I opted for the OEM hitch for my 2017 GX460. I noticed someone selling a ball mount part, PT228-89449. It reads Toyota. The seller tells me it was off a Toyota four-runner. Will this mount work for me? My hitch is PT22860141
The ball mount part they have is PT22889445.

Some sites say no, it will not fit. Another site tells me the old 449 was replaced by the 445. I want your opinion. Thank you.

 

... you just need one that fits a 2" receiver. They come in varying "drops" for proper trailer mount height ... so purchase accordingly.

 

I understand the 2" receiver part, but "drops" I do not understand. Thank you for your input.

 

^ ... don't need an OEM Ball Mount ... auto parts stores sell Reese Brand in varying amounts of drop (heights) and different ball sizes.

... ball mounts come in different "drops" so the trailer has the proper "attitude" (angle) to the ball. So the answer starts with your specific trailer ...

 

Try looking through the help articles at etrailer.com. They will generally have a help article on almost any subject.

https://www.etrailer.com/article-categories.aspx

You also need to make sure the ball fits your trailer receiver; 2” is most common, but 1 7/8” and 2 1/8” are out there, depending upon trailer size.

In general, I try to have a hitch mount that puts the rise from the ground at 17” (the base of the hitch mount the ball screws into - I try to make that ~17”).

- So if I measure my trailer hitch receptacle from the ground, the bottom of the opening is at 20”, I get a hitch mount with a 3” drop.

This gives you the most flexibility. IIRC, that is the height U-haul recommends, for example, to use their trailers. You may need a different amount based on the specific trailer, if you are not just getting a generic one to be prepared. I hope this helps you somewhat; this subject can indeed be confusing until you study it and learn all the jargon and new terms.

If you are new to trailering I’ll throw out another safety practice to follow:
- Never move an inch w/o the safety chains engaged.
- Stop once you’ve driven a 100 yards or less, and get out and go back and inspect the ball/receiver latch and safety chains again.

 

..

 

Thank you. I'll measure.

 

As others have stated, receiver hitches are vehicle specific, but ball mounts are not.

There are a few measurements/specifications that need to be considered for the ball mount/ball:

-receiver size - it’s already been stated that you have standard 2”

-height (drop/rise) - this is dependent on the trailer. You want the trailer to be substantially level when hitched up and the tow rig is loaded.

-load capacity - the OEM receiver is rated for 6,500#, so it wouldn’t make much sense to have a ball mount with a capacity lower than that. The same applies for the ball itself. It is not uncommon for the ball mount and ball to have a higher capacity than the receiver, so don’t sweat it if the items you select happen to be say 10,000# capacity for example.

-ball diameter - as has been alluded to, standard sizes include 1-7/8”, 2”, and 2-5/16”. It is CRITICALLY important that the ball diameter matches the trailer. The diameter should be on the trailer tongue somewhere. Too large of a ball will be self evident because the trailer coupler won’t fit over the ball, but too small of a ball is extremely dangerous because it can/will lead to trailer separation.

-hole/shank diameter - different load capacity ball mounts and ***** have different hole/shank diameter. It is important that these diameters match. Too large a ball shank will obviously not fit into too small of a hole, but you also do not want a sloppy fit of a small ball shank in a large ball mount hole.

A few general things to remember: The receiver hitch, ball mount, and ball all work together as a system and it is important that these components are all compatible. Since there are several variables for the ball mount/ball as listed above that are dependent on the particular trailer being towed, many folks have more than one setup to accommodate different trailers. I have 5-6 different ball mount/ball combinations that I’ve accumulated over time as I’ve pulled different trailers.

 

I have the original ball mount that came with the vehicle and never figured out how to assemble it. The nut is to small and it would fall through the hole. I have like 3 different 2'' ball hitches I use, never used the OE one, still in the box.