Toyota Tow Hitch Ball Mount

I have the OEM hitch mount (P/N PT228-35161) installed on my 2021 Tacoma.

The kit came with the Ball Mount itself plus a bag of hardware (hitch pin, hitch clip, and a metal collar) -- photos attached here.



Q: what is the metal collar used for? I did not install it when I installed my Ball Mount.

 

Does it fit in the hole where the ball will mount?

If so, probably a bushing for the ball, if needed.

 

You might be right, but no way for me to tell now that the 2” ball is securely mounted (had to have the dealer put the ball on the mount since I don’t have a torque wrench of that size). Hoping dealer would have told me to provide the bushing if needed. Thanks for your reply!

 

Betting the dealer didn't use a torque wrench. A pipe wrench, flatten the helical spring washer and one more ugga dugga and you're good.

The bushing might be used on a 1 7/8 ball, or if something like a bike carrier had a smaller mount.

Pick up a nice sized pipe wrench at a garage sale or pawn shop to have on hand should you ever want to change that assembly to mount something else.

 

Thanks for the info! I'll look into this today (I have a "vintage" pipe wrench handed-down from my grandfather that should do the trick).

In the meantime I took some measurements, and it does appear to be a bushing that [perhaps] should have been installed when the ball was installed -- I'll check.



The measurements in the photos are not scientific, but seem to indicate that the bushing height matches the trailer mount thickness, and that the inside diameter of the bushing is 1" -- matching the diameter specified on the OEM ball packaging.

 

OK. Situation resolved! I was able to remove the hitch ball (thanks Clearwater Bill!) and confirmed that the bushing fits into the mount hole -- takes out some of the slop that was there before. I installed the hitch ball and all is good!

 

Hope the dealer didn't soak you for their incorrect install. Must have used the same guy who inflates the tires to max pressure on the sidewall

 

It was a free install during scheduled service. I guess you get what you pay for...

 

If they can’t install a ball properly I would have doubts about their abilities to do services properly.

 

Yea. And they didn't even set the flats parallel to the edges of the receiver. No attention to detail.