Installed Weight Distributing Hitch

[LV4R]

Well I recently installed the hidden hitch weight distributing hitch and let me tell you I do not recommend this to anyone. It was a real pain to install and there are bolts in the side of that rear fascia above the hitch that are incrediby tough to get out. After about 50 cuss words and some super sore hands I managed to get them out. When I went to remove the plastic I managed to bust the tabs off. Not a real big deal as the bolts hold the bumper quite well. It took me about 5 hours to do total and looks pretty slick. I didnt take any pictures of the install unfortunately but I will post some pics of the final result soon.

 

[LV4R]

Here are the pics

 

[Uneek]

LV4R,

What model is your hitch? I ordered the 70411 and I wonder if I'll have that challenge that you had. I currently don't have a hitch installed from the factory and my bumper doesn't have the cutout/notch either. I don't plan on towing with it, but using it to mount accessories.

Edit: You were able to reinstall the factory tow hook? I take it you had to remove the factory mounting plate for the wiring socket?

Thanks.

 

[sbbamafan]

That looks like the 70411 that I put on a couple of weeks ago. No offense but you did something wrong if it took you 5 hours. I did it in 2 hours and had to do it 2 1/2 times because I didn't follow the directions to a 'T'. It is less than an hour job if you do it right and follow the directions. Having the right tools helps too, although nothing fancy is needed. The two bolts above the receiver are definately the most difficult, but it was easier for you becasue your fascia had the notch for the factory hitch. The fascia on the '06 V6 is straight all the way apart.

 

[leftyrb]

I heard that installing the hitch was a pain, so I sought out quotes for installed prices from two dealers.

Have had it for about 2 years and works better than the factory hitch, especially that they have relocated the trailer plug in.

 

[LV4R]

On my 05 it was a bear to install as there are bolts in the side of the fascia that are virtually impossible to get to. They have to be removed in order to lift up the plastic to access the upper bolts. Those alone took me an hour to remove. I imagine that the 06 does not have these. Removing these was the only way to access the upper mounting bolts to remove the old hitch and reinstall the new.

Uneek, that is the 70411. I did have to remove the factory wiring socket and it gets relocated to where you see it now. It is a much better location. You can reinstall the factory tow hook as well.

Apparently if you have an 06 it may be easier as sbbamafan has found. It may not have taken me 5 hours to do the actual install but the total time invested was around 5 hours.

Good luck!

 

[RickyCRX]

All you had to do was remove the rear bumper cover... All three pieces (wraps around all the way to the rear tires) come off together in a single large piece. I did it by myself in about 10 minutes after I figured out that there was no way to get to the top bolts on the original hitch without possibly mangling the rear bumper cover.

I didn't spend more than an hour and a half doing the entire installation in my driveway including putting everything back together and cleaning up.

Ricky

 

[LV4R]

All you had to do was remove the rear bumper cover... All three pieces (wraps around all the way to the rear tires) come off together in a single large piece. I did it by myself in about 10 minutes after I figured out that there was no way to get to the top bolts on the original hitch without possibly mangling the rear bumper cover.

I didn't spend more than an hour and a half doing the entire installation in my driveway including putting everything back together and cleaning up.

Ricky

DAM I wish I would have known this beforehand!! How did you remove it?? I may need to remove it again to adjust the hitch but I am dreading it because I thought I would have to go through that process again! Please inform me! Thanks!

 

[RickyCRX]

Okay, open the hatch and you'll see a whole bunch of bolts at the top of the bumper going across... Remove all of those. On each end, you'll see two plastic clips on each side... You will need to pull the middle pin out, then remove those. I couldn't get those to come out on my bumper, so once I got everything else loosened, I just yanked on the bumper and they broke free. I think two of them broke on me, but they're probably pretty cheap at the dealer; I never replaced mine, as they still looked okay when I put them back in.

Next, if you have rear mudflaps, remove them. Once removed, you will see few bolts in the fender-well that hold the front edges of the bumper on. I think there are three or four on each side; just stick your head in there and you'll see them. You don't need to take a tire off or jack up the vehicle or anything like that to get to them. Once you have all of the bolts removed, and there's probably about 12-18 of them in total, then bumper will slide straight back off of the car. If anything is holding it back from coming off, double-check that you got all of the bolts removed from that spot; it wasn't that difficult to pull off of the clips.

If you need any more help, just let me know.... It takes about 10 minutes to take it off with hand tools.

Ricky

 

[LV4R]

Okay, open the hatch and you'll see a whole bunch of bolts at the top of the bumper going across... Remove all of those. On each end, you'll see two plastic clips on each side... You will need to pull the middle pin out, then remove those. I couldn't get those to come out on my bumper, so once I got everything else loosened, I just yanked on the bumper and they broke free. I think two of them broke on me, but they're probably pretty cheap at the dealer; I never replaced mine, as they still looked okay when I put them back in.

Next, if you have rear mudflaps, remove them. Once removed, you will see few bolts in the fender-well that hold the front edges of the bumper on. I think there are three or four on each side; just stick your head in there and you'll see them. You don't need to take a tire off or jack up the vehicle or anything like that to get to them. Once you have all of the bolts removed, and there's probably about 12-18 of them in total, then bumper will slide straight back off of the car. If anything is holding it back from coming off, double-check that you got all of the bolts removed from that spot; it wasn't that difficult to pull off of the clips.

If you need any more help, just let me know.... It takes about 10 minutes to take it off with hand tools.

Ricky

Nice thanks for the tips Ricky, much appreciated! I am glad you found the easier way of doing this because the way I did it was a nightmare to say the least.

 

[RickyCRX]

Yeah, I actually went out there to put it on one night, looked at how much of a pain it was going to be, and decided to put it aside for another week until I could get at it with a clearer head and more time available.... Once I figured out how to get the bumper off, it was a cakewalk.

I installed a hidden hitch on our Integra many years ago and it wasn't that difficult, so I figured it shouldn't be too bad for the 4Runner, either. It wasn't after I got past that part.

Ricky

 

[Spider5]

What is the advantage of changing the stock hitch for the Hidden Hitch?

 

[LV4R]

What is the advantage of changing the stock hitch for the Hidden Hitch?

It raises the towing capacity when you change to a weight distributing hitch.

 

[Spider5]

It raises the towing capacity when you change to a weight distributing hitch.

A weight distribution hitch is an external mechanical devise that is added to the trailer to spring-load the hitch to push more of the load onto the front wheels.

 

[Uneek]

What is the advantage of changing the stock hitch for the Hidden Hitch?

The Hidden Hitch attaches to the frame rails that run the length of the truck. The factory V6 hitch is a weight carrying hitch that is attached only to the rear cross member (behind the bumper). Hidden Hitch has two models, the 70411 rated for 7000lbs and the 70779 rated for 5000lbs. Both attach to the frame rails, but the 70411 also has an attachment point like the factory V8 hitch behind the bumper on the last cross member. The 70779 does not have that attachment point above the receiver opening.

A weight distribution hitch is an external mechanical devise that is added to the trailer to spring-load the hitch to push more of the load onto the front wheels.

Maybe a member with tow expertise should correct me. I think the V6 is called a weight carrying because it's only attached to the last cross member and any weight applied will sag the truck. The V8 hitch is called a weight distributing hitch because it can transfer some of the weight on the hitch to the frame and spread it over both the front and rear wheels.