Questions on OE receiver hitch

I am in need of an OE hitch for a 2020 SR5 4X4. From what I have found no one makes an aftermarket hitch to replace OE. I do not know where the mix match lies.Is it bolt holes in the frame? Bumper mounting? Toyota shows two different part numbers for the "bumper cover reinforcement" Toyota parts guy says I need part number 519080C041 Toyota catalog shows that one to be w/o chrome bumpers. I have a chrome bumper. Does any one know the difference between part numbers 519080C041 and 520230C041? I have found a used one off of a 2020 but that is all the information the seller has. These things are expensive and I do not want to buy one that will not fit.

 

Why do you need OE? Do these aftermarket hitches not work for you?
https://www.etrailer.com/hitch-2020_Toyota_Tundra.htm

 

In my experience the OE hitch is OK but not all that strong. I bent mine with too much weight distribution on my 2015. I have since learned a few things about how to set one up correctly.
Toyota helped me out with a replacement but told me that I cannot have more than 800# of tongue weight. That seems wrong but does line up with the owners manual.

I would go aftermarket.

 

Thanks for the link. If you click on "more information" on ALL of those hitches it clearly states "without factory hitch" as stated in my op.

 

I don’t have a clue how you bent the OE hitch but they are extremely over built. The limit would be 800lbs but you could easily go over that. There is a large safety margin built into the hitch. I’ve installed a few of the aftermarket hitches (Curt, Drawtite) and they just don’t compare in terms of quality.

 

The limit is likely 800# without a WDH.

 

I thought the same thing.
I loaded up my truck, camper and family and we headed out west from Michigan. We were running heavy and I probably had 1,000 pounds on the tongue. I had adjusted the WDH so that the truck squatted about 2" from unloaded.
The first day we broke a WDH bar. Found a shop that was open on Saturday and bought a new hitch because that was the only option if we wanted to keep moving. I set it up that night. Again, I aimed for about 2" below stock in the rear.
About a week later my rear was 4 to 5" low. So I re-adjusted the hitch.
About a week later, I had the same problem. This time I noticed that the bumper was starting to contact the box. Like the bumper moved up relative to the truck.
I adjusted the hitch a little but not like before.
We returned home after three weeks on the road and about 5,000 miles. I brought the truck to the dealer because the bumper was contacting the box. Not right.
We did all of the weights etc. I was right at the 16,000 pounds gross combined and 1,000 on the tongue.
When I put a 36" piece of 2" pipe in my hitch vs. a new Tundra, mine was almost 3" higher at the end. My hitch had deflected in the upward direction. This was due to the WDH. Since the bumper mounts to the hitch this is why the bumper was contacting the body.

The owners manual on my 2015 did state that 800 pounds was the max tongue weight. Odd I know but it was there and it was in the Toyota service documentation. I can't find this in my 2021 manual.

Toyota agreed to replace my hitch with a $100 payment from me.

In the end I learned a lot about how to adjust a WDH. Looking for rear deflection is NOT what you should do. It is all about front axle weight and returning it back to the weight on it before you hook up the trailer. I had moved way too much to the front and had put a lot of of torque on that hitch.

 

I recently ordered the Curt hitch without seeing the "without factory hitch".

I can tell you exactly what the problem is, because I had the whole factory hitch and bumper off.

The Curt hitch only was bolting to 2 of the factory bolts (smaller ones). The factory hitch has 4 additional large bolts.

I called Curt and found out about the "without factory hitch".

My factory hitch is rusted badly, so I want to replace it.

My understanding is that the truck is rated for 10,400 lbs towing capacity.

So I don't understand why the factory hitch says:

• Weight carrying is 5,000 lbs. and weight distributing is 8,000 lbs.

https://toyota.oempartsonline.com/o...0dW5kcmEmeT0yMDEzJnQ9YmFzZSZlPTQtNmwtdjgtZ2Fz

So now I'm wondering do I clean up my existing factory hitch or buy a new factory hitch?

The existing one has flaked off about 1/8" flakes of metal in many areas.

But if the original was rated for 10,400 and the replacement factory hitch is only 5000lbs then I would be better off cleaning it up.

 

See if you can find a new no rust hitch in a salvage yard. Most Tundras had hitches installed from the factory so you should be able to find one.

 

Isn’t it a good thing that the hitch gave? If it hadn’t would your frame have been bent?

 

What years is your Tundra? That link is for a 2013?

 

That's a good idea thanks!

 

2013

 

Good luck with that. You will be where I am when I started this post. The yards know what the hitch is worth IF you can find one. Maybe get yours blasted and powder coated?

 

2013s were more available in my search for 2014-21

 

That makes me want to buy a new one. Just don't understand the weight limit on it. 5000lbs is not that much.

 

I don't think a new one is any different than what you have already. It looks like the 2013 did not have much as far as towing. https://www.toyotaofirving.com/toyota-tundra-towing-capacity/

 

I just did a two minute search and found one in Tampa FL for $150. I’m sure he could find something.

 

That is a great price. Question is will it actually work with his bumper?

 

It is and I’m not sure if the previous gen would work with the bumper but you would think if you’re patient it would be possible to find a 2014-2021 hitch.

 

Just found one in Orlando and it comes with the bumper but $800.

 

Yea I can be patient. The current one works. I just don't feel good about loading it up the way it is so I won't do that until I get a good one.

How are you searching? What sites?

Thanks!

 

I'm not sure that all years are the same. Mine has 4 big bolts in the rear to the frame and 2 big bolts in the front arms to the frame.

The one in the first pic in Tampa for $150 looks like it does not have the 4 bolt holes to the rear of the frame.

I'll have to look at mine again on the car and compare it to this.

 

Looking at the picture closer it does look like it mounts up differently. Find a 2014-2021. Lots off off road guys that put on an aftermarket rear bumper remove the hitch for additional ground clearance. I’ve seen a few for sale on this forum’s marketplace. The places I found the hitches were Facebook marketplace and Craig’s list. I would give a call to a local scrap yard and hopefully they have something at a reasonable price.

 

Thank you!

https://youtube.com/shorts/X9DdK6K_ywY?si=P-DBPhX_1pMq9ql6

 

Based on your video even if the 2013 was to bolt up, it doesn’t look as strong as the 2014-21. Looks like they made some improvements in 2014.

 

The hitch in that picture is not a factory hitch.
I do like the fact that the hitch tube is on the same plane as the receiver. I think that the biggest problem with the factory hitch is that the receiver is suspended below the cross tube. This adds torque to the cross tube.

 

That explains why the bolt pattern is different. So the question is, will the 2007-13 bolt up to a 2014-21?

 

Here is a OE hitch at a salvage yard in Tampa on a 2013. It looks the same as the 2014-2021 hitch.