Tow Hitch Replacement Nightmare

[RickyCRX]

Installing the 7k lb hitch receiver is easy... I just removed the entire rear bumper in one piece (goes all the way to each rear wheel well), and it was a piece of cake. Took a little over an hour by myself with just basic hand tools.

Of course those bolts are going to be tight.... They need to make sure that hitch receiver doesn't move when it'll pulling, stopping, and turning 5-7,000 lbs.

Ricky

 

[Gio]

Hi guys.
Thanks to you and this great forum I just installed the 70411 hitch that I found on Ebay for $50.00.Looks pretty good!
Did it in a couple of hours by my self , thanks to the instructions found here.
I have just one doubt about bolts torque, not sure if I did it right.
I am afraid I over-tight them.
Can anybody shed some light on the subject for me?
Thanks.
Gio.

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[RickyCRX]

I was actually very surprised by how low the torque values were for some of the bolts on the hitch when I read the instructions. I basically torqued them to the proper amount, then went just a little more for good measure. I haven't had any troubles at this point, but if you went too tight, you want to make sure you didn't fatigue the bolts by significantly overtightening them. That could cause them to actually be weaker and fail.

Ricky

 

[Gio]

I basically torqued them to the proper amount, then went just a little more for good measure.

Hey Ricky, pardon my ignorance, but could you tell me what was the proper amount you used?
Thanks again .
Gio.

 

[RickyCRX]

I think most of the specs were between 40 and 60 ft/lbs of torque... I think I went up to ~70-80ft/lbs for most of the larger bolts... I didn't want to go tooooo far, but I think if you went until they were pretty tight and didn't try to go beyond that, you should be fine.

I also peeled the center 'hidden hitch' sticker off of mine before I installed it. Looks much more clean (OEM/factory) that way.

Taking the rear bumper off wasn't nearly as big of a job as I had originally thought it would be. I only had one of the little plastic 'buttons' break on me when I tried to take it out. It was one of the little plastic plugs that is on the inside of the hatch on one of the sides where the bumper and hatch meet each other when it closes... I have never bothered to get another one, as I put it back in and have never noticed it since.

I'm surprised you were able to still find the 70411 hitch. I really want to know why they ended up discontinuing that hitch because it's so much nicer than the newer ones they have that require trimming of the rear bumper cover, and the newer ones also aren't designed for 5,000lbs weight-carrying. Also, that's steal of a price you got. I think mine was around $120 or so from e-trailer.com (of which none of these places stock that hitch any more).

Ricky

 

[Gio]

Thanks Ricky.
I probably went a little higher on the torque . But should OK.
I only wish there was a easy way to put back the two little bolts under the bumper, I cut one up but could not screw it in there still.
Happy trails.
Gio.

 

[vxphan]

Hi afsu, What are you going to do with the OEM 5000lbs hitch. Can you sale it to me. I need just a small one to carry bicycles.

Thanks
VP

 

[Uneek]

Hi afsu, What are you going to do with the OEM 5000lbs hitch. Can you sale it to me. I need just a small one to carry bicycles.

Thanks
VP

If you have a '06+ V6 and did not have a hitch from the factory, you may need to cut your bumper. There are two different bumpers, one has a cut out for the V8s and the V6s with the optional hitch and another bumper that doesn't have the cut out for 4Runners without the hitch.

 

[vxphan]

Yes, I have a cut on the bumper. It is a V6 but no hitch.

Thanks

 

[Uneek]

Yes, I have a cut on the bumper. It is a V6 but no hitch.

Thanks

Lucky for you. Mine didn't come with the hitch nor the cutout. I have the HiddenHitch #70779. The bumper gets tucked up a bit cause of the hitch, nothing noticeable to the unsuspecting.

 

[qsg1119]

mine also didn't come with the hitch, so no existing bumper cutout. just bought the OEM hitch from toyota, if I had know there were cheaper ones I should have got them instead...stealerships...anyways, the hitch is already installed. I have an 06 4runner V6 Sport ed, no bumper cutout, do I still need the center support bracket??? If I need it, what's the best way to cut the bumper without messing the paint???