Early 2003 V8 WHD Hitch upgrade question

[Montego Murph]

Hello all,

I've been searching for the last hour or so and got a lot of good information but I can't find the exact answer to my question. Hopefully someone can help me out.

It is my understanding that Model year 2003 V8 4Runners manufactured before April 2003 (and all V6's) were equipped with a smaller 5K Weight Bearing hitch. Later V8 models came with a more robust 7K Weight Distributing Hitch.

I learned that Toyota offered early 03 V8 owners an upgrade to the improved hitch once it was introduced. I don't know if this was a courtesy replacement, recall, TSB, or a discount price. 13 years later the cost doesn't matter, but any history on this would be appreciated.

The part numbers for project are:
- Hitch assembly - PT 228 89440
- Center Bracket - 08925-35850

Recently I was rear-ended and my receiver (the smaller style) was damaged, and is being replaced as part of the repair. I would like the updated version installed in its place.

Here is what I am looking to learn:

Can anyone help me find a bulletin or any sort of documentation from Toyota that explains this update? I would like to submit this to the body shop so I can have the hitch upgraded at this extremely convenient time.

Understandably, the insurance company would balk at me having upgrades done on their dime, but since this was something that should have been done to the truck when it was new, I might have a chance of them at least working with me. I am not opposed to paying the difference between the parts.

 

[Keros]

I have, on a couple of occasions, asked some unusual questions to Toyota and they have responded.

https://www.toyota.com/support/contact-us

Also, the people at the dealers are often a wealth of information and have long memories... especially if they're real Toyota nuts like us.

Going by and asking around is usually the best method though because trying to explain what you need over the phone just won't work. If they could search through all the service bulletins of for an '03, they'd probably find it pretty quickly.

Best luck!

 

[Montego Murph]

Good suggestion, Keros. I sent them a note when I read your suggestion and will post the results here in case someone else needs the info at some point.

 

[Montego Murph]

Update:

Toyota tells me this. Apparently they must send out form letters to all questions without actually reading what was written.

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We apologize as we do not recommend or assist with modifying our vehicles from the original factory specifications.

I've read in several places after exhaustive searching on this forum that there was some sort of TSB, recall, or SOMETHING allowing early 03 owners to upgrade, but I cannot find any record of it.

 

[boxtree619]

Hello all,

I've been searching for the last hour or so and got a lot of good information but I can't find the exact answer to my question. Hopefully someone can help me out.

It is my understanding that Model year 2003 V8 4Runners manufactured before April 2003 (and all V6's) were equipped with a smaller 5K Weight Bearing hitch. Later V8 models came with a more robust 7K Weight Distributing Hitch.

I learned that Toyota offered early 03 V8 owners an upgrade to the improved hitch once it was introduced. I don't know if this was a courtesy replacement, recall, TSB, or a discount price. 13 years later the cost doesn't matter, but any history on this would be appreciated.

The part numbers for project are:
- Hitch assembly - PT 228 89440
- Center Bracket - 08925-35850

Recently I was rear-ended and my receiver (the smaller style) was damaged, and is being replaced as part of the repair. I would like the updated version installed in its place.

Here is what I am looking to learn:

Can anyone help me find a bulletin or any sort of documentation from Toyota that explains this update? I would like to submit this to the body shop so I can have the hitch upgraded at this extremely convenient time.

Understandably, the insurance company would balk at me having upgrades done on their dime, but since this was something that should have been done to the truck when it was new, I might have a chance of them at least working with me. I am not opposed to paying the difference between the parts.

If anything, you can just take the money they're gonna give you for the V6 Hitch and source a V8 one locally on Craigslist. I too had the same situation and managed to find a V8 hitch online for $70 complete with hardware and all!

 

[Montego Murph]

If anything, you can just take the money they're gonna give you for the V6 Hitch and source a V8 one locally on Craigslist. I too had the same situation and managed to find a V8 hitch online for $70 complete with hardware and all!

That is a really good idea -- and I think I might try to do that!

The thing is though. I need to somehow prove to the body shop that it is not only acceptable, but also correct, to put this hitch on the truck in place of the other one. They already have to remove the old one (and deal with all the broken bolts and stuff) and I'd like them to install this one in its place while they have the bumper off and everything.

Also now that I think about it... I have a feeling that for liability purposes they would only install brand new Toyota-branded parts.

 

[AuSeeker]

I found this list of TSBs and Recalls for the 2003 T4R, there are 2 listings mentioning trailer hitch, but the summaries of them don't seems to be the one you're looking for but thought you may like the list anyway.

2003 TOYOTA 4 RUNNER Factory Technical Service Bulletin - TSB | AutoCodes.com

 

[boxtree619]

That is a really good idea -- and I think I might try to do that!

The thing is though. I need to somehow prove to the body shop that it is not only acceptable, but also correct, to put this hitch on the truck in place of the other one. They already have to remove the old one (and deal with all the broken bolts and stuff) and I'd like them to install this one in its place while they have the bumper off and everything.

Also now that I think about it... I have a feeling that for liability purposes they would only install brand new Toyota-branded parts.

If that's the case, then perhaps you can inquire how much the V8 Hitch would be brand new and then work something out with the insurance where you can pay the difference between the V8 hitch and the V6 hitch.

 

[Montego Murph]

Boxtree I'm not opposed to that idea.

I did contact a local Toyota dealer and he looked at every bulletin between 2002 and 2006 and he found nothing as well.

I'm dealing with a body shop and insurance adjuster who insist that when they repair my truck, they will not install anything other than OEM equipment based on the VIN. I want to prove that the upgraded hitch IS a Toyota sanctioned part, but for some reason mine was not done.

For those searching the thread at a later date, this information might be useful to you. I received this in a private message, but out of respect for the writer I'll leave his name off:

My memory may be suspect, but I do seem to recall that the TSB was not a mandatory service recall. It was only to be applied to a customers vehicle if there was a specific complaint about towing capacities being reduced from the factory advertised ratings in the vehicle brochures. From what I remember hearing, if there was no customer complaint, Toyota would not make an active push on the issue. With the amount of time that has passed, I am pretty sure Toyota will not honor any upgrade requests now.​

So that's where I am right now.

 

[Whammy]

Hello all,

I've been searching for the last hour or so and got a lot of good information but I can't find the exact answer to my question. Hopefully someone can help me out.

It is my understanding that Model year 2003 V8 4Runners manufactured before April 2003 (and all V6's) were equipped with a smaller 5K Weight Bearing hitch. Later V8 models came with a more robust 7K Weight Distributing Hitch.

I learned that Toyota offered early 03 V8 owners an upgrade to the improved hitch once it was introduced. I don't know if this was a courtesy replacement, recall, TSB, or a discount price. 13 years later the cost doesn't matter, but any history on this would be appreciated.

The part numbers for project are:
- Hitch assembly - PT 228 89440
- Center Bracket - 08925-35850

Recently I was rear-ended and my receiver (the smaller style) was damaged, and is being replaced as part of the repair. I would like the updated version installed in its place.

Here is what I am looking to learn:

Can anyone help me find a bulletin or any sort of documentation from Toyota that explains this update? I would like to submit this to the body shop so I can have the hitch upgraded at this extremely convenient time.

Understandably, the insurance company would balk at me having upgrades done on their dime, but since this was something that should have been done to the truck when it was new, I might have a chance of them at least working with me. I am not opposed to paying the difference between the parts.

Murph,

You have a couple of options:
1.) If Toyota upgraded the hitch, did they remove the original hitch from inventory. If so, I would think the new part # would supersede the original.
2.) If not and the body shop won't get it, buy the part yourself and use that as part of the deductible paid (if you have one).