anybody install a hich on an xj before??? cuz i went to put mine on tonight but i could not get into the unibody. so i took off my rear bumper thought i could go through that and i cant haha any ideas?

yeah i installed a hidden hitch (highly recommend one if you haven't bought one yet) on mine davey. it's not too bad, and yes you do have to remove the rear bumper to do it, unless you already had the factory tow package (guessing not since you're just now installing a hitch) or the factory gas tank skid. you're going to need to hit up the dealership for a factory nutcert/nutstrip for the drivers side (LH side). the passenger side already has one because the exhaust hanger bolts through it. it's a length of metal with bolts welded to it that will sit inside the "framerail" through which the hitch will bolt.

when you remove the bumper there are two brackets behind it at the ends of the framerails, each with 4 bolts in it. you can actually take off the brackets without taking off the bumper off the brackets, but do whatever you want. so take off the bumper, take off the brackets or at least the left braket, and put the nutstrip into the frame. now bolt up your hitch using the holes in the bottom of the framerail that have the nuts above them. let me know if you have anymore problems.

I have installed and removed a hitch on the XJ... I had to take the bumper completely off to do it....that is real fun. I highly suggest getting a racthing wrench if you are going to do it. Also, the best hitch is the OEM one. I was going to install a store bought one then I noticed it only attached in 6 places, were the OEM one attached in 11 places including the center of the Jeep...it is a very stable hitch.. I tow a 3500 pound boat during the summer months.

It probable took me about 3 hours to install the hitch.

yea when i removed my rear bumper.... which was a pain i still could not get into my uni body. so i think im just gonna weld it in... maybe, how good is that to do. i am not sure if thats safe or not. also does anybody have a weldor?

don't weld in your hitch davey, it isn't necessary. if you can't get into the unibody after removing the rear bumper you're missing something. look, once you remove the bumper, if you didn't take the 2 brackets off with the bumper, then you have to take the brackets off too, or at least the driver's side one. this will show you a hole in the end of the "rail." you can shine a light into it and look down your "frame" if you want. the brackets are each held on by four bolts, remove them to remove the brackets. just get the nutstrip from Tate on rte 85 and slide it into the drivers' side framerail, then follow the rest of my post. if you have any more problems let me know. actually i can help you with it this weekend if you want. that guy dave that was with me has a big heated garage that we work in with a welder and a nearby mudpit.

davey,

call tate and tell them you want a nutcert/nutstrip for the drivers side (lefthand side) because they don't carry them in stock, but they'll have it the next day. if they aren't familiar with that name describe it as a strip of metal that sits inside the frame with nuts welded to it. think they may have called it a frame reinforcement plate when i bought mine.

You can get to the frame rails by removing the bumper and bumper mounts. Then you can slide the brackets inside the frame rails and bolt to them from under the frame. The OEM hitch has long rails, the after market one has steel squares that have to be place exactly over the pre-drilled holes.

You will also have to remove you exhaust mount. and rebollt it on after you have the hitch bolts on...

The OEM hitch is the best. I have a friend that bought a hidden hitch for his grand cherokee and when he would go to tow large boats the entiire frame of the jeep would flex.

yea i saw the frame brackets and when i looked to take them off it still looked closed up... but ill take it apart again next week and throw it on... any body wanna help? thanks guys for the help i only was wonndering if i could weld it because i was feeling lazy.

When you go to remove the bumper brackets be sure to put some liquid wrench or WD40 on the 4 bolts on each side and let it sit for a while. When I went to remove mine, they were so rusted and torqued on that I broke one of the four on each side.

They way I did it was to use a wratching wrench and removed the eight bolts for the bumper mounts rather than removing the bumper then the mounts, it was easier and took less time to take off and put on.

anyone free sometiem this week? imma do this stupid hitch once and for all.

yeah i can help you out sometime this week davey, anytime after work finishes pretty much (5pm). or I can help you out this weekend. let me know.

how does wensday ... 530 sound?

yo davey,

sorry man, didn't see your post until it was too late, then i went out of town for a couple days. if you didn't get it on and you have time this weekend let me know. i'll be working on mine on sun. i think.