Our 05 4R came from the factory with a trailer hitch receiver, but...

[Threxx~]

... not the piece that extends out from there to actually connect a trailer to (the generally silver thing with a ball on it).

I've just got very little experience towing, so I guess I need some education here.

Do those generally come with the trailers themselves? Should it have come with our 4runner? Do I need to go buy one separately?

Is there anything I should know about a factory installed receiver kit like that? I read about 'class I, II, III'... which class would the factory setup be and what difference does that make to me?

 

[eskimochaos]

... not the piece that extends out from there to actually connect a trailer to (the generally silver thing with a ball on it).

I've just got very little experience towing, so I guess I need some education here.

Do those generally come with the trailers themselves? Should it have come with our 4runner? Do I need to go buy one separately?

Is there anything I should know about a factory installed receiver kit like that? I read about 'class I, II, III'... which class would the factory setup be and what difference does that make to me?

Look in the passenger side compartment in the trunk if you dont have the JBL system - should be in there. If not just check all the compartments in the trunk.

 

[climb.on]

... not the piece that extends out from there to actually connect a trailer to (the generally silver thing with a ball on it).

I've just got very little experience towing, so I guess I need some education here.

Do those generally come with the trailers themselves? Should it have come with our 4runner? Do I need to go buy one separately?

Is there anything I should know about a factory installed receiver kit like that? I read about 'class I, II, III'... which class would the factory setup be and what difference does that make to me?

What are you trying to tow?

Stop in a trailer or RV shop and they will get you setup with everything you need.

The hitch is the thing that bolts to the frame and has the receiver (2"x2" square hole). Most people call that thing that sticks out back the "hitch" but it is actually called the "drawbar." You will need to purchase one. I have found a 2" drop on my drawbar works well for most all the trailers I tow, to keep them level. Most trailers that you can tow with your truck will take a 2" ball. Occasionally, some small trailers will have a 1 7/8" ball and large trailers will take a 2 5/16" ball. No need to get all 3 unless you know you will need them. a 2" drop with a 2" ball will likely cover you for most towing situations.

I believe most T4R factory hitches are class 3 (5000lbs) on V6's and Class IV on V8's (7000lbs). It should say in your manual/paperwork or it may be stamped right on the hitch itself. If you are getting close to these weight with your trailer, you may need some things like weight distribution, sway control, and a brake controller. You may also need a wireing adapter. The hitch on my truck has a 7 pole plug but my small trailer has a 4 pole plug, so I use an adapter to so trailer lights can connect to my truck. Make sure you have the right setup before you tow! There are serious consequences if you get it wrong.

Here is link toa site that has some good basic info about hitches, towing capacities, etc.

 

[TechWrench]

... not the piece that extends out from there to actually connect a trailer to (the generally silver thing with a ball on it).

I've just got very little experience towing, so I guess I need some education here.

Do those generally come with the trailers themselves? Should it have come with our 4runner? Do I need to go buy one separately?

Is there anything I should know about a factory installed receiver kit like that? I read about 'class I, II, III'... which class would the factory setup be and what difference does that make to me?

The part you are talking about is the ball mount. You should have gotten one with the vehicle. Mine came in a cardboard box. It will not have the actual ball, you will have to get one to fit the trailer you intend to pull. They come in many different configurations, depending on the height of the trailer tongue when it is riding level. If you already have the trailer, block or jack the tongue to make the trailer frame sit level to the ground. Then back up to the tongue and using a straight edge placed inside the square receiver hole and aligned with the top inside surface, see how that line meets the bottom edge of the trailer tongue where the hitch ball fits into. If it is even, you need a ball mount with '0' drop. If the trailer tongue is lower, you will need a ball mount with enough drop to have the upper surface just under the trailer tongue. If the trailer tongue is too high, then you will need a ball mount with a rise instead. The ball mounts can be reversed to make them fit. In other words, if the ball mount is made with a 4" drop, and you reverse it, it will have a 2" rise. If none of this makes any sense, you should go to a shop that installs hitches, and they should be able to fix you up.

 

[RickC]

I have never seen the drawbar come with the vehicle. My new Tundra didn't and my Ford F150 didn't. Neither did my Sequioa. If you got one, then that is interesting. Either way, they aren't expensive and can be bought at Walmart even. But like a previous poster mentioned, you need to know what you are towing and what size ball it needs so that you buy the right ball for the drawbar. The hitch on all 4runners that I have seen takes the 2 inch drawbar which is a class 3/4.

You can also buy the 7pin to 4pin adapters at walmart for like 7.00. Or you can get one at the dealer as well. Most utility trailers use a 4pin wiring harness and most late model Toyotas have the 7pin round connection. But the adapter will fix you right up.

 

[Jeffrey_VB]

Re: Re: Our 05 4R came from the factory with a trailer hitch receiver, but...

Look in the passenger side compartment in the trunk if you dont have the JBL system -

That's where mine was.

 

[TechWrench]

One additional bit of advice, from my experience and others, test fit any ball mount you buy aftermarket for fit in your receiver. Mine, and many '03/'04's had a problem with the oem receiver being a little too tight with some aftermarket ball mounts and other receiver mounted accessories. Apparently Toyota was a little tight with their manufacturing specs, and some aftermarket devices would fit VERY snugly in the receiver, and in some cases be hard to remove, once inserted. As I recall, in later years a production change was made to open up the 2" receiver hole a bit. Before I removed the oem receiver and installed an upgraded Valley unit, I had to try several NAPA ball mounts before I found one that didn't get stuck going in, and need a hammer to remove it. Also, because the spare is mounted so close to the back of the hitch receiver socket, some ball mounts will hit the spare before the lock pin holes will line up. In some cases, just loosening the spare and pushing it as far to the front of the vehicle as possible will work. In other cases, you will have to cut some of the ball mount shaft off to make it work.

 

[RickC]

One additional bit of advice, from my experience and others, test fit any ball mount you buy aftermarket for fit in your receiver. Mine, and many '03/'04's had a problem with the oem receiver being a little too tight with some aftermarket ball mounts and other receiver mounted accessories. Apparently Toyota was a little tight with their manufacturing specs, and some aftermarket devices would fit VERY snugly in the receiver, and in some cases be hard to remove, once inserted. As I recall, in later years a production change was made to open up the 2" receiver hole a bit. Before I removed the oem receiver and installed an upgraded Valley unit, I had to try several NAPA ball mounts before I found one that didn't get stuck going in, and need a hammer to remove it. Also, because the spare is mounted so close to the back of the hitch receiver socket, some ball mounts will hit the spare before the lock pin holes will line up. In some cases, just loosening the spare and pushing it as far to the front of the vehicle as possible will work. In other cases, you will have to cut some of the ball mount shaft off to make it work.

I have this exact problem. I knew it must be the 4runner because the same drawbar has worked perfectly on my last 4 vehicles, two of which were Toyota. I did have to move my spare up too as you said. But the drawbar is a little snug, but the real problem I have is getting the pin to install. It's way tight.

 

[4boer]

A couple of tips from a guy who does some towing....

-Tow in 4 not D. Your trans will thank you.

-It's not the going, it's the stopping thats important. Everybody is going to try and get in front of you so expect to be cut off.

-You must be sure the coupler (thing on the trailer tounge that drops on the ball) is secure. Many folks don't double check. Make sure the latch under the coupler is fully open when you drop it on the ball. Close latch. Then, if your trailer has a wheel jack, jack it up untill you are lifting the rear of the T4R. That way you know its on. No wheel jack? You and a buddy lift on the trailer tounge untill your lifting the T4R. Many times the latch isnt all the way open and the coupler is just resting in the ball. Bad things will soon follow. Then use a lock on the latch. Pins can wiggle out.

-cross the trailer chains-

-if the trailer has an emergancy brake cable hook that to the T4R. Dont hook it on the chains

-Make sure your lights and turn signals work.

I'll be towing about 800 miles this weekend