Hitch plate removal?

[esto70]

To make a long story short, I'd like to drill a 2nd hole in the receiver on my hitch plate. I have a hitch-mounted bike rack that doesn't fit deep enough into the receiver, and I'd like to drill a new hole about 1.5 inches closer to the spare tire.

There doesn't seem to be enough room to get in there to drill a hole in the hitch plate, so I think I'm going to have to remove it. And that is the problem...the hitch plate bolts onto the bumper WAY up under the plastic bumper fascia (go take look!), so I think I'm going to have to remove the bumper fascia, also.

So...have any on you removed your hitch plate? Did you have to remove the bumper fascia? Was it a total pain to remove the bumper? Instructions?

I'm trying to decide if all of this is even worth it just to slide my bike rack in an extra inch or two. Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Mike

BTW...my 4runner is a limited, so it has all of the cladding/ground effects.

 

[Koz]

What about drilling another hole in the bike rack and/or adding length to the rack tongue.

Koz

 

[Kmvreter]

To make a long story short... I'm trying to decide if all of this is even worth it ...

Not worth it if it pins into the existing holes. There's no load involved.

 

[Dadstoy]

I agree with the other guys.

If you really want to add another hole see if one of your friends has an angle drill.

 

[philsey]

Man, I don't like the idea of drilling the hole -- it will have to be perfect or the pin won't slide in place. And if you drill it by hand it won't be.

I'd look for another way, probably associated with the bike rack.

 

[Antman]

what about drilling another hole in the bike rack and/or adding length to the rack tongue.

Koz

......+1

 

[1engineer]

What about drilling another hole in the bike rack and/or adding length to the rack tongue.

Koz

Bike Rack will be an easier drill:
1. Can do it right on a press
2. thinner material

 

[harper7]

To make a long story short, I'd like to drill a 2nd hole in the receiver on my hitch plate. I have a hitch-mounted bike rack that doesn't fit deep enough into the receiver, and I'd like to drill a new hole about 1.5 inches closer to the spare tire.

There doesn't seem to be enough room to get in there to drill a hole in the hitch plate, so I think I'm going to have to remove it. And that is the problem...the hitch plate bolts onto the bumper WAY up under the plastic bumper fascia (go take look!), so I think I'm going to have to remove the bumper fascia, also.

So...have any on you removed your hitch plate? Did you have to remove the bumper fascia? Was it a total pain to remove the bumper? Instructions?

I'm trying to decide if all of this is even worth it just to slide my bike rack in an extra inch or two. Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Mike

BTW...my 4runner is a limited, so it has all of the cladding/ground effects.

Plastic rear bumper cover has to come off first to get to the 6 bolts holding the hitch plate on. Same as front.....after you get all the bolts out ,pull outward at wheel wells to release it and then ,straight back tilting it up a little from the bottom to release the clips under the tail lights.Bumper cover comes off pretty easy really but the 6 bolts ,I believe, holding the hitch plate on are really tight. Use a breaker bar or long wrench .
You'll find the link to the factory repair manual from Nashman69G here.... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/92594-modifications-write-ups-quick-links.html

 

[Uneek]

I wouldn't drill the receiver hitch on the 4Runner, it'll compromise it's strength if you ever need to tow. I would mod the bike rack instead.

I never looked under a 5th gen, but on the 4th gen sometimes the position of the spare would get in the way. Dropping the spare and shifting it forward fixes it. What some people have done with accessories that don't work on the 4th gen due to the shallow receiver is cut down the protrusion so that it will clear the hitch. This could be another option similar to what Koz's.