Cooler Rack or Front-end Rack

[kittyhawksurf]

I tried searching for this on the forum, but I can't find one anywhere.

Has anyone figured out how to add a rack on the front of the 5th Gen 4R? It looks like it may be a nasty project to try this, but this is my Expedition and I cannot live without one on the front anymore. Used for a cooler and beach toys mainly. Absolutely imperative for camping.

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[philsey]

Sweet ride.

Seriously... never seen such on here. But at least one member has put on a front hitch, if you could make that work. Looks like a welding shop is in order. Chop up a couple receivers, weld 'em on.

 

[Jetboy]

Front hitch + hitch carrier = what you're looking for.

FYI there are two front hitches from Curt - one is lower than the other. I don't recall which is which. I have the one that tucks up tighter that I removed when I installed a hidden winch.

I don't like hanging heavy stuff off the front end. The IFS isn't well suited for this type of use and your handling is likely to suffer if you put a 200lb cooler cantilevered off the front like that.

 

[Range]

Check out Curt and U-haul. They make hitches you can directly mount with no extra fab work needed

 

[Swarty]

Why the front?

Why not just get a swing away hitch mount on the rear? It would be more protected and have less of an affect on handling. Probably cheaper in the end.
Here's a basic swing away frame you could customize how you want:
swing-away hitch

 

[kittyhawksurf]

Sweet ride.

Yea, dude. I know. That rust on the front is custom and it took years to get like that. Don't be jealous.

I have never heard of Curt. Super cool. That looks like a pretty good solution, but yea I need to be careful how much weight. I know that front rack on the Expedition weights 100 lbs and I've put another 200 lbs in it. Brakes get worn out fast, but it's worth it.

 

[J17]

Yea, dude. I know. That rust on the front is custom and it took years to get like that. Don't be jealous.

Clear coat it. Keep on truckin'

 

[kittyhawksurf]

Why not just get a swing away hitch mount on the rear? It would be more protected and have less of an affect on handling. Probably cheaper in the end.
Here's a basic swing away frame you could customize how you want:
swing-away hitch

I'm pulling a camper when I use the cooler rack unless day surfing. Swing is a good suggestion, but way more a pain in the @#$ than a front rack.

 

[kittyhawksurf]

I finally solved this. You can use a Surf Mate Rod Rack. Google will lead you to distributors.

 

[kittyhawksurf]

Custom rack almost complete. It still needs to be painted black and some minor tweaking.

 

[4Surfin]

looks like a good spot to put the kids!

 

[jicko]

Anyone making a fork lift for the 4Runner???

 

[mtomaro]

Which front receiver did you go with? Any pictures of just that without the rack?

 

[kittyhawksurf]

I got them to fabricate one. :bravo:

 

[barryhiram]

Anyone making a fork lift for the 4Runner???

That would require a 3-point hitch...........

 

[kittyhawksurf]

For anyone's future reference if they find this thread: