What Would YOU Do?
It's a fairly long story, but I'll try to keep to the essence.
Coupla years ago we decided to upgrade from a popup to a travel trailer. Realized fairly quickly we'd need to upgrade tow vehicle as well. Decided our first few years of TT would only require about 5000 lb towing capacity. Love Toyotas; decades-long loyalty to that brand. Don't like pickups. Decided on a 4Runner. Has 5000lb towing and 500lb tongue-weight capability. Found one used at a really good price from a private owner. Made the purchase. That was summer 2015.
A year ago decided on a TT. Weighs in at 4300lb loaded. Tongue weight a bit north of 650lb. Got Equalizer weight distribution hitch (has combination sway control).
4Runner tows great. No problems.
Started coming across comments on different forums about questions regarding 4Runner's factory-installed hitch. Some older models have a manual stating that no weight distribution hitches should be used. Turns out the factory-installed hitch receiver just bolts onto a rear crossmember rather than being a one-piece side-to-side full frame-mounted hitch.
Some folks have dealt with this by removing the factory-installed hitch and replacing it with an after-market full frame-mounted hitch. However, there are NONE of these available for the 2010 model that I own. There really are none.
Contacted Toyota factory directly to ask about this. Told them my manual is not one that prohibits use of weight-distribution. Did they make an engineering change? Answer back from them: do not use weight distribution with the 2010, even though the manual does't state this.
Found a frame and collision shop who would "take a look" at the situation and see what could be done. Would they be able to fabricate a full frame-mounted hitch? They looked it over and recommended welding that factory-installed hitch in place. They think that would take care of any potential issues. Only thing is, they're not really knowledgeable about weight-distribution hitches. I had to educate them about where the torque stresses are.
So I'm down to this: I see three choices.
1. Do nothing and just stop using the weight distribution system.
2. Have the factory hitch welded in place and go back to business as usual.
3. Trade the vehicle for something better designed to use what I have.
What would you do and why? (Or are there more choices that I could consider?)
I should add that I already have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do, so this is mostly an exercise in listening to a variety of perspectives that maybe I haven't thought of.
Thanks. Have at it...
-Speak
Coupla years ago we decided to upgrade from a popup to a travel trailer. Realized fairly quickly we'd need to upgrade tow vehicle as well. Decided our first few years of TT would only require about 5000 lb towing capacity. Love Toyotas; decades-long loyalty to that brand. Don't like pickups. Decided on a 4Runner. Has 5000lb towing and 500lb tongue-weight capability. Found one used at a really good price from a private owner. Made the purchase. That was summer 2015.
A year ago decided on a TT. Weighs in at 4300lb loaded. Tongue weight a bit north of 650lb. Got Equalizer weight distribution hitch (has combination sway control).
4Runner tows great. No problems.
Started coming across comments on different forums about questions regarding 4Runner's factory-installed hitch. Some older models have a manual stating that no weight distribution hitches should be used. Turns out the factory-installed hitch receiver just bolts onto a rear crossmember rather than being a one-piece side-to-side full frame-mounted hitch.
Some folks have dealt with this by removing the factory-installed hitch and replacing it with an after-market full frame-mounted hitch. However, there are NONE of these available for the 2010 model that I own. There really are none.
Contacted Toyota factory directly to ask about this. Told them my manual is not one that prohibits use of weight-distribution. Did they make an engineering change? Answer back from them: do not use weight distribution with the 2010, even though the manual does't state this.
Found a frame and collision shop who would "take a look" at the situation and see what could be done. Would they be able to fabricate a full frame-mounted hitch? They looked it over and recommended welding that factory-installed hitch in place. They think that would take care of any potential issues. Only thing is, they're not really knowledgeable about weight-distribution hitches. I had to educate them about where the torque stresses are.
So I'm down to this: I see three choices.
1. Do nothing and just stop using the weight distribution system.
2. Have the factory hitch welded in place and go back to business as usual.
3. Trade the vehicle for something better designed to use what I have.
What would you do and why? (Or are there more choices that I could consider?)
I should add that I already have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to do, so this is mostly an exercise in listening to a variety of perspectives that maybe I haven't thought of.
Thanks. Have at it...
-Speak
