Trailer Hitch Interchangability 3rd gen-2nd gen

Will a third gen OEM trailer hitch fit on a 2nd gen tacoma retaining stock 2nd gen bumper? both 4x4, same truck besides generation. I'm thinking it should bolt up fine as the frames are essentially the same, but will it line up with the 2nd gen bumper and spacing be okay? They're pretty different in construction. The 2nd gen being modular with pieces bolted together, and the 3rd gen being one large, welded together piece.

 

With a drill and a welder, you can fit a dumptruck bumper to it.
No idea if the bolt holes will all line up.

 

The Drawtite Class III hitches on etrailer.com, for 2nd and 3rd gens, have different part #'s and look completely different. Not saying that one or the other could not be modified.

 

I just bought a used 3rd gen hitch from craigslist last night. I don't think it'll work out unless I were to do a full 3rd gen bumper swap. the 2nd gen hitch mount to the frame rails as well as the rear bumper bar. the 3rd gen hitch mounts to only the frame rails and has a slim platform for the footstep on the bumper. I did however score with the hitch the 7/4 pin trailer plug from the 3rd gen and will try to make it work in the 2nd gen bumper flush mounted rather than the OE one that hangs down from the hitch

 

Because you mentioned it, I decided to look those hitches up to try to figure out what the actual difference is. From what I see, the 3rd gen version essentially just cuts off the flanges that run up the side of the frame rail. My guess is that the bumper on the 3rd gen is sufficiently different to make it impossible to fit the side plates in between the bumper brackets and the frame as was done with the 2nd gen version. The consequence is that the 3rd gen hitch design is actually a lot *weaker* from the standpoint of what it can get directly off the frame.

HOWEVER, the drawtite 3rd gen hitch also adds in a bracket that binds it up to the bumper hitch, which has a 3500 pound capacity. So if you add together a LOSS of 1500 via the weaker frame brackets, and a GAIN of 3500 via the bumper hitch, you net a gain of 2000 overall, which is the difference in the spec between those 2 hitches. The consequence of this logic is that you can bump the 2nd gen version up to 8500 pounds (9500 pounds with WD) by welding on that little bracket

 

Think you could take some pictures of it?

 

I'll take some pics tomorrow. I should note that I was never considering aftermarket hitches at all. Aftermarket hitches for Tacomas are significantly weaker because they dont incorporate the sides of the frame in the mounting and only bolt to the bottom of the frame. OEM is all I would ever buy

 

If you're referring to hitches for the 2011 in your profile, then aftermarket hitches *DO* run up the side of the frame rails. Its for the 2016+ that they don't.