Hitch receiver question

[toeshark]

Hi all,

I was looking to install a receiver hitch to allow a bike rack on my stock 2018 JLU Sahara. Most of them seem to be a similar design and the installation videos seem fairly straightforward. However, when I looked under my bumper, I see a bracket mounted to the beam where the hitch would attach. It’s fastened by two bolts in the outboard holes with welded nuts on the bracket. Does that mean I’d have to take the entire bumper off to install a receiver or would there be enough play if I loosened the two bolts to slide the hitch receiver between the bracket and the beam?

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[RussJeep1]

Hi all,

I was looking to install a receiver hitch to allow a bike rack on my stock 2018 JLU Sahara. Most of them seem to be a similar design and the installation videos seem fairly straightforward. However, when I looked under my bumper, I see a bracket mounted to the beam where the hitch would attach. It’s fastened by two bolts in the outboard holes with welded nuts on the bracket. Does that mean I’d have to take the entire bumper off to install a receiver or would there be enough play if I loosened the two bolts to slide the hitch receiver between the bracket and the beam?

No bumper removal is required. The JK and JL rear hitches are compatible and attach with four bolts.

Is it possible Steve that your looking in the wrong place?



Please note my deliberate failure to discuss wiring, as if towing bicycles is all you'll be doing with the hitch you won't need it.

On the other hand 4 and 7 pin wiring installations are discussed well on the board, the former absent of brake controller wires. Chime in if you're interested. The 7 pin install is not trivial.

 

[Jondrew]

Ah yes, a simple install. Adding a hitch receiver was the first thing I did to my Jeep. Thought I did a write up on it, but it must have been on a different forum.

The bracket you see is to reenforce the bumper. You need to remove the two bolts holding it and the pry that bracket out. It’s stubborn, but can be done without removing the bumper.

Then you need to grind or chisel the captive nuts off. You can then install the hitch receiver and the bracket with the 4 new bolts provided. I got my hitch receiver from etrailer for about $90. Looks just like the $120 Curt from what I can tell. By the way, getting the bracket back in is just as much fun as taking it out. Here are some pics I took while doing the job. Took about 2 hours. I was expecting to do it in 30 min.

Don’t forget to paint anything you scrape up on the bracket.

 

[stangken]

No need to do any of that. Just take the two outward bolts out, slip the hitch between the bracket and support beam and screw back in the oem hardware on the 2 outer bolts and use the trailer hitch hardware for the 2 inside holes. Took me 20 minutes.

 

[Jondrew]

No need to do any of that. Just take the two outward bolts out, slip the hitch between the bracket and support beam and screw back in the oem hardware on the 2 outer bolts and use the trailer hitch hardware for the 2 inside holes. Took me 20 minutes.

I preferred to use the 4 high strength bolts that came with the receiver. Overkill? Probably. OCD is a PIA

 

[BWWJL]

Also, I don’t believe all JK are compatible with JL. I bought a smittybilt thatbsaid for JL. It had too much play and I contacted smittybilt who said not compatible.

CJpony has mopar for $80ish shipped.

 

[BWWJL]

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...par-hitch-68251844ab-today.17124/#post-422555

 

[stangken]

From quadratec’s website....

“Some models may have existing bolts with weldnuts that keep a plate attached. During installation, the hitch will need to be slid in between the bracket and the mounting tube with the factory hardware reinstalled.”

 

[Jondrew]

From quadratec’s website....

“Some models may have existing bolts with weldnuts that keep a plate attached. During installation, the hitch will need to be slid in between the bracket and the mounting tube with the factory hardware reinstalled.”

Oh well. Next time I buy from them instead of eTrailer

 

[toeshark]

Thanks everyone. Much appreciated!

 

[WXman]

Also, I don’t believe all JK are compatible with JL. I bought a smittybilt thatbsaid for JL. It had too much play and I contacted smittybilt who said not compatible.

CJpony has mopar for $80ish shipped.

Not saying you're not telling the truth, but that makes zero sense. If the Smittybilt hitch fits JK but not JL, that implies that the crossmember and/or mounting holes are different between JK and JL. And if that were true, then NONE of the hitches for JK would work on JL. But yet, there are people all over the forum using JK hitches on their JLs. I'm using the Draw-Tite brand on mine because I like the longer tube.

 

[BWWJL]

Not saying you're not telling the truth, but that makes zero sense. If the Smittybilt hitch fits JK but not JL, that implies that the crossmember and/or mounting holes are different between JK and JL. And if that were true, then NONE of the hitches for JK would work on JL. But yet, there are people all over the forum using JK hitches on their JLs. I'm using the Draw-Tite brand on mine because I like the longer tube.

Could have been smittybilt was loose to begin with?

“The listing for that hitch is incorrect, this fits JK/Us. At this time we are going to be using part number S/BJH46 for the JL/U. This item currently has an ETA of 30 days plus at the time.
Thank you,
Smittybilt Customer Support Team”

 

[stangken]

Not saying you're not telling the truth, but that makes zero sense. If the Smittybilt hitch fits JK but not JL, that implies that the crossmember and/or mounting holes are different between JK and JL. And if that were true, then NONE of the hitches for JK would work on JL. But yet, there are people all over the forum using JK hitches on their JLs. I'm using the Draw-Tite brand on mine because I like the longer tube.

I’m using the drawtite one from etrailer as well and the part number for the JK and JL are the same, so you are correct.

 

[toeshark]

Just to report back, I installed a hitch receiver on my Sahara JL today and it really was a simple job. I took out the two bolts holding that bumper bracket to the bar, then used a tapered piece of wood to create enough space so I could slide the hitch receiver in between. That was easier than trying to manage the receiver with one hand while pulling the bracket away with the other. I went with the Curt receiver which is flat on both sides and fit perfectly. I really don’t know that it would have been as trivial with the Mopar or Rugged Ridge versions as they both appear to have nuts welded on the rear side, so making enough space for the receiver to slide between would have been tough.

But thanks again to everyone who responded. I was about to give up on a hitch-mounted bike rack as it looked to be too much trouble. Very glad I asked here.

 

[RussJeep1]

Just to report back, I installed a hitch receiver on my Sahara JL today and it really was a simple job. I took out the two bolts holding that bumper bracket to the bar, then used a tapered piece of wood to create enough space so I could slide the hitch receiver in between. That was easier than trying to manage the receiver with one hand while pulling the bracket away with the other. I went with the Curt receiver which is flat on both sides and fit perfectly. I really don’t know that it would have been as trivial with the Mopar or Rugged Ridge versions as they both appear to have nuts welded on the rear side, so making enough space for the receiver to slide between would have been tough.

But thanks again to everyone who responded. I was about to give up on a hitch-mounted bike rack as it looked to be too much trouble. Very glad I asked here.

And look at the bright side Steve.....this didn't even happen.




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