'09 rear bumper out of whack

So it was not really obvious, until I installed a towing ball for a light move of a trailer. The ball is clearly not vertical- it leans away from the tailgate, towards the trailer. The steel plate that the ball goes into is now very obviously not flat... it too has a slight pitch (down and away).

I have not had any damage or bumps, the clearances are all the same between the body and any mouldings, and the countours all match. Could somebody confirm this is as it should be thanks.

 

So, You mounted a ball hitch in the stock bumper the way it was designed is that correct?

Not an external tow hitch?

 

Well crawl up under the truck and where the bumper is bolted on to the frame check to see if any bolts spin freely.

 

Is it a factory Toyota hitch? What you are seeing is not normal.

 

Check the area where the bumper is bolted to or the tow hitch. If there’s previous rear end damage, there will be a kink/bend in the metal. Usually when a truck has been impacted from the rear, the frame will bend downwards.

 

have any pics? it would help tremendously.

of hitch

of frame where hitch mounts under truck, both sides

have owned truck since new? or bought used?

 

Yes it is just a ball, mounted in the center hole-everything bone stock. NO signs of damage, no kinks, no loose bolts, no bends or stress in any of the brackets, mounts, frame, plastic. Nothing is amiss. Bought used clean Carfax.

Pics tomoro, but you could imagine the bumper (the reinforced section) slightly pitched, not level. Throw a towing ball in there and you can really notice how out of plumb it is...

its a ball so it still functions as a sphere no matter the angle, just don't look right Felicia.

 

Got it, the ball is mounted to the bumper and not a hitch. It sounds like the bumper is bent. Factory Toyota hitches have a brace under that part of the bumper. I have a spare brace but I doubt it can be used without the factory hitch.

 

All factory Toyota Tacoma rear bumpers slightly lean in that direction but without a picture of yours...

 

thanks for this DG, the interweb has vindicated me just this once!

 

If a previous owner had a ball in there then they torqued it out of whack pulling a trailer or getteng people out of ditches.

There's always the one who used it to pull trees out of the ground....

 

omg sky you know.. I did pull a rotten old holly out last year- but as stated there would be evidence such as crinkles or such and there is none. the facts now prove (somewhat), indeed this is how they come factory direct. I stand by my obs and I have been under this ol girl a hundred times...there is not one indication that this may have occurred during or in the course of daily use.

 

It is simply not possible that solely the area where the ball goes was compromised...everything else lines up perfect there is no damage anywhere believe me I looked. if it was used to recover then there would be other signs of distress. I stand by DG, who shows a stock pic of what I am trying to relate to you...

 

I noticed it on mine that I had just bought so I started looking at others - they all are off to some extent. Toyota had to have done it purposely.

 

Maybe... this one is more of a step-up bumper
rather than a tow bumper.
If it tows successfully then ain't gone worry with it.

 

Look at the fitment to the truck. Measure, compare one side to the other, especially the sides where the bumper meets the rear fender. If it is not parallel to the fender lines, it's been hit at some point. Even a slight tap will move it. OEM bumpers these days are for looks, not meant to actually bump anything.