About to order a receiver hitch for '14, PR, DC, 2.7

Just got a 2014, 2.7, PreRunner, DC about three weeks ago. Haven't posted here much since, as I've been inundated with work. That said, I want to add a hitch/ receiver to my new truck. Not going to be towing anything really (Possibly a wave runner at the most in the future) or a small 6x10 utility trailer occasionally for dump runs.

Other than that, just going to be using to mount bikes etc.. My question is this, I found a Curt unit for about $140, no tax, free shipping etc.. I'm about to push the button on, but want to get some suggestions or recommendations first. Is OEM better? Dealer wanted $350 for the OEM, unit which is high, but I think it comes with the wiring for lights too? Also if the OEM wiring is plug & play, I like the idea of that and wouldn't mind paying the difference for a cleaner install.

If I go with the Curt (Which I prefer for cost reasons) plus I think they build a solid hitch, perhaps better than OEM? If I do that, does anyone know where I might find a wiring pigtail that just plugs into an OEM harness, if that's even possible? or is my only option to splice into factory wiring? I would really rather not butcher the wiring on my brand new truck if at all possible.

Lastly, Curt had a video showing their hitch installs without fully removing the bumper, basically just loosen it and slide the hitch in place, then tighten. A friend of mind with an '11, said he absolutely had to remove the entire bumper to get the hitch to mount up. Also, my truck is pretty bare bones, meaning no kind of factory tow equipment, so I'm hoping there is a place to install the wiring.

Thanks in advance.

-Ryan

 

wow $350 is cheap for oem! list is over 2k here for the oem hitch. too bad you wernt closer my oem hitch is just sitting in the garage.

 

I ended up, just ordering the Curt from Ebay for $126, should be here in 3-5 days. Will report how it goes. After looking at pics of the OEM & Curt, I like how the Curt is almost hidden, except for the receiver portion. Plus I'm never going to tow anything of any sizeable weight with this 2.7, PreRunner so I didn't feel the "over-built" design of the OEM was necessary over the Curt design, which may not be less durable, it just looks simpler.

Thanks for the offer though, that was kind.

 

I had an 05' access cab without the tow package. I purchased the OEM hitch and wiring harness. The harness was plug and play but only the 4 pin version not 7 pin.

 

You can order a t-connector that will plug in to your taillight harness without splicing. That is what I did when I had my 2010. It is not as good as the oem harness but is perfectly adequate for a small trailer. I forgot which one I bought but it was either this one or the same thing from another brand:

Curt Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring for the 2013 Toyota Tacoma
http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-...Tacoma/2013/C55513.html?vehicleid=20131176466

The install was simple You just need to route the wires down to the hitch from the taillight.

I had installed a curt hitch on mine as well. This may have been an isolated case but I did have issues with the mounting holes being a bit off which made installation tougher than it needed to be. The bumper did not have to be removed but we did have to enlarge one or two of the holes slightly with a dremel.