Which hitch does everyone use? I don’t tow often but will need a hitch for moving and pulling a trailer. I remember it was difficult to buy a hitch for my 04 due to the placement of the spare tire. I now have a 2020. Is this a still a problem? Do I need to get a hitch directly from Toyota?

I thought a towing package was OEM standard equipment.

My ‘18 SR5 has a hitch and 7-round and 4-flat plugs.

The spare tire is tight against the back of the receiver. With my hitch set up, it works just fine. I recently went to use a friend’s hitch to pull his trailer and his was too long so that the rear of the hitch hit the tire before the holes for the pin aligned.

And at my age, I wish Toyota integrated the plugs for the trailer wiring in the rear bumper as most SUVs and pickups do, it’s a literal pain to have to lay down on the ground and partially under the truck to plug in, even more of a pain to get back up.

What are you towing? If over 2500 lbs, a weight distribution hitch is highly advised. I regularly tow a 3750 lb trailer and use the Andersen hitch, which I highly recommend. Lightweight and easy to set up for a weight distribution hitch with anti-sway, height adjustable.

Hitch? The latest 4Runners come with a 2" hitch receiver and plug in for the wiring, both 4 pin and 7 pin.

What you need is a ball mount and ball. Most trailers use a 2" ball, but some smaller trailers use a 1 7/8" ball. You can buy ball mounts and balls anywhere, even Walmart sells them. Since the 4Runner is a bit higher off the ground than most cars, you may want a ball mount with a drop, that is the ball is lower to the ground than the hitch receiver (you want the trailer tongue to be level, not slanted up). I use a 5" drop ball mount when I tow my utility trailer.

Probably an old thread and my experience is nothing. The V-8 Toyota hitch was rumored to add about 3,000lb to the hitch capability, being a true frame mount versus the stock cross member thing.

i was nervous about towing my new at the time boat which might have been around 10.000lb + with a stock 07 Sport.

Gave up on aftermarket frame mount hitches that looked cheesy. Ordered a Toyota V-8 hitch. Seems there were at least two different versions for the 4th gen. Luckily the frame bolts and spacing are all the same. The bumper cutout may affect the final spacing/look. I did not care.

Old hitch required partial rear bumper uninstall (PITA plus damage worry) but I got it off. New hitch went right on after dhasing a few frame threads. Uber-torque wrench to get the spec values and it worked great.

The stock 07 Sport sagged a good bit with the boat, but nothing to be done. Was not going long distance so just ignored it. Air bags or such would have been a good idea, but i side-stepped that.

Did add a trans cooler, probably just another feel-good as not long highway towing was done.

The limiting (weight) factor on trailer hitches is not always how they are mounted, but the engine/transmission and other drive train components.

I'm sure Toyota specifies the weight ratings taking all those factors into account.