Frame hitch question

I ordered a new 17' Casita. It's a 2500lb fiberglass camper with 365lb tongue weight. I pick it up in Texas in march and i plan on using my 04 tacoma ext. cab 4x4 3.4L with the 5 speed manual trans for towing. I think the manual trans taco will be a better tow vehicle than my lifted 00 3.4L auto trans 4x4 4runner. My question is what brand frame hitch is recommended? I've been looking at Curt and Drawtite. I want a american made direct bolt on hitch. I still have to wire up a 7 pin connector and brake controller, i've been reading threads here about those installs. Thanks.

 

Due to lack of time available for myself while back, I took my truck in to a local U-haul store the had a small shop and installs tow packages. First time she went in was to get the receiver and 4 pin wiring. Second time was to get it done up with 7 pin wiring. If you don't have the factory tow package, you will need a controller for the trailer lights to work right. I am pretty sure the first setup cost about $250. When I went back later for the 7 pin swap out, the people were effing morons and screwed up the wiring 3 times before getting it figured out. I ended up getting a mid range priced brake controller capable for up to 4 axles, and a harness that has a 7 pin round as well as 5 pin flat (yes 5 and not 4 pin). If you are already going to do the labor yourself, I do suggest looking into a uhaul to get the parts. They were surprisingly the cheapest place to get everything.

Do you already have the tow package on your 4runner? It seems like it might be cheaper and easier to get a drop hitch for that than it would be to wiring up the Tacoma. A 6" drop hitch can be found pretty easily for probably about $50, plus another $15-20 for a 2" ball. Check your local autoparts stores.

BTW, one of my boys looks just like your brindle from that pic.

 

4runner already has a frame hitch and the flat 4 pin and i purchased a B&M external trans cooler for it, but with 180k on it i was concerned about putting too much strain on the auto trans.

 

It's a 2500 lb trailer you are pulling. Unless you are going up some big hills, it should be fine. If the trans keeps trying to go in and out of overdrive, then either slow down orut it into drive instead of overdrive to save your torque convertor.

 

Thanks Zach. Good lookin' dogs you got there. My dogs are the reason i bought my 4runner, my camry was getting a lil' cramped, lol.

 

Thanks. My dogs are all rescues. Wifey used to work at a vet clinic and from there we got 3 dogs and 3 cats. 1 of the cats had to go to another home as he didn't fit in, but the other 2 cats actually curl up with the dogs. Enzo is my boxer/pit mix, black dog. Dexter is my purebred pit, brindle and not pictured. Lejla (lay-luh) is my little bitch of a jack russell/corgi. She doesn't like new people or new dogs coming around and she isn't afraid to say it with the most obnoxious bark.

BTW, I have 2 different trailers I pull with my truck, a 4'x8' utility trailer 2950 gross rated, and a horse trailer, 2600 lbs empty, and I am guessing about 4000 with 1 horse and gear. Truck is 2.7l 5 speed 4x4. I have overloaded what my truck was designed for and she struggled, but made it. One of the worst loads I did was 3 yards of topsoil, 1 in the bed, 2 in the trailer. The first yard in the bed sat the back end down then adding to the utility trailer, I was dragging the safety chains on the ground. Immediately coming out of the place was a steep uphill followed by steep downhill. I ended up doing a first gear hill climb because even second gear couldn't pull it despite taking her up to about 4500 rpms before shifting.

 

Man you really work that 2.7! Rescues make the best pets, they seem to apprecaite things more. My female [brindle with the grey] is 13 now, she was found by a co-worker of my brother in a rough part of baltimore city, she was skiddish and abused. I got her 12 years ago, i had to pick her up at my brother's work, a ford dealership. I always joke that she's the best thing to come out of a ford dealership, lol. My male [spot on the eye] was also about a year old when i got him, he's 6 now. PO could'nt keep him anymore and was gonna drop him off at a shelter so i took'em. They both love camping trips, hiking and offroading in my 4runner and of course, with any pitbull, love just hanging out with people.

 

Thanks Zach for the info. I purchased a draw tite class 3 hitch for the taco. A buddy of mine works at a company that outfits new trucks and vans for utility work and he offered to wire up a 7 pin and brake controller and he gets a discount on the parts/wiring so that's a big help. Btw my brindle dog Zoey, the 13 yo had to be put down this past thursday the 2nd due to cancer. I've had her 12 years and she was a great friend. I plan on rescuing another pitbull when my wife is ready. My male Dibo is still looking around the house and yard for her, it's sad.

 

Glad to hear you got the hitch and wiring figured out. Sorry to hear about the pup. I very much understand that they are furry children.