Front hitch advice please

[jjdbike]

Hi folks.
I need a front 2" receiver for my 2011 SR5. I'll use it for a removable front cooler / surf-rod rack. I already have the rack. There seems to be a couple options.
Specifically I'd like one the won't cost me ground clearance & prefer it to not look terrible.
Any experience or suggestions?
JD

 

[philsey]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ner-owner-need-help-searching-start-here.html

There are threads on this if you search.

 

[wbstru]

I used a Curt Hitch on my 2011 trail. It has worked out great . took about a hour to install. I believe the Trail hitchs are different from other models. So check part numbers. There are some plastic pieces I left off . I could have modified them, but it didn't hurt any thing.

 

[jjdbike]

Thanks folks. I have a 2011 SR5 & I Don't mind remving plastic as long as it dosen't look terrible.
My main concern is getting a front hitch doesn't lower ground clearance too much, i.e as little as possible.
I contacted J C Whitney and another on line retailer. None of them could tell me if their hitches negatively impacted grind clearence.
Thanks again everyone.
JD

 

[wbstru]

no problems with ground clearance .... hell skid plates are way lower

 

[phillyd2]

Hi folks.
I need a front 2" receiver for my 2011 SR5. I'll use it for a removable front cooler / surf-rod rack. I already have the rack. There seems to be a couple options.
Specifically I'd like one the won't cost me ground clearance & prefer it to not look terrible.
Any experience or suggestions?
JD

Where in PA are you? I happened to have a Curt Front Hitch that was never installed if you want it.

 

[jjdbike]

no problems with ground clearance .... hell skid plates are way lower

Thanks for the reply. With all due respect, are you absolutely positive that the Curt 31054 front hitch dosen't lower ground clearance?
I heard back from Curt and they told me it lowered ground clearance by a couple of inches and I can't have that.
Does anyone know of a front hitch I can use on an '11 4Runner SR5 that won't cost me ground clearance? I'm willing to lose some plastic.
Thanks.
JD

 

[jjdbike]

Thanks for the reply. With all due respect, are you absolutely positive that the Curt 31054 front hitch dosen't lower ground clearance?
I heard back from Curt and they told me it lowered ground clearance by a couple of inches and I can't have that.
Does anyone know of a front hitch I can use on an '11 4Runner SR5 that won't cost me ground clearance? I'm willing to lose some plastic.
Thanks.
JD

I’m not sure but I may have read somewhere that the front hitch for the trail edition may not cost ground clearance. Is that the case? If so, can I modify my SR5 to make that hitch fit so it wouldn’t cost ground clearance?
JD

 

[badhabits]

This is the one for the Trail but it will fit if you remove the plastic air dam. No clearance changes.
Amazon.com: CURT 31367 Front Mount Receiver: Automotive

 

[jjdbike]

This is the one for the Trail but it will fit if you remove the plastic air dam. No clearance changes.
Amazon.com: CURT 31367 Front Mount Receiver: Automotive

Thanks Bad.

That’s what I was hoping.

I’m not concerned that the vehicle looks perfect, fancy or polished. On the otherhand, does that plastic air dam serve a purpose?

Is that air dam crutial to directing air over the radiator or is it simply for looks? If it is simply to hide / obscure or protect the bottom of the radiator would the trail edition hitch serve that purpose?
JD

 

[phillyd2]

This is the one for the Trail but it will fit if you remove the plastic air dam. No clearance changes.
Amazon.com: CURT 31367 Front Mount Receiver: Automotive

Its been many years since I looked into all this but I don't think you are correct. If I remember they had two versions - Trail and Non Trail - for a reason.

The Trail version does mount higher but we have had a few members here go with the Non version and it did not seem low to a point where it was an issue.

Again, just going by memory here so feel free to correct.

 

[badhabits]

I think this thread might be the one that answers the questions.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/138054-question-those-curt-31367-front-hitch.html

 

[jjdbike]

SR5 high & tight!

Hi folks.
I installed the Curt hitch for the 5th gen trail on my ’11 SR5. I didn’t want the one for the SR5 because it hurt my ground clearance. The one for the trail is high & tight! It’s a bit receeded which is fine for me as I’ll only use it for a front surf rod/cooler rack that has an extension & as a recovery point. I did need to remove the bottom front black plastic air dam & a couple other pieces of black plastic from underneath. It only required 4 bolts / attatchement points. It did take a bit of work to remove all of the screws and fasteners for the plastic that needed to be removed.
Here are pics.