Some Advise on a Bumper Mounted Receiver for 2nd Gen

So I just ordered a Step Bumper Mounted Hitch for my Taco(image below). I got some OEM bolt caps so it should be a clean install.

I don't plan on Towing anything, I'm buying this to use with a Load Extender to occasionally carry a couple Kayaks spanned from the roof rack to the hitch. Expecting the weight to be about 120lb spread between the roof and hitch.

I've been reading our bumpers are kind of weak and towing with it will likely cause the bumper to bend. I'm assuming I shouldn't have any issues with 120lb spread weight above. What about a dirtbike hitch mount (210lb bike + 50lb carrier). Is the rear bumper strong enough or will it sag over time? Does anyone know the tongue weight rating of the bumper?

I know the advise would be to get a frame hitch but I'm trying to save money and weight so I'm just trying to figure out what I can get away with. Thanks in advance for responses, specs are below.

• STEP BUMPER RECEIVER
• 2" x 2" Hitch Receiver
• Tow Capacity: 5000 lbs max.
• Tongue Load Capacity: 500lbs; Over All Dimension: 14" x 7 x 3"

 

The factory bumper's trailer tongue weight is 350 lbs. Max.
That'd be the max weight that bumper could support.

Ignore the rating of the receiver...
as that is stronger then the bumper.

 

I think you will be just fine using the bumper hitch as described for the extension for the kayaks, and that is a nifty idea and product. however I personally would not put a motorcycle hitch carrier back there, that would seem to be pushing it as far as the capacity goes. this is just my opinion, I've owned a few Tacomas and jumped up and down on the bumper. i think a motorcycle bouncing around would end up bending something.

 

I had one of those on my '98 Sonoma and it worked great for my bed extender and bicycle carrier.

Don't think I'd trust a motorcycle bouncing around back there.

 

Thank you all for the information and advice. I think I'll avoid anything close to the dirtbike.

 

I dont know about the bike but the rest is a non issue.

The bumper is built to certain specs, people that argue that using it as intended will cause damage are just not very bright.

 

That really isn't how it works. There is a big difference between a trailer that you are towing, and a dead weight load.

 

Popular belief is that the bumper is a light weight piece of sheet metal, that crumples easily when you back into a solid object. The problem is that people who back into things off center will see the bumper COVER bend, sometimes quite significantly, and they make the invalid assumption that the bumper is the same all the way across.

The reality, is that these trucks have a two piece bumper; the structural inside part, which is actually a pretty solid piece of metal that runs frame rail to frame rail, and the cover, which is the thinner decorative part that you see, and extends beyond the frame rails all the way to the body sides.