FYI - Curt Releases Front Hitch for 2012 Tacoma

Curt has just released a class II rating hitch (model #31313) for the front of a 2012 Tacoma. The hitch has a winch line pull rating of 9000-lbs, trailer weight capacity of 3500-lbs (gross), tongue load of 350-lbs, and a 2" receiver opening. It can currently be found at AutoAnything.com and etrailer.com.

This hitch receiver allows a recovery winch, trailer ball mount, hitch step, cargo carrier, bike rack, or anything else that will fit a standard hitch to be attached to the front of the vehicle.

I just (today) purchased one for a Smittybilt Competitor Series Winch.

 

Post some pics of the install. I am going to get a 2012 dbl cab 4x4, and I'm thinking of putting one of these on.

Jesse

 

Yeah please post some pics, I've been looking at a front hitch mount. CBI makes one that I think is pretty stealthy.

Also, someone over there needs to fire their copywriter.

"If you're just rolling with a rear-mounted CURT trailer hitch, your rig is only half-equipped to tackle the job at hand. Complete your hard-hauling makeover with a CURT Front Mount Receiver Hitch. Custom designed for a perfect fit on your front end, this burly Class III CURT hitch shoulders up to 500 lbs of tongue weight and 9,000 lbs of line pull."

Jesus. This makes me embarrassed to own a truck. I swear to god, comm arts majors will be first against the wall when I am made emperor.

 

Well, believe it or not, the hitch hasn't even been installed yet. Everything (hitch, winch mount for the hitch, winch, etc) is still sitting on the floor in the other room. Looks real good, but a minor injury (no big deal) has delayed the installation until probably next weekend. When I do get at it, I'll definitely take some pictures.

I like the CBI hitch as well, but the install is a bit more involved (front bumper removal, etc). Also don't know how well the extra height will work with trailers and similar. Probably isn't a big deal, but who knows when I might want to move a trailer down the freeway backwards.

 

Did you ever get around to installing the hitch and did it fit ok? I'm thinking about picking this up, but after looking at the instructions and taking a peak at my frame I'm not seeing the holes in the frame that it is supposed to bolt to.

 

Sorry, the hitch is still sitting in the other room. While I downplayed the injuries in the previous message, they were actually fairly serious (broken collar bone, ribs, wrist, bruised leg muscles, dislocated ankle, etc). I was hoping for a quicker recovery, but I'm still walking around (very slowly) in considerable pain and with limited body movement. I'll try to get at it this week or this weekend.

 

Ouch man I hope you get better soon.

 

Okay, I finally felt better and did get around to installing the hitch and winch. Sadly, while I'm better, my photography skills are not. I just can't get a decent picture of the hitch. It's entirely black, so comes out greatly underexposed, even when I use exposure compensation. Can't see a darn thing beyond a vague black shape. Made three different attempts, on a sunny day, on a cloudy day, and inside the garage. Also tried on-camera flash, both inside and outside. Sorry, but pictures just aren't happening.

On a more positive note, the hitch and winch look great in person. The installation was very simple, with everyting fitting properly. The hitch bolts to the frame itself, using existing holes. You do have to remove the end caps on the frame to free up one set (2) of those bolt holes. The other hole set (2) is directly behind the existing bolts for the end caps. The drawings with the hitch shows all this quite well.

I purchased a Curt hitch winch mount, which inserts into the hitch receiver. The Smittybilt winch installed using the existing holes on the mount. Those holes are supposed to be the standard bolt locations on most winches.

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I installed mine last weekend don't really like it sets to low compared to the one on my 99.
I will try to post pic's

 

pics would be greatly appreciated

 

Does anyone have a pic of this mounted interested I. This

 

Pics? the front hitches I have seen on other vehicles tend to hang much too low, almost "snowplow mount low".

 

I was debatin on buying to in corporate with my bumper that I have now but it hangs to low then never mind

 

Here's some pic's yes I think it sets to low mine will be coming off and will be for sale.

 

My hitch sits about as low as the side steps, with the winch sticking out even further in front of that. So far, neither of those have bottomed out on anything.

The gas station I use has an exit which angles down onto a roadway surface which immediately angles upwards. In other words, it's a virtual ditch, with many gouges on each side where other vehicles have dragged over the surfaces. My truck went into and out of that without any problems whatsoever.

The front approach angle is certainly decreased, but not by that much (a few degrees at most).

By the way, guess I should have taken pictures from much further away (like those above). I was trying to get closeups to show the details (mounting location, etc).

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That would be too low in my opinion if your truck ever sees offroad. The departure angle is reduced by more than you think for taller obstacles or banks/inclines. It would need to be inline with the frame rails and come through the front of the bumper if I was going to buy one. But.....It might work for you and be nothing less than awesome for your needs and uses. Is there room or the possibility to flip the brackets?