Towing hitch question - Retaining clip problem

[hotrunner]

Hi All,


I have retained my old toyota tongue with a 2inch ball that I had purchased with my old 99 Runner.

Yesterday, I have tried to insert this tongue into my 04 hitch and the halls for the retaining pin did not align by about a quarter of an inch. I have cut shortedned the tongue by the same distance and now the pin fits perfectly.

However, there is no room to insert the retaining clip all the way (Toyota 04 stock hitch is too short). One can only lock the clip in the middle position. I went to Toyota dealer to find out if the 04 trailer tongue available through special order will have the same issue with the clip. They told me that it will be the same as my existing tongue. They also new about the problem with 09 tongue fitting on 03/04. One of the Toyota techs came out to see my truck. He told me that the clip has to be left in the middle position and not be pushed all the way. I disagreed saying that I have always been able to insert it all the way in my old truck and do not feel secure leaving that pin in the middle groove.

He said that this is how it is suppose to fit.


Am I the only one with this habit.? Can you guys tell me how that pin should be installed.


Help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bluewolf]

I've always left the retaining pin in the middle notch and never had a problem with it moving or popping off. There is no strain on it, after all.

 

[rensho]

I feel your pain. the hitch design for 03+ is silly and braindead, regardless of the clip position. Toy has left so little room in there, it makes it yet another thing to deal with.
I now use a small luggage lock instead of a pin.

 

[leftyrb]

I don't use the clip, but rather a locking pin that gets around the issue you have.

 

[TechWrench]

Hi All,


I have retained my old toyota tongue with a 2inch ball that I had purchased with my old 99 Runner.

Yesterday, I have tried to insert this tongue into my 04 hitch and the halls for the retaining pin did not align by about a quarter of an inch. I have cut shortedned the tongue by the same distance and now the pin fits perfectly.

However, there is no room to insert the retaining clip all the way (Toyota 04 stock hitch is too short). One can only lock the clip in the middle position. I went to Toyota dealer to find out if the 04 trailer tongue available through special order will have the same issue with the clip. They told me that it will be the same as my existing tongue. They also new about the problem with 09 tongue fitting on 03/04. One of the Toyota techs came out to see my truck. He told me that the clip has to be left in the middle position and not be pushed all the way. I disagreed saying that I have always been able to insert it all the way in my old truck and do not feel secure leaving that pin in the middle groove.

He said that this is how it is suppose to fit.


Am I the only one with this habit.? Can you guys tell me how that pin should be installed.


Help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because of the position of the spare, there is not a lot of room for the ball mount to extend into the receiver. I had to shop around to find one from NAPA that would fit without cutting. And Toyota only has the factory supplied ball mount with a 2 1/2" drop. No others available as of yet. As for the pin lock, I believe the 'center' notch is the correct position for it. I have used this type of pin on many different applications and have never lost one if it was in good condition and properly sized to the pin. There is nothing wrong with pushing it on to the last notch, but it shouldn't be necessary.

 

[hotrunner]

Thank you all for all your replies. I feel better now leaving the clip in the middle notch