I can see cutting the trailer hitch off becoming a thing

I think you could keep the crossmember, just cut the hitch off and build the new bumper around it or integrate it into it. The back end of this truck is begging for trouble or to be "fixed" for offroad use.

The pipe,tire, and hitch all need to get recycled.

To get that bed deeper, they lowered the spare a lot.

By the time you needed it, it would likely have a hole in it from dragging.

And if you removed the spare before wheeling, then it's easier to get hung on the hitch.

They do make hitch skids but that makes the departure angle even worse.

The hitch has to go somewhere else unless you're only crawling malls

 

Doesn't the trailhunter have an ARB rear bumper stock? What does that do with the hitch?

 

The ARB bumper is nice but the hitch is in the same spot and doesn't solve the problem.

 

It just hangs down like normal. But the TH has a 3 inch lift essentially over the base models.

 

Lowest point needs to be close to where those Hi lift jack points are or right above the hitch.

 

The Trailhunter has the exhaust dumps in front of the axle

 

I would not purchase a 4th gen Tacoma with the intentions of offroading where the hitch will contact the ground.

I agree it's in the way if you are going off road.

 

Its similar to the rear crossmember on the Gx460-470, 4runnner, fj. Some bumper companies cut it out for more options when building the bumper

 

I think your speculation is accurate, since they've done it for every previous gen as well to add clearance.

My guess is they would just grind/cut away the hitch portion, and a new bumper will have it behind the plate. Would depend how it's constructed though, which I have no idea.

 

These days they expect you to tow your sxs to the trailhead.

 

Looks like you could cut the hitch box off without affecting the structural strength. Not sure how you would add a hitch back on up higher though.

 

There is nothing behind the license plate.

 

That spare doesn't have hardly any tread depth to it.

 

The spare is a joke!

 

Be grateful for what you get. The 5th Gen Tacoma will be equipped with a single can of Fix-a-Flat.

 

Nothing. The ARB replaces the plastic bumper "shell" with steel.

4Runners and Land Cruisers have been this way for decades. Most bolt-on aftermarket bumpers leave the hitch and crossmember as-is, so departure clearance ends up same as stock. A couple of high-clearance designs require cutting off the crossmember, e.g. https://nguyenworksusa.com/shop/ols/products/5th-gen-4runner-plated-low-rear-bumper

 

Lame. That hitch does sit down really low. Although as some others have said I'm sure there will be plenty of aftermarket options soon enough to cut that thing off and replace with something higher clearance.

 

Has anyone found an aftermarket bumper that relocates the trailer hitch?