Do I need a tow receiver or do I need an entire tow set up?

Specs: 4 cyl. 2019 access cab

What: moving, will need to tow a small trailer and no more than 500 lbs. 750 at most. I am aware of the towing capacity of my truck. (Max 3500)

Question: do I need just a tow hitch receiver or and entire tow hitch assembly? I am really confused as to what I need! Do I get this: a

$164 Curt 13264 Class 3 Trailer Hitch, 2" Receiver, Fits Select Toyota Tacoma , Black

Curt 13264 tow hitch, which is $133 on Amazon, or the tow hitch receiver ball mount (part no. Pt228-3516q), which is around $40?


Long time admirer and first Tacoma ever. Part of the Toyota family since 2010. I am so happy about my new truck but I need help!

 

Ha! I responded to your post on Reddit. I'm located in Seattle, so my hitch is no good to you.

Check the California forum here... I'm sure someone will have a removed hitch up for grabs.

Edit: welcome to TW

 

One is a Toyota hitch mount and the Curt is a aftermarket version. On Amazon, a guy has a picture of Curt on a Tacoma. The Pt228-3516q says highlander on the other site. You will also need the wiring.

 

Looks like you need everything - hitch receiver, ball mount, ball and wiring. Check etrailer for the right parts or looks like that curt fits.

When you say 750 lbs does that include the weight of the trailer too? Some trailers are a lot heavier than you'd think. The smallest uhaul cargo (4' x 8') is like 850 lbs empty. In any case, get a hitch receiver rated for at least the tow rating of the truck and you'll be good. That curt hitch is rated for 6000 lbs so should be good.

 

Depending on local rules, if you tow a small single axle trailer, in daylight hours, you do not necessarily need working lights on the trailer. This will vary region to region, so check. Might save you some hassle.

 

I just removed my Curt hitch receiver. It installes between the frame and that plate with 3 bolts in your pics. It comes with spacers for the 2 bolts each side that connect the bumper to that plate since the plates will then be farther apart. The hitch also bolts to the bottom of the frame with 2 more bolts on each side. The hitch weighs about 40lbs and you need to assemble it to the removed bumper before installing both together. At that point it will be twice as heavy. You'll need help or a floor jack to reinstall the bumper/hitch combo. Your bumper has knockouts for hitch balls if you're towing a really light load like a packyderm but I'm unsure of the tow limit on the bumper alone.

 

The whole receiver hitch kit would be the hitch, a wiring harness with connector, and a receiver ball mount with hitch pin and ball sized to the trailers ball cup. If the trailer doesn't block the trucks tail lights then it doesn't need its own lights.

 

it depends on the weight that how much weight do you have to tow? if the weight is high so i would suggest for towing kit if not so no need to get the whole kit. we are using a towing kit cause its our requirement, we use truck in our Nyc Blocked Driveway Towing Service company.

 

Welcome and nice dog

 

You will need the wiring for sure but your bumper should have a hole for a ball which will allow towing up to 3500lbs. You don’t need a receiver hitch unless you are towing over 3500lbs.

 

How far is the drive? I’m asking this because it might be better to rent a uhaul truck with power lift. Less chances of messing up your new truck/and your back.( of course I know that’s why you bought a taco you want to use it) but yours doesn’t have trans cooler etc. might haunt you someday .

 

I just traded a 17 access cab that I had installed the curt hitch and wiring harness. It took maybe an hour and a half to do it all. You will have to run the wires which is not bad but a little time consuming. The converter box mounted behind my tail light and had to be connected to the battery with the supplied wires.

 

Does the Tacoma 2016 and up bumper have trailer hitch plug in as 4 flat ? I just picked up a used 2016 Tacoma last Friday, and on the rear bumper is a 4 flat wiring connector and another for round trailer connectors. I assumed it had a converter built in. Someone let me know if it does NOT have a converter built in please.

Lobster, You will need the receiver which is the bolted on unit with the 2 inch square hole and the correct ball size mounted to the draw hitch for the trailer. Depending on the height of the trailer you may need a different draw hitch . The height of the ball should have the trailer on a slight angle DOWN towards the truck. IF the angle is so the trailer is tilted up (very bad) the trailer will tend to steer the truck. In red I boxed in the main parts you need . I am not sure if your bumper has the wiring connectors as std or not, nor an I sure there is a converter.

In the kit you show there is a converter, but I don't know if you/me need it or not yet.

There are 2 systems of brake and turn signals in the world. There is the American system that shares the bulb filaments for turn and brake and then there is the rest of the world that has a separate bulb for each function. Almost all trailers in the USA use the American system, but our trucks do not. Hence the converter .

Not all converters are the same. The one in the add has a power wire (red) to run it and that set up creates 'induced current' which means the power wire is the dead end to the converter and the truck runs power just that far. At that point the power is separated from your trucks charging system, and if on the trailer side these is a dead short you won't burn up the alternator and any truck wiring. The wires that go to brake, back up and turn signals are sensors, and the converter gets the signals you send and send that to the converter which it turn sets off the correct light .

Some converters don't protect the charging system, but otherwise work the lights in the correct fashion. If the trailer is yours and new and the wiring is in good shape and mounted so it can't chafe, or be pinched somewhere you can use a non protected converter. If you will rent a trailer and won't have the first clue if the wiring on a rental is sound or not you might really want a protected converter.

This type of receiver is what you want. If you go with the little one, sooner or later someone will put too big of a trailer on the too small of a hitch receiver and that will end is a disaster.

Other brands for receivers are Reese, and Hoppy is another brand of converter.

OT : I have to take a friend for dental surgery . I will read the owners manual about the plug ins I assume are already on the rear bumper, and get back to you later today .

 

Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions! Looks like I do need something like the CURT Class 3 and and wiring. Here's to starting my Taco journey!

 

Sweet! Glad I am looking in the right places for these types of questions.

 

eTrailer is a great resource. Check out their install video. Should answer many of your questions.

https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Toyota/Tacoma/2019/C13264.html?vehicleID=201942421

 

LT, the search continues on if the plug in on the rear bumpers are wired. My trailer is still buried in snow, and it has been pouring rain all day. I did reach under the bumper and there are cables attached . I also contacted the car salesman on it, but he has not replied .

I happened on a Walmart that carried both brands as Reese and CURT . Curt was somewhat more expensive but to me is a new brand . I still can't answer if the wring is already on and installed on your truck, but the cables being there on mine I still assume I can plug it in and it will work . The cable is easy to reach, and would save you from buying one and paying for it to be installed. The only wires you would need then should be common in any car parts store as a 4 flat to 4 flat which most light trailers with no brakes would have.

I will still let you know as soon as I find out. The Truck Manual had nearly nothing to say on the topic.

 

If the trailer hitch set-up you eventually buy involves replacing the rear bumper reinforcement bar, (the main part you have pictured). I would be interested in buying it. PM me if it goes that way.

 

I added a Curt hitch to my 4cyl SR5

If you want a factory look for the trailer connector you will need:

PT72534140 - OEM 4/7pin trailer connector

$25 POLLAK 11-998 4' Pigtail Wiring Harness

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0031XUKQW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Pigtail that plugs into OEM 4/7pin connector

and the Curt T-Connector (Item # C56349) harness linked above by phdog



Just cut the 4 pin connector off the Curt harness and attach the pigtail in its place wiring for pigtail is
Red - Left Turn and Stop
White - Ground
Blue - Electric Brakes
Green - Right Turn and Stop
Black - Battery
Brown - Running Lamps
Yellow - Backup Lamps
If you want pictures of pigtail to harness connections I can post them tomorrow

 

Hold on a second. Does your bumper have a hole for a tow ball? It might need the plastic drilled through. As I mentioned above for the weight you are claiming for towing a bumper pull hitch is all you need. In that case you should only need the wiring. Take a picture of your step in the center of the bumper from the top and underneath.

You are getting some bad advice from those who are jumping the gun and claiming you need a receiver hitch. Unless you will be towing more than 3500lbs or your bumper is not set up to do a bumper hitch you do not need a receiver hitch. Based on the bad advice some are giving you might as well buy a transport truck to pull your 500 - 750lb load.