Towing Capacity of Bumper Hitch

What is the maximum realistic towing capacity of a ball hitch mounted on a "tongue section" of the bumper of a 2004 Taco? I want to be able to tow a light aluminum trailer with a 650lb bike... probably a grand all total....

 

My 90 pickup is 3500lb, my 2010 tacoma is 3500 lb, I can only guess, but I would guess 3500 lb

 

3500lbs for no tow package and 5000 with tow package for 1st gens. I think the tow package is only available on the v6's though. Your Taco should be able to handle 1000 lbs easy.

 

On the bumper??

OMG....I wouldn't tow anything with that.

Did you look in the bumper itself? A lot of times, the capacity will be scribed on the plate near the ball mount.

Be safe and get a hitch mounted to the frame!!

 

Agreed!!!

 

You could get a real hitch like a class III for around $100. They are really easy to install. IMHO it would be worth the peace of mind knowing you aren't going to have any problems.

 

I think a hitch would be overkill for 1k lb. Agreed the bumper doesn't look like much, but if it could not tow 3,500 lb I would think Toyota would be liable for a lot damage by now.

Towed ~1800 lbs on my stock bumper in a 90 pickup, no problems.

 

I towed a small steel trailer (maybe 400 lbs) with a '94 kawasaki stand up jet ski on it for a total of probably around 700lbs and it was fine. I would not do any more than that though until I get a hitch, just too scary.

 

Exactly. Why would Toyota put themselves in a position like that if it weren't safe?

 

thanks for the posts! yes, i'm talking just about a ball on the bumper itself, not the overall capacity (i realize it's better with the frame mounted hitch). Ok, so I looked closer at my bumper, and it says 3,500# towing capacity, but then also says 350# ?? I'm assuming this means the ball hitch on the bumper tongue, and higher number is the max for the taco with a frame mounted hitch. 350 seems really low for the bumper... but if that's true, then i've got to get a frame mounted hitch.... any other input is welcome...

 

350 is max tongue weight.

Lots of good info:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/

 

awesome info! thanks for the link!

 

I've personally maxed out the tongue weight and towing capacity of a bumper without any problems. I towed a tandem axle car hauler, with a 1980's Cadillac on it without any problems. I assume that my Toyota's bumper wouldn't be different if they say 3500lbs/350 tongue weight, then that should be what it can safely handle. If you look at the bumper it's self, the center section which would handle the load is pretty solid/reinforced.

 

As already said 350 is the tongue weight. With the hitch bolted to the frame the 1st gens are rated for 500. Typically tongue rating is 10% of the towing capacity.

 

I don't think anyone is saying it CAN'T tow that much from the bumper. But when there is a option of a class III hitch that is easy and cheap to install that is FAR superior, that's what most people would recommend...

 

Pics or it didn't happen

 

You just replied to a thread that hasn’t been active since 2010.

 

I’ve seen some pretty scary trailer accidents caused by wind or some sort of instability. One dude in front of me lost control as his trailer fishtailed. He over corrected and the trailer and his truck flipped on it’s side. His family crawled out the windows and all of their stuff was on the highway.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Get a receiver hitch, and a brake controller installed and maybe stay a bit under the max rating. These trucks are light and narrow.

 

So did you...


and me, lol

I really think the forum needs some type of special font or a popup or something that warns you that you're necroposting.

Like:

"Waring! This post is old enough to vote, are you sure you want to reply to it?"

 

A brake controller doesn't do you any good if the trailer doesn't have brakes, lol...

Just balance the trailer properly, and drive like... like you have a trailer...