Front bumper with receiver hitch?

My search fu was weak today. I only came across mention of some tube bumpers by Trail Gear (their Rock Defense bumpers) with a 2" receiver hitch / mount in front.

I did see that Armor Tech Offroad offers a hidden 2" receiver hitch that appears to weld on to the front frame, just in front of the radiator. But that may only be for Gen 2/3 Tacos?

Is anyone aware of any other front bumpers for 1st gen Tacos that either have a front receiver hitch (maybe behind a fold down license plate holder?) or would permit something like the Armor Tech Offroad hidden hitch to be used?

Reason: ability to mount a winch in a portable tray either in front receiver hitch, or rear receiver hitch to pull self out of sticky situation, or to pull someone else out from either end. In addition, when not wheeling, winch could stay at home and I would not be spending gas $ on hauling it around everywhere.

 

There's a thread recently posted asking the same thing.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-hitch.591369/#post-19772743

I don't think there are a lot of options for 1st gens, though. Either custom or a bolt on one as far as I can tell.

 

I was reading in one thread about the ARB front bumper for the Tacoma. While I don't consider the ARB to be the best looking front bumper, it doesn't look bad. Some other benefits include that it is designed to work with airbags, is engineered for Tacomas yada yada. And the price is pretty darn good when you take everything into account.

Has anyone looked into whether some sort of receiver hitch could be added to the ARB front bumper, or, perhaps, access to a hidden front receiver hitch might be accessible through the ARB winch opening?

 

Well, nutz. Didn't think to search for "front hitch."

Thanks for pointing that thread out.

 

In addition to what I stated in the OP...

If I manage to get my truck lifted, highly doubt I can afford a bumper at the same time, though that would be ideal. Would be nice to find a front bumper, not too much heavier than stock (60lbs I saw in one thread), that still enables the use of a front receiver hitch... so that I only have to buy a second set of OME front coils after (or with) the bumper...

 

Unless you went custom, that trailgear bumper is probably your best bet. That's going to be one of your cheapest options, too, I think.

 

I hear ya there. Just gotta get used to the tubes.

I think I saw a plate bumper by 4xinnovations in one of the front bumper threads. I don't think the weight was too terrible high on it. Wonder if they could do a mod to incorporate a front receiver hitch? (Of course, you did just mention custom...)

 

Does a 2001 count? Not a bumper but a 2" hitch

https://www.etrailer.com/fmr-2001_Toyota_Tacoma.htm

 

Yeah, those are similar to the ones in the thread I posted before. You loose a lot of clearance with one like that. For normal street driving, who cares, but when your plan is to go wheelin' with it, that is the last thing you'd want.

 

That might work. Any idea how much, if any, it might mess with front approach angles? Would suck to be working a trail and have the front hitch dig into rock or dirt...

ETA... what jb just said. I was typing same time as he...

 

I guess it also depends on the trails you drive. If you're cruisin' fire roads, it probably wouldn't matter. But then again, if that's all you're driving, a winch probably isn't priority #1 either...

 

I would try and make something like this work behind the bumper. $182
http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/1991-1997-toyota-land-cruiser-fj80-rock-defense-front-bumpers.html