Trailer Hitch Woes

I ordered and received a hitch from the Hitch Store, a reputable online vendor, but I just found that it doesn't fit my 2016 Tacoma. They apparently just assumed that anything that fit the 2nd generation would fit the 3rd generation, because their online selector indicated that they had a hitch that would fit the 2016. Or, more likely, they just had no idea a 3rd generation existed. Now they admit that they don't have a hitch to fit the 2016 Tacoma.

The real mistake here is mine. I should have gotten the tow package like most buyers, but I was trying to save a few hundred dollars. I only need a hitch for occasional very light towing and maybe to mount a winch, so I figured why pay $650 for the whole package when all I wanted was a hitch. Seemed a good idea at the time, but now I will have to wait for an aftermarket product to become available, and I'm sending a big heavy object back. A major nuisance, and all because I'm cheap.

I also know that the other stuff that comes with the towing package are seen as advantageous to have, but that has been covered on another thread.

 

well since no one has said it yet, I might as well fuel the fire.


we told you so


best of luck

 

The only worth while thing the tow package gives you is the higher GVW. You can't buy that unfortunately.

 

for $650 I don't see where you can get a similar deal installed for that price. I mean you could probably find all the parts and have that installed for cheaper but I don't expect it to be much cheaper. if you could save yourself $100-$200 doing it yourself, I would seriously look at the time spent doing that compared to doing something better with all that time installing all those items w/o a factory warranty.

 

Beyond the hitch itself, the additional items that come with the package make it worthwhile.

 

Link the oil & tranny cooler...dual electric hookups...7 pin and 4 pin... etc, etc...

 

Wow, I'm kind of surprised the OP posted. I suppose a glutton for punishment?

If I remember correctly, I'm pretty sure the OP had the option to get the tow package installed for $150 because the dealer was willing to knock off $500 of the tow package. (please correct me if I'm wrong here, but I did find a statement in the OP's posts)

Anyway, try etrailer.com for information on a hitch for the 3rd gen.

I'll just say it off the back, if you don't get the OEM hitch - you may have more troubles installing a hitch. When I installed a CURT hitch on my (used) Tacoma I had to send the first one back because it was bent, the second one "fit" but it still had to be massaged.

 

the big thing is the residual you have on that tow package. even on our 2012, I still got $300 difference on having the tow package. 50% resale value after 3 yrs is pretty good for a option.

 

Yes everybody did.

I might have reconsidered, except by the time I posted on that other thread I had already ordered. The worst of it is that, since nearly everyone will have the factory install, there won't be much incentive for making an aftermarket hitch.

 

nah people will still make them to fit a Tacoma, it just will take awhile for 3rd parties to catch up.

the only bad part is you don't get the extra goodies that come with the oem package.

must have will be the trans cooler, TSC is either way.

engine oil cooler, power steering cooler, 130-amp alternator, 4- and 7-pin connector with converter are not needed if you want to skimp but its nice to have.

 

I was hoping nobody would actually go back and read the postings on that earlier thread, but it appears that you actually REMEMBER it! Amazing--you must have a photographic memory. It's true, I did have that offer via e-mail. I had other reasons for not wanting to go with that dealership, but it does make my regrets worse that I didn't investigate that offer further. It was a small dealer and I was pretty sure once I showed up they were going to force some other things on me. But now I regret I didn't at least confirm that.

I lost my inhibitions about confessing my screw-ups after reading through the thread of the guy who tried to change his oil and instead drained his transmission fluid, then tried to replace what he thought was his oil by refilling through the coolant port.

 

hey someone has to make the mistakes so someone else can learn from it

plus its a good learning experience albeit in your case it wasn't a big of an issue as others.

 

Sounds like there were other reasons not to take up the offer on the OEM tow package.

Anyway, my suggestion is to buy the Toyota (OEM) hitch for the truck. As for wiring, either get the Toyota harness (since it'll plug in) or find a Hopkins wiring harness for it. Don't worry too much about the other items that come with the original tow package.

The OEM hitch will be more expensive, but you can get it now & you know it'll fit. In addition you'll know it's been tested.

As I mentioned, aftermarket hitches are hit & miss in quality. In my experience they come in giant boxes with only some expanding foam in the corners to "hold" it in place. While the hitch itself is substantial, apparently they can still be bent by the shipper. Although the one that was bent when I got it was obviously bent before they welded it together.

On our QX60 I bought the Nissan hitch, wiring, finisher, etc...the hitch was *very* well packed with substantial amounts of cardboard to hold it in place.

 

Is it true that all V6 have to come with the tow package? When I ordered my truck, my saleman told me that I can't not get the V6 without tow package.

 

No

 

Are you in Canada ?

 

i'm in texas

 

he saving you the headache. better to hav it and not need it than need it and not hav it...

 

I think most Tacomas allocated to dealers do come with the tow package, but dealers can request that the package be left off if an allocated truck hasn't yet been built. Obviously it can be done, as the dealer I bought from was able to do it.

 

if that was the case, then there wouldn't be an option code for the towing package and it would be shown as restricted to the I4 trucks in the master thread.