Thats basicaly the one I have on mine. I actually wish the dealer would have installed the Toyota one I paid for.

Either way they are functional...I just think the Toyota one looks better and is a better fit for the FJ. I am sure you can get one from one of the forum vendors for the same price as the one you are looking at.

 

Yeh, what he said.

Here in South East Toyota territory we get the Reese hitch vice the 'factory' one if the hitch is dealer installed. The only way for us to get the 'factory' unit is if it is port installed. This was a MAJOR pi$$er between me and the no-load-butt-pirates at the dealer where I made my purchase.

However, the Reese does a fine job once the blingy plastic chrome piece is removed from the receiver.

 

do you have pics of this

 

Apex...sounds like we had the same experience. Yes, I am a SET victim (really fond of their destination charges).

I love the FJ, and am excited about owning it. However, never having a Toyota before and then dealing with S.E. Toyota has been a negative experience. The dealer was fine, it was the rules and fees they are subjected to by SET.

When my dealer found my FJ, it did not have the hitch on it. I told them I wanted them just to give me a We Owe statement that I could buy the hitch whenever I wanted for the invoice price.

I had some $$ float my way, so about 2 weeks after I got my FJ, I asked my dealer to order the hitch. So a few days later, I get a call that it was there. My wife was driving that way, so I asked her to stop in and pick it up. She calls me back and says that 2 people had to put the thing her car and that it barely fit!

When she got home, I could not believe what a monster this thing was. The wiring harness was just as bad. I just about threw my back out trying to get the thing out of her car. When I realized, it was an after market (Reece) hitch, I was major pi$$ed!

So, the next day it went back and I had this talk with the parts manager about in the future, if I arrive at his TOYOTA parts counter, I expect to be sold a Toyota part or at least be asked if something else is accceptable.
They gave me this story about how this is the recommended part by SE Toyota. I am sure it is and I am sure it is just so that SET can have their way with you one more time.

I believe his story, when SET installed my PIAA fog lights, they didn't use a Toyota FJ rocker switch in the switch cluster. They used the cheap rocker switch that came with the lights and they mounted the thing under the drivers air vent on the flat part that I would have preferred not to have drilled.

I told them the Reece hitch was theirs now and they could order me the factory part like I had stated when I signed the deal on my FJ. They ordered me the factory hitch, which came in a box honestly about 1/5th the size of the Reece hitch. Rather than having a monstrosity of a wiring harness that the Reece kit had, the factory harness install was very simple and just integrated into the FJ really well.

If you get put in this position, my advice is to make sure you get the factory hitch. Others here have talked about how the Reece hitch will degrade your departure angle....it is so damn heavy and huge, I would think it has to affect MPG as well.

No offense to anyone with the Reece hitch. In my experience, I didn't like it nearly as much as the factory part and I want others to know about this, so they can make an informed decision and hold their dealer to the fire about getting the best parts.

 

i have it. I complained to my dealer about it. They gave me the crapola about port installs and dealer installs (i am in southeast) i was like "well can i get the Toyota hitch that i was suppose to have, this thing severely decreases my departure angle". I am guessing you already know what the stealerships answer was. "You can buy the Toyota one from the parts department if you want?" I was about to kick him sqaure in the nutz.
ONLY benefit i see to this hitch is that if i was to go over a drop off (log, curb, annoying neighbor) the hitch would protect the exhaust the way it is shaped

 

I have that hitch and am happy. I got it by choice, not because some dealer pulled the old bait and switch. I like it because I put it on myself for about half of what the Toyota one costs and; I can use it as a jacking point with my hi-lift jack and the custom adapter I made.
The only drawback is it sits a little lower than the OEM and of course if you prefer the other look.

 

I have this hitch because of false advertizement. I ordered the OEM hitch about a year ago and got this instead. The business (forgot the name, but was in the South East) didn't respond to my emails until I mentioned the BBB. Took over a couple weeks until I decided it wasn't worth the hassle. I still have it and have been satisfied.

 

Do you guys know if this would pull a Mazda Miata? I have a 91 and if we have to evacuate from another hurricane down here, I would have to leave it. I sure would love to be able to haul it out of here to protect it from the looters.

 

It should. The tow rating is 5000. Add your trailer to the weight of the miata, probably not more then 3500. But if you are evacuating, take into account how much other weight is in the vehicle, gear, people pets etc. to be safe. One of the factors luring me towards the FJ over the rubicon was the two capacity. Wakeboard boats are heavy ~4000 lbs.

 

The center frame mounted hitch give a much better
depature angle, sice they are mounted higher that the
side frame rail mounted hitch, which is lower... If you
have the option, that is the way to go, if you plan on
any off roading... Just rememeber, no mater which hitch
you get, you will need the toyota wiring harness and
relay for under the dash... When I got mine last year,
it came with the itmes below, plus the harness and
relay/s...

 

I have it, its ugly.

 

Sparrothead,

I know that bostonian towed a early '70 ranger rover or something like that. anyhow I know it was heavier than what you want to tow. There is a thread on it and I believe its in the general section....

 

I gave up arguing with Toyota of Hollywood (fl.) after they showed me an 08 with the Port sticker showing the reese hitch as their installed piece.I wanted the one that sets up under the valance only for looks than departure angle since I doubt it will ever see off road.I have learned to live with it.The wiring harness install they did as well as the actual hitch install was nice though.
The reese does install like a standard hitch bolted to the bottom of the frame rails in liew of the factory on that bolts to the face of the back crossmember.
I am assuming that the reason they use the reese is it is much easier to install than the factory one because you don't have to pull the bumper cover off to install.I am sure the folks at SET saw mumbers in profitablity drop due to the extra labor to install thefactory one.
My .02 cents