Mounting 03 4wd hitch onto 98 2wd

So I have a 98 2wd single cab with the chrome bumper with the integrated hitch ball that I've replaced with a hitch off an 03 4wd. It fit, but it used the same bolt holes as the bumper so now I have no bumper. Since I didn't get the hitch from pick'n'pull I never got to see how it's all put together on the 03 4wd.

I searched Google images & it looks like the bumper itself *might* be the same but have different brackets. Searching Rockauto they have a "bumper bracket" category but it's only for the front bumper so no go. Searching Amazon I got one result but it looks exactly like the brackets that are already on my old bumper w/ ball.

$65 FOR 95-04 Tacoma REAR BUMPER MOUNTING BRACKET SET=LH & RH TO1165101

https://www.amazon.com/TOYOTA-TACOMA-BUMPER-MOUNTING-BRACKET/dp/B007DPHYVS

What gives?

 

IIRC the same bolts mount the bumper & hitch. They go through both into the frame.

 

The bumper brackets and receiver hitch use the same holes if your mixing different years you might have to drill holes .

One trick get all the bolts in finger tight before you tighten any or you can never get them in.

Sometimes you need longer bolts going through the bumper brackets and the receiver hitch

 

Sweet, thanks guys. Agh gotta take it all off again

 

The only difference I noticed so far was that the 03 hitch uses a different bolt hole for the two bolts that are parallel to the ground. But the hole is drilled in the frame already.

 

Hitch and bumper are mounted. Thanks!

Attached photos for anyone else that finds this thread through search. You have to take the brackets off the hitch and bumper and mount them loosely on the outside of the frame rails. Three bolts per side. The front bolt uses a nut welded to the frame-- do not mess this thread up. As mentioned earlier, the 2wd uses a different set of holes for the two bolts on the bottom of the frame rails, but they are all drilled. Note this hole is larger than the stock 2wd washers. I happened to have a couple large washers in my random bits box. Hitch brackets go on the inside, bumper brackets outside. Next mount the hitch itself, then the bumper. The whole job is a lot easier if you leave all the bolts loose until the very end. You can tighten them early but then you just have to go back and loosen them again

Also, might want to secure the wiring while doing this job to the spare tire, I didn't and dropped the hitch once and ripped two of the wires. Easy fix but annoying...

 

Glad you were able to get things attached to the truck.