chains looks a little funny upside down.

What fun is life without challenges huh? When the rain let up for a couple of hours yesterday I started the reassembly process. I easily got the cross-member bracket bolted on and then went to work getting the last welded bolts knocked out. Much to my chagrin. I finally realized why the last bolt was sticking out a little crooked. The inside of the frame has some rust and has begun delaminating leaving the nuts welded onto a layer of the steel that is loose. The picture does a better job of explaining. So not instead of getting to bolt everything back together, I have to deal with this problem spot. First thing to do is get the inside of the frame cleaned up and relatively flat/smooth. Next I have to fit a steel plate inside the frame that will essentially fill the frame floor from side to side and as far front to back as I can get. Think of the plate as a giant washer for both of the rear bolts. Then maybe I can get to bolting the htich back on. At the moment, the veheicle is sitting on a slight incline with some Evap-o-rust pooled in worst section of the frame. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to get it all cleaned up but I guess I figure something out. I always do.
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Last edited by mr_skittle; 04-10-2021 at 12:25 PM.
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Old 04-12-2021, 04:43 PM #23
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That's probably what most look like wherever salt is used on the roads. I washed a lot of sand and rust flake out of that area of my truck then oiled the inside of the frame and will keep oiling it to try and limit the rust. I do have one extra thought for you, make a template out of cardboard that fits in there and mark the holes (once the old nuts are removed) onto the cardboard. Have your metal fab guy make those and weld some nuts on top of the holes so it will be easy to put back together. You'll just have to line up the new plates.
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Old 04-13-2021, 01:21 PM #24
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I just took off my hitch assembly and installed a new swing out bumper. If anyone needs some measurements feel free to pm me.

If anyone wants a CA rust less hitch assembly let me know. Need to list it for sale.
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Old 04-13-2021, 02:43 PM #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeinNH67 View Post
That's probably what most look like wherever salt is used on the roads. I washed a lot of sand and rust flake out of that area of my truck then oiled the inside of the frame and will keep oiling it to try and limit the rust. I do have one extra thought for you, make a template out of cardboard that fits in there and mark the holes (once the old nuts are removed) onto the cardboard. Have your metal fab guy make those and weld some nuts on top of the holes so it will be easy to put back together. You'll just have to line up the new plates.
I did in fact use a template although it was made of 1/4in plywood instead of cardboard. I had already been fussing around with a small piece of plywood trying to nail down a maximum size for the plate that would still fit. It was naturally the best way to get the bolt placement. Because I already had the custom-made spacer plates, I used a combination of the plywood template and the holes in the spacer to get the holes in the perfect place on the plate.

With that all taken care of I had big hopes that bolting it in would help to smoosh down the loose edge seen in the picture, but alas, no luck. I cranked on a 1/2 in socket until it woudn't go and the plate still won't sit flat. At this point I walked away from the job and enjoyed several, fresh homebrewed beers to mark my birthday.

Unless anyone has a better idea, my plan at this point is to put the hitch back on and attach it with all the hardware. While the plate isn't sitting flat, the bolts are tightening down and holding. Then I'm going to have the one section that's giving me so much hassle, welded onto the frame. With that compromised steel near the hitch mounting point, and the plate not seating well, I can't really think of another way to get this done and feel confident pulling my camper.
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Tow hitch rehab job-20210413_103047_50-jpg  Tow hitch rehab job-20210413_113238_001_50-jpg  Tow hitch rehab job-20210413_113252_50-jpg 
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Old 04-23-2021, 08:31 PM #26
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The job is all done! Since there isn't much interest in this thread, I'm not going to take the time to upload a bunch more pics. Shoot me a message if you have questions.
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Old 04-26-2021, 04:21 PM #27
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The job is all done! Since there isn't much interest in this thread, I'm not going to take the time to upload a bunch more pics. Shoot me a message if you have questions.
I'd be interested in any other pics on this install. I haven't attempted mine yet and could use them for future reference.

I did spend about 10-20hrs this weekend working on my suspension and front end, I don't think I've been sore for 3 days in a row like this since I was working hard manual labor.
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Old 04-28-2021, 11:31 AM #28
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Most of the rest of this job was dealing with the removal of the old, welded nuts inside the frame, and the ingenuity it took to get the new nuts and bolts installed. If the threads are in decent shape you can just screw in a bolt and pound on it till the nut breaks free. A bit of heat before pounding always makes it a little easier. If the threads are trashed, as they were on the rear bolts, I used lots of heat and a chisel. If you need to replace the nuts and bolts, get creative on how to get a nut and washer the 2ft into the frame for the front bolts. I taped a wrench to a stick, the nut to the wrench, and superglued the washer to the nut. I also threw a couple of glowsticks into the frame to see what I was doing. The small holes I cut in the end weren't big enough to shine a lite in and see at the same time. God willing your's will be in better shape and you can just use the original hardwear.

The saving grace for me was having the rig backed up on ramps. Once you remove the spare tire, there is actually quite a bit of room to work on the hitch. Throw down some cardboard or an old yoga mat and roling around on the ground is a little more bearable.
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Old 04-18-2023, 12:41 PM #29
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Ive got a similar issue with the nuts breaking off inside the frame, did you cut into the frame through the "end caps" to get in there?
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