Bent Hitch

[lezavw90]

I had some free time and was able to get the 4runner into the dealership for them to check out. The verdict, yup it's bent up. Nothing they can do about it other than take it to a body shop and have it bent back down. Of course they tried and covered their ass with the line "it must have taken alot of weight to bend that up". They still deemed it safe to tow, and I had them put it on my file with a signed copy to me, just in case.

Personally I think it's a defect, it says right in the owners manual that when using a weight distribution hitch to return the front end to normal position. I set the hitch up at a commercial truck scale and weighed the axles before set up and with the trailer hitched. When the hitch bent I was still using my hand to tighten the spring bars, on alot of setups you usually are using a prybar to set the chains.


Also I asked to have the smart key re programmed, to have the rear window open and close unlinked to the door lock function. It's an option in the owners manual page 664 for the Canadian one. They hooked up the computer but later told me it couldn't be done. Fed me some line about how the owners manual are generic and cover alot of different vehicles. So I ask them if its generic how many models is there with a smart key and powered rear window?

Thanks for listening, lol. I needed to vent a bit, my dealership has been nothing short of fantastic so I had high hopes, and I'm a little disappointed.

 

[Jeremy556]

"it says right in the owners manual that when using a weight distribution hitch to return the front end to normal position"

What page is that on?

 

[lezavw90]

Section 2-5 page 299 out of the Canadian 2012 4runner Owners manual

"If using a weight disttributing hitch when towing, return the front axle to the same weight as before the trailer connection. If front axle weight cannot be measured directly, meausre the front fender height above the front axle before connection. Adjust weight distributing hitch torque until front fender is returned to the same height as before connection."

 

[Qjake]

Bring it to the body shop to bend it back down?? I would think that it bending up and then them bending it back would fatigue the metal making it weaker, no? How about a new hitch under warranty as it shouldn't have bent in the first place. If they say it bent from to much weight then they have to prove that caused it to bend.

As for the rear window. That was a no go for me also and the tech really did try to figure it out but to no avail

 

[homeyclaus]

I would seriously get another opinion from another dealership.

Also, I looked over my WD hitch setup, and when over-adjusted it would cause rear axle hopping long before the frame crossmember the hitch is bolted to could possibly bend, even with the trailer at 4000 lb even and a pile of stuff in the truck. How do I know? I drove it from DC to Florida like that, and had traction control going off on the odd bridge expansion joint.

The point is, you don't have to be perfectly level, and I think seeking that is some sort of fallacy propagated on the internet.

Of course, none of this helps you now, since you bent your crossmember already. Perhaps you should consider ordering the Lexus GX hitch if you're going to run your WD hitch the way you do.

 

[lezavw90]

I would seriously get another opinion from another dealership.

Of course, none of this helps you now, since you bent your crossmember already. Perhaps you should consider ordering the Lexus GX hitch if you're going to run your WD hitch the way you do.

That's the problem. Running the wd hitch the way I do? I never even got it to What Toyota has stated in the owners manual before it bent,lol. I was still tensioning the chains with my bare hands, hadnt even got the bar out yet.

Either way, what's done is done. Next time I do anything to the truck I'll video document everything, I should wear a helmet came everywhere, lol.

 

[Shooter33]

That's too bad, lezavw90. You're hardly putting stress on it if you're able to attach the chains by hand. I set mine up similarly and once thought my hitch was bent up slightly as well. So, I took it to the dealer and parked it right next to two brand new 4Rs on the lot. They all looked identical....very slightly bent upwards. I think it's an illusion due to the rake of the vehicle. The back end sits higher than the front, making it look like the hitch is pointing upwards. Your case sounds a little more extreme, though. Hope you get it worked out.

On another note, has anyone in the US found ANY wording about the WDH in the owner's manual? I haven't. Why is it only found in the Canadian versions?

 

[lezavw90]

That's weird there's nothing in the US owners manual. I sent a few emails out to Toyota Canada about not being able to program the smart key and the hitch, doubt it will go anywhere. Really wish the smart key could be fixed. Went to a bike race in Squamish last weekend and having the rear window buttons linked with the door locks is horrible!! The vehicle baby monitors try and keep you safe but it's a pain.

" you want the window up? Well that's to bad the door is open."
"you want the window up? Well that's to bad because I think you might lock your key inside."

 

[awlskier]

We have 2016 4Runner Trail and same thing happened to ours with bent receiver / cross member after using WDH equalizer e4 600-6000. Happened when towing up a driveway. I confirmed from equalizer that hitch only transfers 600lbs of weight. Should not be able to vend the 4Runner. There are other heavy duty wdh that move 1200lbs and I specifically avoided those.

I’m curious what was the resolution? I’ll be heading to Toyota this week.