Rusty Receiver...

My 2013 V6 TRD Sport Dbl Cab LB is getting on a bit at 140K...thinking about my hitch looking a bit rusty and wondering if I should replace it with factory Toyota or Reese/Curt, and are the aftermarket hitches rated less than factory? I tow a 3150 lb car on an Al trailer fairly regularly without a weight distributing setup frequently and don't want any drama

thoughts?

 

Unless it’s extremely rusty I personally wouldn’t worry about it.

But let’s see some pictures to give better advice.

 

Also, welcome to TW!

 

"looking" a bit rusty is a vague term here on TW, "rust" is always a hot topic

first lets see some pics of how rusty things are looking

 

Rustoleum. If you frequently tow, every time you connect and disconnect you will scratch the surface and provide a site for corrosion.

 

NJ winter road salt is not kind to steel...

 

As my Uncle Pete would say, "She got the cansa' real bad. " The hitch pin looks like a tampon crammed in a saloon girl. Lotta neglect going on there. You need to take a grinder with a wire wheel and do some serious hedge trimming. Followed by some spray. Get on the task quickly for the sake of the rest of the motorists around you. If it were me I'd rip that crap off and start fresh.

 

Curt and Reese are only rated for 5000 lbs... what are the discount Toyota parts dealers here can I get a factory hitch?

 

looks like typical north east rust, its fine dont over stress it... that chunk of steel will long outlive you with that amount of rust no harm no foul

 

As bad as it looks, structurally I'd say it's ok. You could always do what I did and buy a used / takeoff OEM hitch. I think I paid $150 for one in perfect shape.

 

that's a brilliant idea! if I can find one from not the NE or rust belt...

anyone know if the hitch was part of the rusty frame recall?

 

I'm right smack in the middle of the rust belt and I found one locally believe it or not. It did take some searching though.

 

I had about the same amount and got a take off used one from a member in much better condition.