Should I Ditch the Hitch?

[GVL]

So I don't plan on ever towing anything with this vehicle, so the only reason I use the hitch is to mount a D-ring shackle for recovery. Would it make more sense to ditch the hitch and get a rear bolt-on shackle mount (assuming there is one) and benefit from the added departure clearance? Or should I just consider it armor and keep it there for bumper and spare protection?

I just spent my allowance on a new AOR plate bumper and winch so the obvious "get a new rear bumper" is going to have to wait a little while.

 

[Arnezie]

Ditch the hitch and gain a few more inches of departure angle

 

[1blink]

Hitch will protect your bumper, if you care about hitting it on departures

 

[CenCalifoothill15]

I'd keep it on for protection for the mean time.

My hitch (rear slider) has saved my bumper from some serious damage, and just for peace of mind if you were ever to get rear ended the hitch would take the blunt of the collision.

Does your hitch have bolts on the ends? If so you could gain some additional rear clearance by doing the hitch mod (flipping the hitch) I gained about 3-4" inches by doing that-

Oh and congrats on the new AOR bumper, thats a cool bumper!

 

[drdolittlerwc]

I have the same hitch/shackle set-up, and yeah, it grinds a little dirt now and again going thru some serious holes and mud. I almost did the same thing (ditch it), but I saw a video on youtube (sorry, I don't have the link but will look for it) that showed how you could do your own rear recovery with your own winch! Hence, I quickly 'recovered' my hitch and put a shackle on it! Haven't had to do such a recovery yet, but feel good to know I can....

Besides, I lost count of the recoveries I've made with that shackle. So till you get some sort of replacement for the shackle, I say keep it...

 

[MasonT4R]

Armor! I drag mine from time to time but it has also saved me a few hard hits that would have surely damaged the bumper.

 

[GVL]

Does your hitch have bolts on the ends? If so you could gain some additional rear clearance by doing the hitch mod (flipping the hitch)

Thanks! that's the first I heard of that but just read a couple threads on it and looks like it might work. My hitch seems to be bolted on with 4 bolts ea side and the plastic bumper cutout would be a breeze with the Dremel.

Perfect solution - still provides rear end protection but gets the low hanging receiver out of the way - add one more item to the mods list.

 

[lewisp]

I personally would vote to keep it on, atleast until you purchase a proper offroad rear bumper. I say this from personal experience, as I have been rear-ended on three separate occasions from a retired police car olice: to a U-Haul truck. If I didn't have it, I would have had major damage! Plus, its always cool to drive away unscathed after the person who hits you does some serious damage to their P.O.S. Like some of the guys said above, it does work well for recoveries and as a rear rock slider of sorts.


Your Rig looks great BTW


Take care

 

[pluton]

I kept bashing my leg on the receiver part of the hitch, plus it frequently hit ground on departures.
I like the protection, however, so I cut off the receiver block and now have the bar without the hitch.
The bar is useable for recovery by wrapping the strap around the bar, so no function[that I care about] is lost.

 

[Full_Throttle]

So I don't plan on ever towing anything with this vehicle, so the only reason I use the hitch is to mount a D-ring shackle for recovery. Would it make more sense to ditch the hitch and get a rear bolt-on shackle mount (assuming there is one) and benefit from the added departure clearance? Or should I just consider it armor and keep it there for bumper and spare protection?

I just spent my allowance on a new AOR plate bumper and winch so the obvious "get a new rear bumper" is going to have to wait a little while.


View attachment 125912

You could always "Mod" it to fit behind your factory bumper......Check my build thread for how I did it.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/120028-my-build-thread-imogene.html#post1124019

 

[KidVermicious]

That's pretty slick, FT. I like it.

 

[white_n_slow]

I scraped mine pretty bad off roading, but never actually got hung up on it, which was my main concern. I wasn't too concerned about rear bumper damage (bumper was a little rusty anyway) so I took mine off. It would be easy enough to make a recovery point that doesn't hang down. Or just throw a strap around your frame crossmember.

Honestly, you could go either way. It's nice protection for parking lots and rear-end fender benders more than anything.

 

[JayRolla]

I keep mine also for protection, been times its come in very handy. But again its also hung me up before. But im sure its saved my rear bumper more than once.

 

[MStudt]

As much as I hate seeing mine on there every day. I'd still leave it on just for the added protection.

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Use it as the basis for a bumper. It'll probably pull a heavier trailer than most aftermarket bumpers, should you ever need to pull a trailer. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/98315-budget-rear-bumper-build.html

 

[Fishwerks]

If you have the spare tire underneath you might as well keep the hitch on in my opinion.

If you want to take it off you can use these for recovery points on the rear - Trackdecal.com - Road Course Decals and Motorsports Graphics (bottom of the page)

Here's the thread about them, he made them for the front but they work on the rear - http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/26221-front-d-ring-mounts.html

 

[Menace Kustoms]

I ditched my hitch, spare tire, and rear bumper. Aside from looking fantastic, it also made the truck a little taller in the rear because of the weight reduction. I love it, and I'll never go back.



I may do a little armor work on the sides and build a receiver that fits in-between the frame rails for recovery, but I seriously love the look.

 

[JayRolla]

I ditched my hitch, spare tire, and rear bumper. Aside from looking fantastic, it also made the truck a little taller in the rear because of the weight reduction. I love it, and I'll never go back.



I may do a little armor work on the sides and build a receiver that fits in-between the frame rails for recovery, but I seriously love the look.

I was going to do this because I was about to buy some 35's. After showing the wife a rig rolling down the street like yours she said she would kill me if I took off the rear bumper. She said it looked broken. LOL.

 

[Menace Kustoms]

Lol, my wife kinda thinks that too, but it's my truck and I think it looks BA. :eyebrows:

 

[tre9er]

I was going to do this because I was about to buy some 35's. After showing the wife a rig rolling down the street like yours she said she would kill me if I took off the rear bumper. She said it looked broken. LOL.

Bedline that ish black in a nice line. Looks much better, IMO