Comanche 87 Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 The rear bumper of my mj is noticeably angled probably bent somewhere. I'm also going to be hauling a trailer with lawn equipment and I'm concerned about the load capacity of the bumper. Is there any models that would have a universal bumper with my year? I know from previous threads that my model is good with the 4 door xj forward and up to '96 but was never mentioned if the rear bumper is OK. And how good is the bumper for weight bearing/pulling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted July 17, 2015 Share Posted July 17, 2015 Swing by the classified section and put an order in for the Krustyballer hitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glundblad Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 There is an aftermarket Fey bumper that will fit the MJ. I posted pics of one compared to factory in my signature link below on the last page of the link. They say Feys are rust prone but that shouldn't be a problem in Florida. I bought mine at an Indiana JY and it was fine so I can't say. They are still readily available. You can get them in black or chrome. Comanche tongue weight is 200# and trailer weight was 3,000 IIRC. I pulled an 1100 lbs diesel garden tractor and push mower on a steel trailer with wood deck for years with no problems. Some trailers are made so the hitch that goes over the ball is higher than the rest of the trailer hitch. Then if you make a sharp turn, the trailer will cut into the bumper. That is why you see dents to the side of the ball on some truck bumpers. If you can swing it, I would try to obtain a frame hitch but the bumper will work fine for your application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 The factory step bumper is rated as a Class 1 hitch from the factory. Max trailer weight for a Class 1 hitch is 2000 lbs. Closely inspect all the nuts and bolts that connect the bumper to the truck, in addition to inspecting the bumper. I strongly suggest you look hard at installing a Class 2 frame mounted hitch. Even for the most modest trailer weight. The frame mounted hitches were factory rated as Class 2 hitches. Max trailer weight for a Class 2 hitch is 5000 lbs. BUT on a stock Comanche the max tow rating with a class 2 hitch is 3500 lbs, UNLESS the Comanche is "properly equipped". Properly equipped means: 1) Equalizing hitch. 2) Metric Ton/Big Ton package which was a Long Wheel Base Only option. Biggest thing with the Big Ton/Metric Ton package is wider rear brakes of the Dana 44. Metric Ton/Big Ton also includes 4.0 engine, auto trans, p/s, p/b, H.D. radiator, H.D. trans cooler, bigger tires and several other items. Properly equipped Comanche has a 5000 lbs tow rating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche 87 Posted July 18, 2015 Author Share Posted July 18, 2015 Ok so it looks like I'll be going with the hitch but What would a class 2 frame mounted hitch cost? And i looked at the Krustyballer hitch you linked shelbyluv but not sure what it does. Would that work with a class 2? And are there any pics of one 'in action' or installed? I do better with visuals lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marine1Texas Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 I ordered a fey bumper at 4wd parts a few years ago for my 87 longbed. It has a 5000 tow and 500 rated stamped on it. I did not use a ball, but bolted the 2 inch hitch tube receiver. I got the receiver from harbor freight and the bumper from 4wd parts. The brackets I thought were made weak. So we but 1/4 corner joints and welded them on to the brackets. Never failed us yet. I am sure I have put more then the max on it and not even a bend. at least 2 times I remember pulling out one of my tractors that weight about 20k stuck in the clay river bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiatslug87 Posted July 18, 2015 Share Posted July 18, 2015 And i looked at the Krustyballer hitch you linked shelbyluv but not sure what it does. Would that work with a class 2? And are there any pics of one 'in action' or installed? I do better with visuals lol The KrustyHitch will look something like this. This one is a DrawTite, this was the install sheet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 The factory step bumper is rated as a Class 1 hitch from the factory. Max trailer weight for a Class 1 hitch is 2000 lbs. Closely inspect all the nuts and bolts that connect the bumper to the truck, in addition to inspecting the bumper. I strongly suggest you look hard at installing a Class 2 frame mounted hitch. Even for the most modest trailer weight. The frame mounted hitches were factory rated as Class 2 hitches. Max trailer weight for a Class 2 hitch is 5000 lbs. BUT on a stock Comanche the max tow rating with a class 2 hitch is 3500 lbs, UNLESS the Comanche is "properly equipped". Properly equipped means: 1) Equalizing hitch. 2) Metric Ton/Big Ton package which was a Long Wheel Base Only option. Biggest thing with the Big Ton/Metric Ton package is wider rear brakes of the Dana 44. Metric Ton/Big Ton also includes 4.0 engine, auto trans, p/s, p/b, H.D. radiator, H.D. trans cooler, bigger tires and several other items. Properly equipped Comanche has a 5000 lbs tow rating. Not quite. There was also a "tow package" that was not the metric ton package. It included many of the some parts but was also available on a short bed and also gave you a 5,000# tow capacity. I have the Fey bumper. On a Comanche the Fey bumper itself is rated at 350/3,500 using a ball on the bumper. It is in the literature that comes with it and stamped into the bumper itself. That should be adequate for your needs and is fairly cheap from jegs.com and summit racing.com among others. Incommando, Can you point me to the documentation for the "tow package"for the short wheel base truck? Perhaps/likely the H.D. cooling Auto trans, Dana 44 were available on the short wheel base. But the Metric/Big Ton package required the long wheel base truck. My source is the 1991 Comanche user manual that came with the truck and my original window sticker. Other limitations on the 5000 trailer weight limits were the front area of the trailer was limited (from memory, 25 sq ft?) and an equalizing hitch was required for more than 3500 lbs. My comments about the bumper capacity were directly from the Comanche user manual and specifically about the factory bumper. The capacity of the Fey bumper - if that is what they stamp it with - well they know the limits of their bumper. But what about when you bolt it to a Comanche? I would "think" the truck limits for the bumper are the are the ones to use. After all a chain is only as strong as the weakest link. It is also true that two firms can have different views of what the bumper/truck combination limits are. Again, I am just quoting factory limits I am aware of. Lots of people, including me have hauled more than the factory limits. Personally I have put over 3100 lbs in the bed of my truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 The factory step bumper is rated as a Class 1 hitch from the factory. Max trailer weight for a Class 1 hitch is 2000 lbs. Closely inspect all the nuts and bolts that connect the bumper to the truck, in addition to inspecting the bumper. I strongly suggest you look hard at installing a Class 2 frame mounted hitch. Even for the most modest trailer weight. The frame mounted hitches were factory rated as Class 2 hitches. Max trailer weight for a Class 2 hitch is 5000 lbs. BUT on a stock Comanche the max tow rating with a class 2 hitch is 3500 lbs, UNLESS the Comanche is "properly equipped". Properly equipped means: 1) Equalizing hitch. 2) Metric Ton/Big Ton package which was a Long Wheel Base Only option. Biggest thing with the Big Ton/Metric Ton package is wider rear brakes of the Dana 44. Metric Ton/Big Ton also includes 4.0 engine, auto trans, p/s, p/b, H.D. radiator, H.D. trans cooler, bigger tires and several other items. Properly equipped Comanche has a 5000 lbs tow rating. Not quite. There was also a "tow package" that was not the metric ton package. It included many of the some parts but was also available on a short bed and also gave you a 5,000# tow capacity. I have the Fey bumper. On a Comanche the Fey bumper itself is rated at 350/3,500 using a ball on the bumper. It is in the literature that comes with it and stamped into the bumper itself. That should be adequate for your needs and is fairly cheap from jegs.com and summit racing.com among others. Incommando, Can you point me to the documentation for the "tow package"for the short wheel base truck? Perhaps/likely the H.D. cooling Auto trans, Dana 44 were available on the short wheel base. But the Metric/Big Ton package required the long wheel base truck. My source is the 1991 Comanche user manual that came with the truck and my original window sticker. Other limitations on the 5000 trailer weight limits were the front area of the trailer was limited (from memory, 25 sq ft?) and an equalizing hitch was required for more than 3500 lbs. My comments about the bumper capacity were directly from the Comanche user manual and specifically about the factory bumper. The capacity of the Fey bumper - if that is what they stamp it with - well they know the limits of their bumper. But what about when you bolt it to a Comanche? I would "think" the truck limits for the bumper are the are the ones to use. After all a chain is only as strong as the weakest link. It is also true that two firms can have different views of what the bumper/truck combination limits are. Again, I am just quoting factory limits I am aware of. Lots of people, including me have hauled more than the factory limits. Personally I have put over 3100 lbs in the bed of my truck. 88 owners Manual that came with my tow package SWB D44 rear axle 4.0/aw4/tranny cooler 4x4 XJ. And your 91 manual reads slightly differently than mine. I think the manuals' reference to the capacity of the factory bumpers means it is referring to that bumper. Changing the bumper throws that out of the window. Thinking that the aftermarket bumper specs exactly equals the factory one and so has exactly the same rating per the manual doesn't compute.Oh well. Toodles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Swing by the classified section and put an order in for the Krustyballer hitch.+1 the hitch is a better towing point then the bumper is especially when the hitch is used in conjunction with the bumper. . The two holes on the hitch line up with the two holes on the factory bumper tying them both together . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche 87 Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 Hmm Do you have to remove the bed to put the hitch on? Or does it make that a little easier to get to? this a frame mounted hitch right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Hmm Do you have to remove the bed to put the hitch on? Or does it make that a little easier to get to? this a frame mounted hitch right? You don't have to remove the bed to install the hitch . Yes it mounts the the side of the frame . When I was building this ^^ truck it was easier to install because I didn't have to lay on my back . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 That does look like a good product Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche 87 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 Is this the Krustyballer hitch or a different one, and how much/where do you get it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 Is this the Krustyballer hitch or a different one, and how much/where do you get it? This^^ is a drawtite . Here's the link to order a hitch from krustyballer . http://comancheclub.com/topic/47686-hitch-plates/?view=getnewpost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche 87 Posted July 21, 2015 Author Share Posted July 21, 2015 In your opinion which one do you think is the better deal and option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunnc1991 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 In your opinion which one do you think is the better deal and option? The krustyballer hitch, even if it's just in regards to availability. The likelihood of finding a factory hitch is every slim. From what I've read though, he's based everything off factory hitch dimensions so sounds like it will be a good item to grab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted July 21, 2015 Share Posted July 21, 2015 In your opinion which one do you think is the better deal and option? The Krustyhitch is available for something like $180 plus shipping. All the other aftermarket/factory hitches are not available new. Their only source is the used market or salvage yards. In the last 8 years, I have salvaged TWO Comanche hitches. So if you want a used hitch, you are going to have to do a lot of waiting or a whole lot of salvage yard prospecting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche 87 Posted July 29, 2015 Author Share Posted July 29, 2015 Just found a draw-tite hitch with 2" ball at local salvage yard on an xj! Guess I got lucky. Now just have to get a brush bumper for the front and a better rear bumper and side nerf step bars for below the doors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strokermjcomanche Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Xj hitches are different than mj hitches , you need an mj hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Xj hitches are different than mj hitches , you need an mj hitch Yep, They won't work at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Drop the change on the hitch Krusty is selling. For me it was $234 to my door with included hardware, and that is much cheaper than most used hitches are going for. Plus, it will work with long or short beds, which means less searching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted July 29, 2015 Share Posted July 29, 2015 Just found a draw-tite hitch with 2" ball at local salvage yard on an xj! Guess I got lucky. Now just have to get a brush bumper for the front and a better rear bumper and side nerf step bars for below the doors So do you need one for an XJ as well? Because a rear XJ hitch will not work on an MJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche 87 Posted July 30, 2015 Author Share Posted July 30, 2015 Crap... Well guess I got an xj draw-tite hitch to put up in the classifieds. I just looked under the truck and thought the mj spacing looked really large compared to the xj. Then I checked here and saw the replies... Oh well, live and learn I guess. Time to look up Krustyballer for an order Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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