Removing Factory Integrated Xj Trailer Hitch, How?

[Eagle]

were they all bolted in from the factory, because the one on my 90 parts XJ appearers to be welded to the subframe?

Bolted.

[Eagle]

Got it removed today.  Went fairly smooth, other than having to cut off one bolt and running to the parts store to purchase a T-55 torx drive.

That doesn't look like a factory hitch to me. The mounting ears are too short. There should be four bolt holes on each side, not two. I bought a hitch from the dealer to install on my 2000 XJ, and it (the hitch) looks exactly the same as the one under an '86 XJ wreck in the yard.

 

Does it have a Jeep part number stamped into it anywhere?

[onlyinajeep726]

That doesn't look like a factory hitch to me. The mounting ears are too short. There should be four bolt holes on each side, not two. I bought a hitch from the dealer to install on my 2000 XJ, and it (the hitch) looks exactly the same as the one under an '86 XJ wreck in the yard.

 

Does it have a Jeep part number stamped into it anywhere?

 

I'll have to look, but it appears factory (due in part to how it bolts additionally through the bumper) and my owner's manual shows it as optional equipment IIRC.  I'll see what I can find out.

[onlyinajeep726]

Haven't been able to find out a lot about the hitch I removed, but it is listed in my owner's manual.  It's rated as a Class 1 hitch and it shows a picture of just the shank and ball part that mounts to the bumper.  No part number from what I could find and Google searches don't show anything like it.

What I can tell you is that mine was mounted using carriage bolts fished down through the bottom of the frame rails, however, there were no plates with it to prevent them from spinning or giving some level of reinforcement.  The bolts were just sandwiching the thin frame rails.  Also, it bolted in three places along the square tubing to the back edge of the sheet metal, and lastly to the bumper.  It all appears to be OEM as the mounting is specific to the vehicle.

But, doesn't matter now anyway.  I got my nut strips from UPS, made a quick trip to Lowes for some bolts and lock washers, and as of an hour ago, the new-to-me Shelton V5 2" hitch is installed.

Just word to the wise, make sure you bolt the rear bumper back on BEFORE you bolt up the hitch... I learned this the hard way. :doh:
 

[Eagle]

I stand corrected. Now that I think about it, my '88 XJ came with the exact same Class 1 hitch on it, which is why the photo of the garbage up behind the bumper looked vaguely familiar. I went through the exercise of removing that hitch and installing a Class 2 receiver so I'd have a secure structure for a rear town hook. That was so many years ago I had completely forgotten that tyhe Class 2 hitch isn't what came on the XJ.

 

But even the light duty one had the nut strips in the frame. In fact, they're riveted into the frame.

[onlyinajeep726]

Wonder if I could sell it haha...  For being light duty and mounted incorrectly to the frame rails, it was pretty sturdy.  It's been tugged on a few times for recovery and I've pulled a few trailers with it.

[FrankTheDog]

I had an 87 XJ Wagoneer that had a class three hitch that had the bumper reinforcement plate on it. It looked like a standard class three otherwise.