Trailer hitch fit question

[Purzell]

Hi,

I did a search of the forum and didn't find an exact answer to my question.
I bought a trailer hitch off Craigslist for my 1997 XJ. My Jeep does have the factory nut strips in the frame on both sides. The guy I bought the hitch from took it off of a 1995 XJ. The new hitch is about 1" narrower center to center of the bolt holes than my frame installation bolt holes. I was under the assumption that earlier XJ hitches will fit the "later" body style? Was I wrong? I want to buy another used one but don't want to make the same mistake.

FWIW it's a very nice heavy duty hitch that I paid $25 for, if anyone in the Sacramento area wants to buy a hitch---you can hold it up first and see if it will fit your Jeep.

Thanks!

 

[SWbySWesty]

Are you sure it was for a Cherokee (like did they have one in the driveway)? I also would have assumed it would fit all years, and I did a quick internet search and they give the same part numbers for hitches for all years (ie - the same one fits all the years).

 

[FlexdXJ]

You know a grand cherokee and a cherokee are two different vehicles.

 

[ExpoMike]

You know a grand cherokee and a cherokee are two different vehicles.

My thoughts exactly. I have seen that mistake made more than once. To my knowledge, all XJ hitches fit all years. ZJ ones won't fit, just like their gas tank skid plate won't fit a XJ.

 

[FlexdXJ]

just like their gas tank skid plate won't fit a XJ.

Yeah they do! I have one on mine right now. My exhaust is rattling against it but nothing a little exhaust wrap and rubber can't fix. All I did was open up the holes nearest to the axle with a dremel.

 

[Purzell]

Guys....wow, come on.
I know a GC and Cherokee are different. I did not see his Jeep but he is a NAXJA member so I assumed...
My bad I guess, but this isn't going to fit. OK thanks Y'all.

 

[FlexdXJ]

Guys....wow, come on.
I know a GC and Cherokee are different. I did not see his Jeep but he is a NAXJA member so I assumed...
My bad I guess, but this isn't going to fit. OK thanks Y'all.

Huh, Thats a little odd though. It had to come off of something different. I put a hitch off of an older XJ on my 97 with no issues. Its since been replaced with a JCR bumper iwth integrated hitch!

 

[SWbySWesty]

any update on this?

 

[DrMoab]

I sold a hitch off a 90 to a friend of mine who had a 97. It didn't fit right. He had to enlarge the holes and notch the bumper because it sat up about a half an inch higher than the bumper would allow.

 

[Purzell]

No update, sorry. It does not fit but I no longer have the e-mail of the guy I got it from so I can't confirm if his Jeep is an XJ. So I am back in the market for a used hitch.

 

[purdueXJ]

We do hitches at work, and it's the same part number for all xj's.

 

[Purzell]

Here is the part number: Sure Pull 37709/010122

Sure Pull appears to no longer be in business.
It's not a big deal. If I could ask him I would confirm if he had an XJ or not, but I can't, and in the long run it was $25 poorly spent. Oh well. I will have to find another. Initially I was just curious if the earlier XJ's used a different hitch.

 

[Maximus Ram]

Not sure where your located, but I found mine on craigslist. theres a coule on there now around here in sacto.