Front hitch question

Have any of you guys ever installed a hitch on your 2021 Tundra? I had one on my 99 Tahoe back in the day and found it very useful.

 

https://www.etrailer.com/Front-Mount-Hitch/Toyota/Tundra/2021/31198.html?vehicleid=20217836

Seems to be available

 

Comes in handy when your pulling a camper!

 

Wish there was one that was not so low that would come out of where license plat is,

 

Got a drawtite mounted under the Ranchhand bumper, not bad with a little lift

 

I just put one on a 2014. Love it. Takes 20 min and under $150

 

Do all the front hitches require modification to the front skid plate for oil change.

 

I'm not sure but I think that refers to the stock skid plate only. They bolt on where the tow hooks are mounted, so I'm thinking that you can't remove the skid plate once the hitch is installed? I have the RCI on mine but interested in a front hitch as well.

 

George the tow hooks are not mounted on the same bolts as the factory skid plate.

 

Right I understand that. I'm curious as to why they say to cut a hole in the factory skid for oil changes. Why not just remove the skid plate? I have the RCI skid so I would assume that the hitch will still fit.

 

Guess the bar is a tight fit that probably lays onto of the plate and you won't be able to on wedge it.

 

That's what I'm wondering myself. I'll have to crawl under mine and poke around and see where the hooks are in relation to the plate.

 

When I had a front hitch installed on my 2010 it was removed, along with the tow hooks, for every oil change.

The cross member of the hitch blocked the front skid plate bolts.

The fit in the front was so tight that after two oil changes, I never installed any of the front bolts, left the hitch on full time and ran that way for 4-ish more years.

 

I have one of the Curt hitches sitting in a scrap bin.

$187 CURT 31198 2" Front Receiver Hitch, Select Toyota Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tundra

CURT 31198 2-Inch Front Receiver Hitch, Select Toyota Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Tundra

https://youtu.be/rSq5S89NniY

Free to whoever wants to come pick it up in Oakhills Ca.

 

Hardly a rave review.

“I took a shit my garbage, if anybody’s interested in it…”

 

It's free for whomever wants to get it. Just paying it forward.

What does not work for me may work for someone else. So essentially one man's trash is another ones treasure.

 

It's not fun to install the front hitch and keep the truck transport anchor points. In my case, I have had to hold up the Ranchhand bumper bracket, hitch, and the anchor loop all at the same time while starting the bolts with the other hand. Those three items are heavy as hell especially considering the hitch mount makes it very difficult to align the anchor loops in order to thread the bolts. You will need plenty of patience if doing the install alone. It can be done, just beware not a fifteen minute install.

 

Whoa… thin skin.

sorry for any offense.

 

No man, not the intent, after reading it myself I sound like a total dick (now I know why my wife is always pissed at me), but I was being sarcastic. Should have thrown one of these in there...

 

Thanks for the input.

 

I have one that I used for mounting my snow plow. It sits up high enough and is not the lowest point on the front of the truck. I simply cut a hole in my skid plate for oil changes and use a plate the screw over the opening. I spent some time on it and it looks like it came from the factory the way I did it.

 

Do you have photos of the cutout? Also what what year truck? Draw Tite part number.Thanks.

 

I would take some for you but I dont have access to my truck right now. Do a google search on measurements on where to cut the pan. You can use a plumb bob on the inside to make sure your centered under the filter housing. Cut the square out leaving rounded corners. I then drilled four holes on each corner and used nutserts. Fashioned a covering plate to cover.

My truck is a 2020 but they are all the same. I used the Drawtite but the Curts was almost identical. I bought it from Etrailer. If you zoom in on the picture you can see the part number on the sticker.

 

Is one brand of front hitch a better fit than others?

 

I asked etrailer that question when I bought mine. They had said both the Curt and Drawtite hitch where almost identical with the Drawtite having a slightly longer receiver. Buy the one that is the best price.

 

Sounds like a plan. Prices are pretty much the same.

 

When I bought mine a couple of years ago I chose the Drawtite because it was a little longer on the receiver end and I was thinking it would be easier to install the pin.

 

Exactly my reasoning also.

 

Oh, BTW...the dealer absolutely loves my front hitch. They make sure to mention on every oil change paperwork, that they had to remove it in order to get the skid plate off.

 

The skid on my truck has some tabs that slip and lock in some slots at the front above the hitch, use an open end wrench on those two bolts and it is a piece of cake to change the oil. No lower apron to deal with though, so I guess you all are having issues with those three screws that hold up the plastic lower bumper airdam or apron. Thanks Ranchhand for eliminating that garbage.