Tacoma trailer hitch

There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on the bumper
of my 2005 Tacoma.
Is this possible?
Is it safe?
What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?

Thanks

"me" <me@you.com> wrote in message news:SsbFe.3263$sc3.2004@trnddc07...[color=blue]
> There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on the
> bumper
> of my 2005 Tacoma.
> Is this possible?
> Is it safe?
> What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?
>
> Thanks
>
>[/color]

I recall reading about that in the manual that came with my 02 Tacoma. Check
your manual - there should be info there.

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:33:10 GMT, "Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com>
found these unused words floating about:
[color=blue]
>
>"me" <me@you.com> wrote in message news:SsbFe.3263$sc3.2004@trnddc07...[color=green]
>> There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on the
>> bumper
>> of my 2005 Tacoma.
>> Is this possible?
>> Is it safe?
>> What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>[/color]
>
>I recall reading about that in the manual that came with my 02 Tacoma. Check
>your manual - there should be info there.
>[/color]
IIRC, it's a Class II - 3500# capacity (or so my 02 says in the bumper
plastic).

FWIW, I put on a good Class 3 from DrawTite. They also make a bolt on FRONT
hitch IF you're a true off-roader. Use a slip-in winch there.

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 19:55:30 GMT, "me" <me@you.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on the bumper
>of my 2005 Tacoma.
>Is this possible?
>Is it safe?
>What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?[/color]

Most hitch bumpers are either 2,000 Pounds trailer/ 200 tongue
weight, or 3,500/350. I will guarantee you that the limits are either
stamped right into the bumper steel in plain sight, or are printed on
a permanent sticker attached near the ball opening. Look.

And hitch bumpers are safe, but In My Humble Opinion only for
occasional use and only with very light trailer loads. And only after
you crawl underneath and make sure that they used the right Grade 5 or
Grade 8 bolts and nuts, and they're all there and tight.

[url]http://www.boltdepot.com/fastener-information/Bolt-Grade-Chart.aspx[/url]

I seriously would not trust a factory hitch bumper for anything
approaching the "Official" weight limits, because they make the
bumpers as cheap as possible and their designs and weight ratings
leave very little safety margin...

As you hit huge bumps way too fast ("Where the hell did that DIP
come from?") make a panic stop, or other severe movements like an
emergency lane change, the shock loads on the bumper and brackets go
out of sight.

I've seen hitch bumpers twisted into pretzels in every possible
direction, but straight down and under seems to be the most popular.
My hitch shop has a big 'trophy pile' of mangled bumpers and cheap
hitches out back that they've replaced.

If you don't want hitch failure on your list of things to worry
about, go get a Class III or Class V receiver hitch installed by a
reputable trailer supply or welding shop in your area. They bolt, or
preferably weld, the hitch crossbar straight to the frame, and they
aren't coming off unless you take them off.

Plus, with the different drop and rise receiver tongues available,
you can easily adjust the ball height to match whatever trailer you
are pulling, so the trailer rides level and stays balanced.

I have collected an assortment of hitch receivers over the years, so
I can go up or down up to 8 inches. Which helps when I try to hitch
my van (very low receiver, about 12") to a rental trailer that wants
the ball up at 20".

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

You need a trailer receiver, not that bumper mount. Forget whatever specs
you find.

"me" <me@you.com> wrote in message news:SsbFe.3263$sc3.2004@trnddc07...[color=blue]
> There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on the
> bumper
> of my 2005 Tacoma.
> Is this possible?
> Is it safe?
> What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?
>
> Thanks
>
>[/color]

me wrote:[color=blue]
> There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on the bumper
> of my 2005 Tacoma.
> Is this possible?[/color]

Yes
[color=blue]
> Is it safe?[/color]

Yes
[color=blue]
> What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?[/color]

This information is usually stamped on the bumper itself, right near the
hole.

Bumper hitches are typically 2000 pound / 200 pound tongue capacity.

"J. A. Mc." <jaSPAMc@gbr.online.com> wrote in message
news:g9vae1plmv0akt11daer3cvm4n8l8pfqri@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 20:33:10 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
> <ancientangler@hotmail.com>
> found these unused words floating about:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"me" <me@you.com> wrote in message news:SsbFe.3263$sc3.2004@trnddc07...[color=darkred]
>>> There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on the
>>> bumper
>>> of my 2005 Tacoma.
>>> Is this possible?
>>> Is it safe?
>>> What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>>[/color]
>>
>>I recall reading about that in the manual that came with my 02 Tacoma.
>>Check
>>your manual - there should be info there.
>>[/color]
> IIRC, it's a Class II - 3500# capacity (or so my 02 says in the bumper
> plastic).
>
> FWIW, I put on a good Class 3 from DrawTite. They also make a bolt on
> FRONT
> hitch IF you're a true off-roader. Use a slip-in winch there.[/color]

My trailer was well within the weight limit, but it sits too low. By the
time I priced out all sorts of right-angle toys, it was cheaper (and
prettier) to just install a regular hitch bolted to the frame.

"B a r r y" wrote:[color=blue]
>me wrote:[color=green]
>> There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on[/color]
>the bumper[color=green]
>> of my 2005 Tacoma.
>> Is this possible?[/color]
>
>Yes
>[color=green]
>> Is it safe?[/color]
>
>Yes
>[color=green]
>> What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?[/color]
>
>This information is usually stamped on the bumper itself, right near
>the
>hole.
>
>Bumper hitches are typically 2000 pound / 200 pound tongue capacity.[/color]

I agree, with a light weight truck and bumper like that I would limit
load to 2000 lbs max. If you tow near that amout often or even more I
would spring for a reciever hitch as it also doubles for a good hard
point to pull your vehicle out if you get badly stuck.

--
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Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
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"Bruce L. Bergman" <blPYTHONbergman@earthlink.invalid> wrote in message news:8hhbe1l0as4gdl3hekdls4jlsbntcen1r4@4ax.com...
[color=blue]
> On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 19:55:30 GMT, "me" <me@you.com> wrote:
[/color]
<Big Snip>
[color=blue]
> I have collected an assortment of hitch receivers over the years, so
> I can go up or down up to 8 inches. Which helps when I try to hitch
> my van (very low receiver, about 12") to a rental trailer that wants
> the ball up at 20".
[/color]

Every woman's fantasy!! LOL
☼¿☼
~~

Yes, that's what it is there for.

The weight limits are stamped on the bumper or on the hitch receiver itself.





"me" <me@you.com> wrote in message news:SsbFe.3263$sc3.2004@trnddc07...[color=blue]
> There appears to be an opening to install a trailer hitch ball on the
> bumper
> of my 2005 Tacoma.
> Is this possible?
> Is it safe?
> What is the weight limit associated with this type of installation?
>
> Thanks
>
>[/color]