Rear Hitches

[slyangel9]

I can't help but to notice the many different variations of hitches on our 4th Gen 4runner, even among the ones with the same engine.

What gives?

 

[sharp4runr]

I thought there were only two? One that comes with the V6 and the other on a V8. The V6 hitch is capable of 5000lb while the V8 is a weight distributing hitch capable of towing 7000LB.

 

[slyangel9]

My friend has a V8 Limited and I have a V8 Sport. The hitches are definitely different and yet both can pull 7k lbs.

 

[sharp4runr]

Same years or different years? Also run your VIN numbers, maybe they were put together in different plants (Tahara & HINO)Maybe Toyota switched to a different brand hitch during production...

 

[LSUMBA]

My friend has a V8 Limited and I have a V8 Sport. The hitches are definitely different and yet both can pull 7k lbs.

Is one of your trucks a 4WD & the other 2WD? I have seen different towing gear on 2WD vs 4WD.

 

[RickyCRX]

If you ever pulled up behind my 4Runner, you'd think something was weird...

I have a "Hidden Hitch" brand, with the label peeled off, mounted on an early-production model '03 2WD V8. I had the weaker rear-crossmember-mounted hitch before, like what the V6's come with.

Ricky

 

[Mark86]

I am not 100% sure, but here is what I think:
2004-2005 V8 (all trims)- 7,000 lb hitch
2003 (all 4Runners) 2004-2005 V6 (all trims)- 5,000 lb hitch

The type of hitch you get depends on the engine, not the trim.

 

[slyangel9]

Mark,

Was your 2003 a different hitch than your 2005. I know you always had the V8.

I think my friend with the V8 Limited is a 2003.

 

[RickyCRX]

Mark86, that is incorrect...

Mid-year in 2003, the V8s were changed over to the 7500lb hitch receiver. (the vehicles themselves are only rated to 7000/7300 depending on 4wd/2wd configuration).

Ricky

 

[sharp4runr]

Mark86, that is incorrect...

Mid-year in 2003, the V8s were changed over to the 7500lb hitch receiver. (the vehicles themselves are only rated to 7000/7300 depending on 4wd/2wd configuration).

Ricky

Yeah I remember reading this. Early 2003 models received the same 5000LB hitch as the V6 right?

 

[Mark86]

Mark,

Was your 2003 a different hitch than your 2005. I know you always had the V8.

I think my friend with the V8 Limited is a 2003.

My 2003 Sport had the 5,000 lb hitch and it had a build date of 2/03. It is different than the hitch on my current truck.