Trailer Hitch Removal (north east)

T

trokedawg

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A search over here yielded nothing so I'm throwing this out there. Does anyone on here have any level of experience with removing the trailer hitch? I'm looking to take mine off to give it a once over with an angle grinder to prime and paint it (it's pretty rusty after 8 northeastern winters).

I dropped my spare, removed my bumper and pb blasted all of the lock washers inside of the hitch and tried my hardest with a 3/4 inch ratchet to loosens those bolts, but even being a fairly big guy i couldn't persuade them even the slightest bit.

I fear breaking those bolts off and getting one stuck inside of the lock washers on the frame. Wouldn't be sure what to do in that scenario.

Does anyone know of a better technique to drop the trailer hitch while maintaining the ability to bolt it back up? Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
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if you don't have an impact, i would find a smaller shop that would be kind enough to loosen them up for a small fee or less. probably your best bet.
 
I woudn't bet on that but I think the nuts inside the frame are not welded. Removing the bolts will almost certainly result in nuts lost in your frame. But if your rear bumper is out, you might be able to get the nut by the end of the frame if it's opened.

Personnaly, I would just cut them and buy new ones.
 
i just took mine off last night had the same problems, take a torch to it.. i used a butane canister to it..let it cook for a min and the blots will unscrew.
 
Charlee78 said:
Are the nuts welded to the frame?
Click to expand...

On my factory hitch ('99 4Runner) there are four bolts on each side. Two of the nuts on each side are welded to the frame. The other two are welded to a small spring steel strip that extends almost to the end of the frame member. Once the bolts are out, you can pull it out the back of the frame member. If you have this, you will be able to stick your fingers in the back end of the frame and find the end of the strip. To reinstall, you have to hold the strip in position and get the nut over the hole so that you can thread the bolt to it.

Also, the thread pitch on those bolts is extra fine and not easy to come across. Toyota had to order them, but I asked a trailer guy down the street and he gave me some for free--said he'd pulled them and they wouldn't work on anything else. So I went back and cancelled my order. FREE beats dealer price every time.
 
TheDurk said:
On my factory hitch ('99 4Runner) there are four bolts on each side. Two of the nuts on each side are welded to the frame. The other two are welded to a small spring steel strip that extends almost to the end of the frame member. Once the bolts are out, you can pull it out the back of the frame member. If you have this, you will be able to stick your fingers in the back end of the frame and find the end of the strip. To reinstall, you have to hold the strip in position and get the nut over the hole so that you can thread the bolt to it.

Also, the thread pitch on those bolts is extra fine and not easy to come across. Toyota had to order them, but I asked a trailer guy down the street and he gave me some for free--said he'd pulled them and they wouldn't work on anything else. So I went back and cancelled my order. FREE beats dealer price every time.
Click to expand...

got pictures of the factory Hitch? I have a 99 too but i don't think mine has a factory hitch.
 
trokedawg said:
A search over here yielded nothing so I'm throwing this out there. Does anyone on here have any level of experience with removing the trailer hitch? I'm looking to take mine off to give it a once over with an angle grinder to prime and paint it (it's pretty rusty after 8 northeastern winters).

I dropped my spare, removed my bumper and pb blasted all of the lock washers inside of the hitch and tried my hardest with a 3/4 inch ratchet to loosens those bolts, but even being a fairly big guy i couldn't persuade them even the slightest bit.

I fear breaking those bolts off and getting one stuck inside of the lock washers on the frame. Wouldn't be sure what to do in that scenario.

Does anyone know of a better technique to drop the trailer hitch while maintaining the ability to bolt it back up? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...


Paint it on the 4runner and save yourself the aggravation.
 
anyone tried to take one off a 02?....possible?
Click to expand...

I took mine off about a month ago. The bolts were rusted pretty good. Some of them broke off. And some just turned and turned without ever coming loose. I ended up cutting several of them off with an angle grinder.

So it is possible, but mine was a PITA.

Good luck.
 
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