Question for those who have built their own rear bumper.

[poser]

One of the projects I want to eventually tackle is making myself a rear bumper with a swing out tire carrier.
Here's my question: what did you guys do with your tow/receiver hitch?
Did you leave it where it was (below your bumper)?
Or did you incorporate a new one into the bumper and tossed the old?

I have this idea to modify the receiver hitch to raise it up and sit in line with the fame, and then build the bumper around that.
What do you think?

 

[Bandit Runner]

In my opinion, if you are building a new bumper anyway, it is easier just to start from scratch and incorporate a receiver into the new bumper.

Just throwing this out there:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/184735-build-your-own-bandit-bumper.html

 

[bmodo16]

I have to agree with bandit. I just built my own and incorporated the receiver. I gained about 6 inches or so of clearance so my departure angle is a lot better.

 

[poser]

My thought was that the stock hitch is a decent design and strong enough to handle a trailer.
It's going to be a while before I tackle this one, so I've got plenty of time to think and plan.

 

[mark21742]

I'm lazy, so i left the factory tow hitch and built my bumper above it like the stock one was.

 

[Alabamaguy]

Removed my hitch so that I could gain some departure angle with plans to go back and incorporate a receiver...I still need to do that.

 

[MandAtaco]

Yea, build the hitch into the bumper. The factory one hangs way low.