Dealer installed tow hitch pricing

Hello, I am a newbie to this forum. I have a question on dealer installed tow hitch pricing. I did a search of the forum and did not find anything, but I apologize if this has been discussed before.

I am planning on buying a 07 Tacoma 2D 4 X 2 in the next day or so. I have emailed a dealer and requested Internet price. The price I received is about what I expected to pay except for (1) option.

I requested a Toyota hitch installed by the dealer and the price was $740.05. When I inquired why the price was so high, he gave me these figures.

Retail price installed is $811.00. $470.00 for hitch, $140.00 for wiring harness and $200.00 for labor. However his discount price $740.05.

Is this consistent with what others have paid? In checking online, it appears MSRP on dealer hitch is $455.00 and dealer cost is $370.00.

I only plan on towing a small utility trailer with a single quad so I would be interested in feedback on any after market hitch that looks as good as OEM.

Thanks-

 

I'd love to help, but mine came already installed as one of the TRD Off Road upgrades. However, that does sound a little steep. I can recall hearing something like $550.00. Maby that was just for parts though.

Good luck.

Ted

ETA: A quick search turned up this. Im not sure how complete it is (i know you need to purchase the wire harness separately).

http://www.trdparts4u.com/PD-PT791-04050.aspx?MakeID=1

Wire Harness:

http://www.toyotapartsstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=5814

 

Mine was $600 installed.

 

Thank you for your responses. If someone else paid $600, I guess the price was not completely out of line, but I wanted to make sure since I am new to the Tacoma forum.

 

I just bought a new 2007 Tacoma without a factory installed hitch. Toyota just wanted to much money. I went to U-Haul and paid $150.00 for a hitch which included installation. Ordered a wiring harness from etrailer.com for $39.95 plus shipping and installed it myself. It took app 45 minutes to install the harness without any splicing. Total cost for hitch and harness with tax and shipping $205.00.

 

I got another price on dealer installed Toyota OEM hitch for $635.00, so it appears $600-$740 is the going rate for this option. Still pricey compared to aftermarket hitch, but something I can live with if I pull the trigger on the purchase.

Thanks for your responses....

 

Yes, I called two dealers out here when I was buying my new truck in May and I was quoted the exact pricing. I was checking around with local hitch installation shops for REECE and Hidden-Hitch installations and they were going to end up about $280 installed with wiring harness so that is the direction I was going to go.

Then two days before I pickup my truck I get a call that they messed up and that the truck they are receiving has a hitch (was not part of the vehicle I was quoted) but that they would let me have it for $270 extra. Needless to day I took that deal.

The one thing I thought odd was that I thought the factory harness was a 7-pin. What I got was a 4-pin. Which is fine since I pull nothing but 4 pin but I still thought it was odd.

Also the installed the wiring harness hanger WAY under the bumper. So far that I am going to have to extend the harness from my boat and one of my dad's trailers if I'm ever going to use them.

 

On my 4 cylinder 07' I had a similar thing happen. I wasn't going to pay ~$600 for their hitch, but that was all they had. They threw it in for free.

I would go with a U-haul, Reese, or Draw-Tite hitch. I have used Drawtite for years on many different vehicles, and they have always proven worthy.

Good Luck.

 

Ironically I work for Toyota and agree that the hitch is over-priced. U-haul or HiddenHitch will give you a quality hitch and wiring for almost half the price!

 

Anybody have the part numbers for the OEM hitch/harness for a 08 4 cyl 4x2 Access Cab? I think I remember reading in the owners manual that there's already a connector "tucked into the body" at the back of the truck, but I haven't looked. Maybe that's only for tow package-equipped vehicles & they forgot to mention that part in the owner's manual?

 

If that is all you'll be towing the rear bumper slots should be more than adequate, they're rated at 3500lbs. Though I can understand the desire for the frame mounted hitch.

 

Wow, I'd not seen this thread before but you guys are blowin' me away with these prices. I purchased an '08 Regular Cab 4WD in March, and they installed a 2" Toyota hitch with wiring harness for under $400; I believe they charged me around $380.

 

Yall are crazy for paying those prices! just buy the hitch off ebay with like a 6000 pound towing limit for around $100 bucks and install it yourself. but beware it requires 2 people no matter what the people say. its pretty much direct bolt on, i personally had to take the sledge hammer to it a lil bit but over all it took maybe 1 1/2 to install and it was the 1st one ive ever installed

 

OEM wiring is in the truck, for v6 gen 2 trucks ONLY and it is not connected, ie, the wiring is all there, but is not connected to the fuse block, or to where it needs to go, so it is not a simple plug and play, and not nearly as simple as just inserting the fuses either. Everything you need to know about hitches, and wiring for non-tow package equipped trucks is covered in chapter 9 and 10 of the towing bible stickied at the top of this page.

 

You should be able to get a hitch installed at an aftermarket dealer, such as an auto accessory place. I paid $175 installed.The hitch is going to be the same quality as the dealer. Wiring harness(Toyota OEM) will run about $35. I installed my wiring harness myself. Very easy, it plugs into the connectors on your taillights. No wires to cut or splice. Anyone can do it. Then just tie wrap the excess wire to your frame. It comes with instructions.

Good luck,
Sean

 

I say u haul and get the lifetime warranty with it too. I had one on another truck of mine and couldnt be happier with it. I also got rear ended twice and they took care of the hitch after the accidents no charge.

 

I realize I'm posting to a very old thread, but I'm looking at a 2009 Tacoma 4x4 without the towing package. If I have them install it @ the dealership, will they also install the oil/tranny cooler(s)?

 

The Tacoma V6 towing package includes:

1. Toyota factory Class IV hitch
2. 7-pin trailer harness and socket.
3. 7-pin to 4-pin adapter.
4. Pre-wired for an add-on trailer brake controller.
5. Transmission oil cooler.
6. Engine oil cooler.
7. 130 amp alternator (20/30 amps over standard alt.)
8. Larger battery.

The engine oil cooler that goes to the filter and the ATF cooler I think would both be expensive to retrofit. I think the total package is only $650 with the truck. Retrofit would be much higher I would think.

 

You don't need the towing package. Just go to an aftermarket shop & have the hitch installed. I have an 05 without the towing package & have been towing a bass boat since day one (3500lbs). 168,000 miles & still going strong. No issues with towing. Longest I have towed was 326 miles.

 

Thanks for the responses Betty and GenXer! I can see where trying to retrofit everything afterwords could get expensive. Thanks for the vote of confidence that if I purchase a truck without the towing package, a good quality hitch will still get the job done.

PS. I love your tagline Betty