There MUST be a thread around here about this already but I sure can't find it.

I want to uncover the factory tie-down loop in the rear to use as a second recovery point. I have a shackle hitch but want a second point. The stock bumper completely hides the loop though. I don't really want to spend the bucks on a new rear bumper so I'm thinking of just making a cutout in the bumper to give access. I'm not very artistic though and if I just go at it with a dremel or whatever It's going to look like crap.

Can anyone point me to a thread where somebody has done this?

Thanks,

Chris

Why can't you just put a strap on it as it is? I think that's kinda the standard operating procedure.

Because the bumper is in the way! The faux-diffuser outlet hangs down lower than the tie-down point. If you wanted to pull down (i.e. tying it down) on it it wouldn't be a problem, but straight out the back the strap has to wrap under the bumper. Wrapped under the bumper plus pulling hard enough to move a stuck truck equals broken bumper.



The same is true up front on the early models except that the black plastic "chin" is removable.

I wouldn't be hacking up my bumper for a second recovery point that isn't actually a rated recovery point. That's a shipping tie down loop. What's wrong with the receiver shackle?

Never looked that closely at those bumpers. I think that whatever you do it's going to look funny. Other than maybe replacing with a 14+ rear bumper.

I trimmed that whole lower piece off my 2014 Limited to make it like an newer SR5. That lower piece was a pain and always was hard to clean all the dust and dirt out of it. Now I can connect my trailer lights easily, I have access to the tow hook, looks much better and increased the ground clearance in the rear.

This is a myth that just won't die. These are fine as recovery points, both front and rear. I do agree with you on the receiver shackle, though. It makes better sense if you have the SR5/Limited bumper that covers it up.

Shipping tie down hoops are pretty tough.

If you cut a notch you limit the angle at which you can recover without damaging the existing bumper. The second issue I see is anything that hangs down low enough to clear your bumper will lessen your departure angle, you are going to drag that recovery point sooner.

The best, unfortunately the most expensive, option is an aftermarket rear bumper.

4th gens and earlier have an aftermarket rear recovery points.

That's kinda what I had in mind - did you just go straight across at the top of the "vents"?

I went across the top of the vents. It was kind of tricky on the outer ends. I had to make a cut going towards the rear tire to be able to push the panel up.
One side on mine came out better than the other because I had more experience after doing the first side. I also made brackets to reattach everything and had to cut down some misc. black pieces underneath. Tin snips work great for cutting the plastic. You will not get a perfect straight line along the cut because of irregularities in the panel but you only see it if you stoop down. You better be committed to doing this because once you make the first cut there is no turning back. I did this shortly after buying the 4runner new and had a sickening feeling when I started cutting but I would never want it the way it was stock again. If you are leasing the 4runner I would not do it but I will probably have this 4runner for 11 or 12 years like my last one so I did not care as much.

toyota calls these towing points in the owners manual, i would only be worried about using it if its all rusty or something

3rd, 4th, and 5th gens have the same bolt pattern for the rear tie downs so the aftermarket parts should fit across the gens right?

Don't know, do they? No idea if the blot pattern is the same. I don't assume anything is exactly alike anymore.

Not knowing much what I am doing, I used that loop to pull out an 8000lbs lifted excursion from a 2.5 ft puddle/mud, and it was not even moving from it's place. Later with a help of come-along and another car we pulled him out. The was no damage at all on my car. It's pretty safe to say you can use it as a recovery point. The only trouble that might arise is when the tow strap will be going up at an angle and the lower part of the bumper will be in the way.
My 0.02

What year is your 4Runner? Later years have a different bumper that gives better departure angles and clear access to the loop.

I bet you did! Mine was old when I got it and I plan to have it a long time. I've already scraped up a lower corner of my front bumper and the driver's side skirt quite a bit. I'm not quite ready to make it ugly on purpose but I think I can do the cutting close enough. If I don't I'm eventually going to catch the edge of it on something and rip the whole thing off anyhow!

I've been yanking from the front tow points on Toyotas for years - rusty or not! I don't think my old 4Runners had recovery points out back. My 2nd gen I had a tube bumper on, my 3rd gen a shackle hitch. The comments that the shackle hitch is plenty are probably correct - it just burns me up that there is a factory recovery point back there that can't be used.