Question VERY dumb Towing ?: 2003 Tundra (pls. help!)

[peterfarhangi]

What a V4 Tundra??? Are you sure your not thinking about the V6??? Or maybe 4WD??? I think I'm lost...

[TheConstantGardener]

No, I meant a V-6. I've already apologized to my truck for that mistake.

[dougg]

the tow hitch IS bolted to the bumper BUT it is also bolted dto the frame. doug

[pdmted]

Something a lot of people dont realize is that the factory class IV hitch that comes on the Double Cabs is no more than a 3" receiver bolted to the bottom of the bumper. Granted, I have not looked at parts breakdowns to see if the bumper structures are different with and without the tow package, but I have had a couple double cab tundras. I know the older access cabs had a conventional frame mounted hitch. If this was indeed the case on your generation truck, then there is nothing safer about towing with a hitch vs. a ball on the bumper.

Make sure you still find a way to use safety chains. You may have to use extensions to get up to your frame, or put 2 large eye bolts through the outter holes of the step bumper.

[T-sak12m]

Ok all of you need to go out and look at the rear bumper of your trucks! That thing is solid and is mounted to the frame! I ran into this same problem on my 02 AC and had to do a quick fix so I could tow a buddies Trailer! For a quick fix run over to your nearest Harbor Freight and pick this up Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices Then you need to run to your local junk yard and find a wrecked Tundra with a tow package and pull the wiring harness off or you can make your own like I did but I would recommend going to the junk yard! You will have to go to Home Depot or Lowes to pick up the correct bolts and washers to put this thing on but once you have everything it will bolt on in about 2 hours in your garage with no special tools! I have some pics of mine when I put it on so if you would like those pics just let me know and I can get em up here! I have since gone with an actual receiver and a 7 pin electrical with brake controller so I can tow larger and heavier things but this is a quick and simple fix to your problem! Hope this helps!

[zootjeff]

Originally Posted by TheConstantGardener

Hello,

This is my first post and I'm completely new to towing so please help me out.

I am trying to tow a rather large wood chipper my father-in-law rented over to my house across town. I've been running around all day trying to find a "tounge"(?) I can bolt onto the chipper's neck (the company took their's when they dropped it off). Then I can attach the tounge to a 2" ball, right? I was going to borrow my friends Toyota but he finally asked me why I don't go ahead an attach a ball on mine myself.

My 2003 Extended bed (8ft.), v-6 Tundra does have what looks to be a 'pop-out' hole in the center of the bumper. I bought it used and never put a "tow package" on it, but if the bumper has that feature, can I just pop it out, put a ball in there and tow?

My friends said thats exactly what he did with his older Toyota and he's been towing his canoe around. I'd check the manual but my wife took the truck to work (night shifts at hospital). Trying to get this done tomorrow. ANY help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I would recommend not using the hole in the center of the bumper if you plan to tow anything over 1000 pounds..

I put a tow package on my Tundra by myself and it was pretty easy. I put a 160 dollar 2inch hitch on it, put a 7wire and 4 wire combo hookup on it, and wired it for electric trailer brakes, trailer battery, and brake/turnsignal/running lights.

I got my stuff online mostly from Trailer hitch, hitches and bike rack (800)298-8924

I can help you with any of the details if you decide to go this route..

-Jeff

[vectervp1]

Originally Posted by pdmted

Something a lot of people dont realize is that the factory class IV hitch that comes on the Double Cabs is no more than a 3" receiver bolted to the bottom of the bumper. Granted, I have not looked at parts breakdowns to see if the bumper structures are different with and without the tow package, but I have had a couple double cab tundras. I know the older access cabs had a conventional frame mounted hitch. If this was indeed the case on your generation truck, then there is nothing safer about towing with a hitch vs. a ball on the bumper.

Make sure you still find a way to use safety chains. You may have to use extensions to get up to your frame, or put 2 large eye bolts through the outter holes of the step bumper.

I just wanted to drop my 2 cents into this thread.

From what I understand of the 03 and up Tundra's is that the bumper is actually mounted to the hitch, not the frame. The hitch then mounts to the frame in a more conventional manner.

When Iron Bull had my truck so they could design a bumper for it, they mentioned having a hell of a time with the rear because of this. He went into a little more detail, but I honestly don't remember it all. They were trying to make their bumper mount around the factory hitch since this is the way the stock bumper mounts, but in the end couldn't make it happen this way. They ended up having to remove the factory hitch, and design their bumper to have a receiver built into it instead.

[zootjeff]

I can't speak for the 03, but Here are some pictures of the 140 dollar hitch I put on my 2000 Tundra..


Here is the hitch before installed:



Here is the underside of the car Before the hitch:



Here is the underside of the car After:
Only three bolts per side, and one alignment hole that goes over a nub on the frame.


Here is the Factory location of the wiring harness hookup. You get the brakes, running lights and turn-signals here. The Aux Battery Hookup, Electric Brake drive hookups have to come from other wires..


Another shot of the bolts:



Notice that the bumper is in no way attached to the hitch.

This was very easy to install myself by the way.. All you need is a torque wrench and a socket set.

[TheConstantGardener]

Excellent. I think I will pick one up for Christmas. I assume that one like you got (where'd you get yours by the way) would be just a good all purpose hitch good for towing Uhauls or whatever else? What I'm asking is are most hitch's specialty hitches designed for one purpose or are they all mostly just summin' that pulls stuff?

Really appreciate all the responses. Hopefully this can be helpful to others too. All the info in this thread is better than what I could find after close to 7 hours searching on the net.

[zootjeff]

Originally Posted by TheConstantGardener

Excellent. I think I will pick one up for Christmas. I assume that one like you got (where'd you get yours by the way) would be just a good all purpose hitch good for towing Uhauls or whatever else? What I'm asking is are most hitch's specialty hitches designed for one purpose or are they all mostly just summin' that pulls stuff?

Really appreciate all the responses. Hopefully this can be helpful to others too. All the info in this thread is better than what I could find after close to 7 hours searching on the net.

I did a bit of searching and found that there were two types, one with two bolts on the chassis and 1 bolt on the bumper (on each side) and then the one I got with 3 bolts on each side on the chassis. I got a Hidden Hitch from etrailer.com and it was a pretty good price. Turns out that a bunch of them are made by the same company "Towing Products" and they just slap their own sticker on them and charge different prices..

The one I got for 140 bucks is rated at 7500 pounds.. You can get a beefier one, but why? 7500 pounds is more then the Tundra can tow anyway..

[TheConstantGardener]

That's great.
Thank you for passing that along.