Any reason to replace my hitch???

[8086bruce]

Hi I have a 07 SR5 V6 4x4 that has the factory V6 hitch on it and I tow our 18.5' boat with it every weekend. The boat with trailer ways aprox. 3500lbs is there any reason to go to a diff. hitch? I used it all last year with no probs but I know the V8's had a better hitch set up and there are aftermarket one out there too. Would you guys keep the stock hitch with that weigt or upgrade? Thanks for the help!

 

[Koz]

The V6 hitch (rated at 5K lbs) is fine for your use. You are below 80% of the tow rating.

Koz

 

[TechWrench]

Hi I have a 07 SR5 V6 4x4 that has the factory V6 hitch on it and I tow our 18.5' boat with it every weekend. The boat with trailer ways aprox. 3500lbs is there any reason to go to a diff. hitch? I used it all last year with no probs but I know the V8's had a better hitch set up and there are aftermarket one out there too. Would you guys keep the stock hitch with that weigt or upgrade? Thanks for the help!

You are well within the present hitch's ratings. If you do not plan to tow anything heavier, or find the need for a weight distribution hitch system, then I wouldn't worry about upgrading. Unless, you just 'feel the need'.

 

[8086bruce]

Thanks you for the replys! I thought it was OK since I think this is the only kind of hitch you can get on the FJ's and the 5th gens but was not sure how good it was. Does anyone have long term towning experience with the V6 hitch? Thank you!

 

[8086bruce]

Is the cross member that the V6 hitch is bolted to pretty solid?

 

[alphacwh]

I have a 2005 V6 SE 4x4 with a crossmember bolted hitch. Every single week in the summer, for the last 5 years, I tow a 23ft 3500 lb boat on a 1500 lb tandem trailer with surge brakes. Add gas and other stuff, I figure a total max weight of 5500 pounds. I have also towed it 500 miles on I-75 thru the hills of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia with plenty of torque to get up steep grades.

Squirrelly at times...yes. The key is to not drive like an idiot and respect the extra needed stopping distances.

 

[8086bruce]

Thanks for the reply thats good to know!

 

[6starbucks]

i have a 2007 v6 sr5, i towed a 28 ft travel trailer 1900 miles round trip from colorado to texas for a family reunion. it was rated at 4500 and i pulled it just fine with stock hitch, no problems at all.

 

[8086bruce]

Thanks starting to make me feel better!

 

[Jerrydog]

Remember, pulling it is half the battle, the real test is when it comes time to stop in an emergency situation. Wheel base and tow vehicle weight are more important as the trailer and load grows in size. Its very rare for a hitch to tear loose but its very common for trailer brakes to fail and the tow vehicle to get pushed around like a rag doll because its not capable of dealing with the forces being applied to the rear end (read as worst place to apply load like yanking your e brake on ice).

 

[Glock_19]

I was going to say the same thing. Make sure your trailer brakes are working properly before you go on any trips and you should be fine.

 

[8086bruce]

Thanks guys my boat trailer has disc brakes on it and the work great. Stopping is very good. I was just worried about the hitch because I have never had a rig with a hitch like that bolted to a crossmember.