Rear Bumper Support Replacement

I replaced my 2005 Prerunner DCLB without tow package with a 2005 DCLB 4WD with tow package. The problem was that there was some rust on the back bumper under the license plate.

I finally got a chance to take a look at this and determined that the bumper support was pretty much rusted through. I found one used on ebay and ordered it. I was able to replace the support tonight. I sanded down the replacement and sprayed on some rustoleum on it, sanded down the trailer hitch (which had some rust but nowhere near as bad as the support). Below are an after pic and some pics of the rusted out support.

 

Finally finished up putting the bumper back on. Since I had it off, I went ahead and sanded the rust off, roughed up the chrome, beat out the dents, 3 coats of primer some sanding and three coats of Rustoleum rattle can bed liner. Came out better than I thought it would.

 

Did you have to remove the hitch receiver or just the bumper to do this....and did you have to remove the bumper or could you do it in place. Thanks in advance. Need to replace my rusted reinforcement.