Skid Plate Removal and Ground Clearance w/Front Mount Trailer Hitch Installed on 2007 Toyota Tundra

Question:

On this front mount receiver, the skid plate does not need to be removed for the installation of the receiver. However, can the skid plate be removed afterwards for oil changes? Or does the receiver have to be removed before the skid plate? Also how much ground clearance is lost with the installation of this receiver?

asked by: Jon E

Expert Reply:

You do not have to remove the skid plate on your 2007 Toyota Tundra to install Curt front mount receiver # 31198 but you can if you wanted to. You should be able to loosen the skid plate enough to move the skid plate out of the way enough without having to remove the entire hitch.

I have linked the installation instructions for you to view. The receiver will be just below the lowest trim piece on the front bottom of the vehicle to give you an idea of ground clearance. I included a picture a customer sent us to show you.

For a front mount hitch that requires (suggested in the instructions) removing the skid plate use # 65080. I have linked instructions for it as well. The ground clearance will be approximately the same with this hitch installed but the reciever tube does stick out further from the front of the truck.

You could also use an oil filter relocation kit like # D15748 to move the filter to a more accessible location.

expert reply by: Michael H