TJ/LJ hitch questions

[orangeTJ]

looking for info on frame mounted hitches (receiver style hitches).

I revived an old thread I started...
see it here:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17968

 

[RedDog]

I have a Draw-Tite I had put on this past summer. I intend to pursue a small pop-up of some sort in the future but initially I needed a means of hauling my bicycle. The Draw-Tite and a SportRack took care of that. I also had to get a D-Ring adapter for club runs because the installation required removal of the frame mounted rear tow hooks. It's all a nice tidy assembly that looks factory and it's very tight to the bumper causing a minimum of clearance loss.

 

[ox4mag]

When I bought my TJ Rubicon, it was fitted with a Mopar frame mounted hitch and it worked wonderfully. I wound up pulling it out when I installed my Garvin bumper rack system since the new bumper had a built-in tow hitch but you may want to consider the Mopar version if you're still looking.

 

[ox4mag]

One quick note: Be sure to pay attention to how and where on the frame the hitch is mounted as this can affect your departure angle which may/may not be an overly big concern.

 

[jwhutch]

One quick note: Be sure to pay attention to how and where on the frame the hitch is mounted as this can affect your departure angle which may/may not be an overly big concern.

X2. I have a one mounted by U-haul, does a great job, but it is the first thing to get hung up.

 

[orangeTJ]

I rethought the idea of towing with the bumper and realized to do so, with the current trailers I have (which aren't offroad models) I'd need a drop hitch of 8" or so, which is a bit excessive in my opinion. Also required, would be to cut the tail off the hitch, so there is no more than about 1" of metal left behind the hole for the pin that secures it to the receiver.
And I already have enough ballmounts in my collection, and one with a large drop would only see limited use.

I started looking for a hitch again, and in very short order I FOUND ONE!!! (one that bolts exclusively below the frame and doesn't use the holes on the side, which are used up by my frame tie-ins)

It's made by Curt Manufacturing, It's the model 13408.

I've ordered stuff from etrailer.com before, and they have free shipping if you order over $150.00.


http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code=13408

Supposing I ever go to Moab or other places where I'd need the clearance, (lots of places in Moab where'd I'd drag the hitch across the rocks) I'd simply take the hitch off.

 

[BIGdaddy]

I rethought the idea of towing with the bumper and realized to do so, with the current trailers I have (which aren't offroad models) I'd need a drop hitch of 8" or so, which is a bit excessive in my opinion. Also required, would be to cut the tail off the hitch, so there is no more than about 1" of metal left behind the hole for the pin that secures it to the receiver.
And I already have enough ballmounts in my collection, and one with a large drop would only see limited use.

I started looking for a hitch again, and in very short order I FOUND ONE!!! (one that bolts exclusively below the frame and doesn't use the holes on the side, which are used up by my frame tie-ins)

It's made by Curt Manufacturing, It's the model 13408.

I've ordered stuff from etrailer.com before, and they have free shipping if you order over $150.00.


http://www.etrailer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?screen=PROD&Store_Code=E&Product_Code=13408

Supposing I ever go to Moab or other places where I'd need the clearance, (lots of places in Moab where'd I'd drag the hitch across the rocks) I'd simply take the hitch off.

I think you'll find that you will lose very little clearance.

I would expect that you'll put that hitch on, and forget completely about it . That is, until you come off a drop and the darn thing saves your bacon, by taking a potentially catastrophic hit in stride. Many have gone the standard hitch route, for good reason.

regards,
Brian

 

[orangeTJ]

The hitch was 119, so I found a few other things to bring the price up to 150 to get free shipping.