Need advice on choosing the correct hitch

This is a question I imagine the experienced drivers here will scoff at, but I need some dead simple advice.

I have no specific plans to tow a trailer, but know in the future I will be trailering a U-Haul (or something similar) to move household items. In no case will I be exceeding the tow rating or the load rating of the truck, so that is not the question I'm asking.

What I'd like to know is the class rating and weight rating of the highest rated (non- weight distributing) hitch that will fit into the stock 2" receiver. For example, I see plenty of 7500# Reese hitches in various stores, but the truck is rated for more weight than that. Even though I am unlikely to ever tow more than that, it seems to make sense to select a 10,000# hitch just because I will never exceed its rating. However, I don't see many of those on the shelves of the stores I have looked in.

So my question is this, which 2" receiver is a good choice to have on hand for general use in the future (with the understanding that I will keep loads within Toyota's spec)? And should I be choosing a 2" drop for general use (seems to be the most common on the shelf)? And what is the most common ball size to have on hand?

Thanks in advance to the more experienced among you - I would appreciate your thoughts.

 

I'm not sure I fully understand your question as my truck came with a 10,000 lb rated hitch that fits a ball with (I think) a 1" shank.

 

I have one question about the amount of use (if i missed it, i'm sorry), but how often will you use it and will it be kept on vehicle at all times? I suggest keeping a hitch on to avoid some damage from other drivers that may rear end. if keeping on the truck, consider a hitch like B&W tow and stow. You can stow it to where it's not a shin catcher. A 2" ball is a very common size and not many trailers utilize the 1 7/8". Larger trailers use the 2 5/16", but not as many in most peoples' cases. I bought the B&W tow and stow to allow me to adjust my hitch according to the trailer, but it also has both the 2" and 2 5/16" ball on it. Pretty strong and a good reputation from what i've gathered of my reading/researching it.

$269 B&W Trailer Hitches Tow & Stow Adjustable Trailer Hitch Ball Mount - Fits 2" Receiver, Dual Ball (2" x 2-5/16"), 5" Drop, 10000 GTW - TS10037B

https://www.amazon.com/TS10037B-Mag...es&qid=1600966816&sprefix=b&w+,aps,183&sr=8-3
if not interested in that, look for a hitch with the 10k rating and get one with about a 2" or 2 1/2" drop on it. just my $.02

 

If i remember right all UHaul trailers take a 2" ball

 

Interesting that your truck came with a hitch. Is the hitch supposed to be included with the tow package that was part of the 1794 package? I have only the 2" receiver, which is why I'm asking about which hitch to buy.

 

Fotnot -- Only occasional use. And as I wrote, I don't see 10,000# hitches on the shelves of the stores I go to. Perhaps I need to pick a store specializing in truck accessories to see a better selection.

 

Thanks.

 

My 2017 SR5 came with a 10k rated hitch as well

 

My SR5 does have the Upgrade and Towing packages but I can't believe anyone would ever sell you a truck with a hitch receiver and no hitch. (My brother also had this happen to him but I figured he deserves it for buying a GM.)

 

The update is this: I called the dealer who 100% assured me that the hitch does not come with the truck even though it has the tow package. He said Toyota does not include it because they don't know what the owners' intended uses will be and therefore leave it to the owners to select a hitch and ball that is suitable.

For those of you who got a hitch and ball with your purchase, perhaps the dealer included it as part of a dealer installed package ...?

 

Also, is a 2" drop probably the best choice to have on hand for typical usage?

 

when my truck was stock, I had a 2 1/2" drop I believe and this was how my trailer and truck sat.

 

i'm in the exact same boat, OP. I just got the 7500lb 2" ball, figuring if i was towing anything near that limit, that i'd be in weight-distributing-hitch territory... (i knew my buddy's utility trailer needs a 2" ball)

 

I went with these...
Reese Towpower (21330) Class III...

$97 Reese Towpower (21330) Class III / V Forged Ball Mount

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KKJRS6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Reese 63831 Tow Ready Zinc Hitch...

$27 Tow Ready 63831 Chrome Hitch Ball

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001P29TX6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

This will take all the guess work out of it:

CURT 45900 Adjustable Trailer Hitch Ball Mount, 2-Inch Receiver, 6-Inch Drop, 2 and 2-5/16-Inch Balls, 14,000 lbs

CURT 45900 Adjustable Trailer Hitch Ball Mount, 2" Receiver, 6" Drop, 2 and 2-5/16" Balls, 14000 lbs

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004SMGAJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GApBFb8G1SZXY

 

After all the input from you all: Purchased the Curt 10,000# 2" drop hitch plus a 2" and a 2 5/16" hitch ball. I'll never come close to exceeding that rating. Thanks for the advice.

 

This, all day. Well over-rated for the truck which to me is a plus. I don't want the receiver to be the weak link. I need/want to be able to pop onto any horse trailer as needed for emergencies and don't want to worry about size or height, can just easily swap it around and adjust. Obviously I can leave it at my normal trailer height but that emergency options is just peace of mind.

 

I've never seen a Tundra with a tow package that didnt have a hitch. Everyone that came through our dealership had one.

 

Very happy with our WeighSafe hitch.

 

I could be wrong here, but I think we are not all on the same page. I think the definition of terms is not accurate or consistent. Therefore, I think OP, and followup posts are not actually speaking of the same things.



The Tundra with tow package comes with the trailer hitch (and receiver). What it does not come with is the ball mount, ball, hitch pin, chains, trailer coupler, or trailer. I think OP is mixing up trailer hitch with ball mount. The truck has the hitch with 2 inch receiver, not the ball mount for a 2 in receiver. He seems to be looking for the ball mount, as many have posted. Hopefully this clears up some confusion. If not, then I guess I am way off base here.

 

You are correct. I meant ball mount when I said hitch in my earlier post. That being said, what kind of dealership sells a truck without a ball mount?

 

I have owned 3 Toyota trucks, and other brand vehicles (non pickups) with the tow package and none have come with the ball mount. The tow package typically includes the trailer hitch and receiver, electrical, and axle gearing tweaks. Otherwise, a dealership has never thrown in a ball mount for me, but that is just my experience. The window sticker never mentioned anything about getting one, nor does Toyota online. That I do chock up to customer choice. Then again, some do buy aftermarket trailer hitches too even with the towing package (WDH).

 

I think you have identified the mix-up in this discussion, which I'll take responsibility for. I was not trying to select a "receiver" (already on the truck) but the ball mount and which ball size(s) I should have on hand. I've now ordered those as I wrote above based on the good feedback from you all. Thanks for clarifying.

 

I can't speak for the US but in Canada every Tundra/Tacoma that comes into the dealership with the tow package gets a ball mount receiver. Some dealership will play games and remove items that come in the vehicle from the factory and resell them back from there parts department. Our own dealership did this with wheel nuts. The vehicles would come with a set of locking wheel nuts that had to be installed during the PDI. The take off wheel nuts had to be returned to the parts department and they would sell them to customers. Basically stealing from the buyer of the truck.

 

I’ve had 2 tundras and never got a ball mount. I haven’t ever gotten one with any other truck I’ve owned from other manufactures either.

I never knew there was an oem Toyota one until today.

https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota__/Towing-Options--Ball-Mount/69526282/PT79108035.html

 

my 2016 with the tow package came with a 10,000 pound ball mount and hitch pin. i just had to attach a ball to the mount.

 

Wow, I wonder if that may be region specific then? Would have been nice to be given one. There are some things that are seemingly so inexpensive that should just be standard but aren't. Door sill protectors, driver grab handle, ball mount, LED lighting, the list goes on. Options I guess.

 

Looks as if there might have been some "de-contenting" taking place over the past few years. Perhaps the ball mount was eliminated along with the auxiliary transmission oil cooler. i can live with the changes, but the lack of disclosure about removing previously included items is more disturbing. In the case of the transmission cooler, I really do think they have legal liability for having presented in on the sticker appearing to be included as in earlier years; not the case with the ball mount.

 

Here we go again...

There is a cooler on the MY19+, it's just different than pre 19. They did not lie. There is not really any misrepresentation. The puck acts as both a heater and cooler based off the differences in temperature between the ATF and engine coolant...

 

Burrito --

I'm not interested in getting into the auxiliary trans cooler issue again either, but you leave me no choice but to respond to you because the tone of your post suggests that I'm ignorant of the facts in this situation - I am not, and I don't need you to set me straight or to weigh in with your "here we go again" comment. Keeping these forums civil is important if we want to keep them healthy and treating each other with some respect and not assuming the worst about someone would be helpful in that regard.

To your point however, I know exactly what Toyota did in making this change and what they wrote on the sticker did not reflect the change that took place; perhaps you don't know this because you have a 2014 model. I believe it is clear that they misrepresented the presence of an ATF aux. cooler in the 2019 and 2020 models. The sticker on my 2020 says that it has a transmission cooler, and what you said above isn't wrong - there is a "cooler" but it is the same part that before 2019 was identified as a "warmer". With the 2021 models (with the same setup as 2019 and 2020) they now have removed the trans cooler language from the sticker. That makes it clear they knew what was on the sticker in 2019 and 2020 was a problem.

And while it is clear that the cooing/warming puck does cool the transmission fluid to a limited extent, I'm sure you know from reading elsewhere on this site, it is often inadequate to cool the transmission when towing. You must have read the many reports of excessive transmission temperatures when towing.

At this point we are way off track from the original topic. Thanks for your input.