Had and expensive ($600) fishing rod/cooler rack I took off my Tahoe when I bought the T4R, naturally wanted to use it. Searched a ton of hitch makers, most are supplied by Curt, but couldn't find a front mounting bracket. I could have gotten a rear swing away mount to fit into the rear receiver but that would be a nuisance and take away the use of the rear hitch. I decided to make my own using a Curt front hitch design for FJ Cruiser & older T4R's as Curt would not confirm a fit onto the redesigned 2010.
1. removed 4 plastic under panels from the fenders and skid plate
2. made a template from cardboard/wood/pvc. Had to remake it 3 times until it fit exactly as I wanted. Fastened everything solidly and fit a final time.
3.took it to an aluminum fabricator since I couldn't fing someone who worked in steel to make it up. Cost me $250 (ouch) but it looks good and works. Note: should be made out of steel as the aluminum flexes too much. The side uprights were made out of 1/4" diamond plate, the cross bar was 2" aluminum box tubing, the round rod rack holders were alum tubing slightly larger then the tubing on the rod rack.
4. with just a little cleanup with a file the aluminum bracket fit solidly under the front frame. It is bolted on each sider where the bumper bolts to the frame using 2 of 3 bolts on each side.
5.had to cut away sections of the plastic paneling removed in step 1 and all but one piece was put back. Could've left them off but didn't want sand to get into everything. With careful cutting you get a tight fitting professional look.
6. made 1" thick spacers of pressure treated hardwook to fill the gap between the uprights and front tow hooks. Drilled a hole through the uprights and wood and ran a long ss bolt from front of diamond plate through the tow eyes. Bolted in place with a metal spacer across the eye. Initially seemed plenty strong.
7. With a large, full heavy cooler in the rack the diamond plate uprights sagged. Ultimately fixed by running steel cable with quick release snaps through the grill to the upper radiator support bracket, works fine. A better choice would be reinforcing the the diamond plate or getting bracket made out of steel. Using steel and replacing the round tubing for the rod rack with
2" receiver tubing you could use the bracket as a front trailer or winch hitch.
8. finished the job by drilling horizontal holes through the receiver tubing and rod rack tubing and installed ss bolts and nuts to lock it in place and prevent theft.
A lot of work but I am happy with the result and it looks great. My friends say I have a lean, mean fishing machine.
Pictures in my albums.
1. removed 4 plastic under panels from the fenders and skid plate
2. made a template from cardboard/wood/pvc. Had to remake it 3 times until it fit exactly as I wanted. Fastened everything solidly and fit a final time.
3.took it to an aluminum fabricator since I couldn't fing someone who worked in steel to make it up. Cost me $250 (ouch) but it looks good and works. Note: should be made out of steel as the aluminum flexes too much. The side uprights were made out of 1/4" diamond plate, the cross bar was 2" aluminum box tubing, the round rod rack holders were alum tubing slightly larger then the tubing on the rod rack.
4. with just a little cleanup with a file the aluminum bracket fit solidly under the front frame. It is bolted on each sider where the bumper bolts to the frame using 2 of 3 bolts on each side.
5.had to cut away sections of the plastic paneling removed in step 1 and all but one piece was put back. Could've left them off but didn't want sand to get into everything. With careful cutting you get a tight fitting professional look.
6. made 1" thick spacers of pressure treated hardwook to fill the gap between the uprights and front tow hooks. Drilled a hole through the uprights and wood and ran a long ss bolt from front of diamond plate through the tow eyes. Bolted in place with a metal spacer across the eye. Initially seemed plenty strong.
7. With a large, full heavy cooler in the rack the diamond plate uprights sagged. Ultimately fixed by running steel cable with quick release snaps through the grill to the upper radiator support bracket, works fine. A better choice would be reinforcing the the diamond plate or getting bracket made out of steel. Using steel and replacing the round tubing for the rod rack with
2" receiver tubing you could use the bracket as a front trailer or winch hitch.
8. finished the job by drilling horizontal holes through the receiver tubing and rod rack tubing and installed ss bolts and nuts to lock it in place and prevent theft.
A lot of work but I am happy with the result and it looks great. My friends say I have a lean, mean fishing machine.
Pictures in my albums.
always better with them in the actual thread.
