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Does Everyone Have These Same Features...?
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Author:  Landy [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:03 am ]
Post subject:  Does Everyone Have These Same Features...?
Pics from my '06 Sport:

Does everyone have the same fog/driving light (I assume) "Indents" on the underneath side of your bumper? I'd kinda like to know if all years have this feature...?
Image

How about these TWO holes next to the little slot in the frame? Pardon me, but I assume these are for tow hooks? Do all years have these and do they all measure the same?
Image

Thanks in advance for any input. I work in a fab shop and it's a possibility I now have brackets to attach the front of the inner fender to the lower bumper and hold it forward to prevent rubbing. The indent would serve for easy location of the brackets.

Also, if all Libby's have the tow hook (I assume) holes in the same location on the frame, then a massed produced front receiver hitch would be pretty easy for me to design and make economically available to anyone who would be interested.

Help me out here...

Thanks,

Landy
Author:  corwyyn [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:56 am ]
Post subject: 
Well, here is a comparison of the two different front ends:
Image
Looking underneath it looks like the front fascia on the '05 and up extends down about an inch or so further than the '02-04s, which is one reason they have the molded sections that you cut out for the tow hooks. For a front hitch you might be able to drop the crossbar the same amount and have it fit on both, but I'd have to do some measuring to be sure.

EDIT: OK, I guess I was reading your post wrong. Not sure exactly what indent you're talking about, if you could highlight it in your first pic or maybe post up something else that might help.
Author:  Cowcatcher [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:24 am ]
Post subject: 
The DrawTite/Reese hitch was popular for 02>04 but it fir the 05>07 too. I put one on my 06 Limited. I did need to trim the front bumper cover a little but that was no big deal. I also had to turn my license plate braket 180 degrees and screw a couple of new holes in the cover. If the reciever had been a couple of inches lower no triming would have been required.
Author:  corwyyn [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Cowcatcher wrote:
The DrawTite/Reese hitch was popular for 02>04 but it fir the 05>07 too. I put one on my 06 Limited. I did need to trim the front bumper cover a little but that was no big deal. I also had to turn my license plate braket 180 degrees and screw a couple of new holes in the cover. If the reciever had been a couple of inches lower no triming would have been required.

Thats what I was thinking, that you would need to cut a notch in the front cover to fit the center section of the receiver. I really don't think that would be an issue for most people if they had a chance to mount a front hitch. As for the license plate, they do make a holder that fits the hitch to put one on...
Author:  Landy [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:01 pm ]
Post subject: 
corwyyn wrote:
Well, here is a comparison of the two different front ends:
Image
Looking underneath it looks like the front fascia on the '05 and up extends down about an inch or so further than the '02-04s, which is one reason they have the molded sections that you cut out for the tow hooks. For a front hitch you might be able to drop the crossbar the same amount and have it fit on both, but I'd have to do some measuring to be sure.

EDIT: OK, I guess I was reading your post wrong. Not sure exactly what indent you're talking about, if you could highlight it in your first pic or maybe post up something else that might help.


Yes, I'll highlight and re-post for clairification.
Author:  Landy [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 8:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
Cowcatcher wrote:
The DrawTite/Reese hitch was popular for 02>04 but it fir the 05>07 too. I put one on my 06 Limited. I did need to trim the front bumper cover a little but that was no big deal. I also had to turn my license plate braket 180 degrees and screw a couple of new holes in the cover. If the reciever had been a couple of inches lower no triming would have been required.


Help me...I keep searching, but I cannot find a pre-made FRONT RECEIVER mount for an '06. I tried Curt, Draw Tite, I don't see anything from Hidden Hitch, OEM or elsewhere?

I found this search engine:
http://www.autoanything.com/towing/61A3399A0A0.aspx

I am finding only rear hitches. That's why I was asking about the mounting holes as tow hooks. If someone knows where to buy a front mount, I wouldn't spend my time making one. If they're no available, then I would consider making them available as long as there isn't a bunch of customizing, hence the question does everyone's Libb have the same mount holes under the frame?
Author:  Dje Ryu [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm not sure if they are exactly the same but, I'm pretty sure Detours would have the answer to that question, though.

http://www.detoursusa.com/
Author:  Johnboy [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 9:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
For what is is worth....

I installed mopar tow hooks on my 05 Friday. They bolt into the 3 holes surronding the large hole in picture #2 of your original post. Cant tell you about other years, but the drawing in the instructions was of a pre-05 bumper (fog lights below in the bumber cover).
Author:  bugnout [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
I have the drawtite front reciever on my 05, fit perfectly. it was advertised for 02-04.
Author:  tommudd [ Mon Sep 24, 2007 10:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good luck on finding any front receiver as they dont make them no more :?
Author:  Cowcatcher [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:27 am ]
Post subject: 
Landy,

Here is a good link on the Reese/Drawtite front hitch with lots of pictures of it and the install. Hope it helps.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... 51&start=0
Author:  Landy [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:19 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks everyonr for trying to help figure this out. Thanks for the link Dave. I'll call Draw-Tite and see if the still make them. Tom didn't think so and that's what I read 'somewhere' so I'll call and find out.

If they don't...perhaps I will. :arrow: :lol:
Author:  corwyyn [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:16 am ]
Post subject: 
My understanding was that they were discontinued a couple of years ago due to lack of sales. If you can find one 2nd hand grab it, if you can actually find one in a dusty corner of some little accessory store don't tell anyone until it's on your Jeep 8)
Author:  Blue KJ in PA [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:08 am ]
Post subject: 
Yes, when the Drawtite, Reese and Hidden hitch merger occured a few years back, the Liberty applications were axed. But if you get to the right spot on their website you can find the coming soon hitches for the KK '08 vehicle. :cry:

There was a universal front hitch (two piece) that was also aplicable for the KJ but I can't locate the part number right now. Might have been a Valley but I was thinking it was Hidden Hitch.
Author:  Cowcatcher [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:55 am ]
Post subject: 
Blue KJ in PA wrote:
Yes, when the Drawtite, Reese and Hidden hitch merger occured a few years back, the Liberty applications were axed. But if you get to the right spot on their website you can find the coming soon hitches for the KK '08 vehicle. :cry:

There was a universal front hitch (two piece) that was also aplicable for the KJ but I can't locate the part number right now. Might have been a Valley but I was thinking it was Hidden Hitch.


The two piece was Hidden Hitch.

Landy, The install on the Reese/Drawtite required removal of the grill and bumper cover as well as trimming the bumper cover and the bumper cover liner. The front two bolts on each end of the hitch plates used the same front frame rail holes as the hooks and one additional hole was required further back. If the receiver had been about 1.5" lower then it would have likely cleared the front bumper cover but some trimming on the cover liner was still required to clear the far ebds of the hitch. As I recall it was about a 2 hour install for me.

If someone were to make them again I am sure that you could sell a few dozen and I think most preferred the Reese/Drawtite over the two piece Hidden Hitch but both were good.
Author:  KeswickDave [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Two-piece hidden hitch... didn't install it myself so can't comment on that but it's pretty clean - license plate inverted or can be re-installed in original location covering the reciever completely.

If I did it the cut-out would have been tighter :wink: . 45 degree angle cuts allow access to the pin which otherwise is near impossible to get fingers to.

This is on an '05 Sport.

Image
Author:  Landy [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for taking the time to share the pic. I appreciate it.
Author:  Landy [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
corwyyn wrote:
Well, here is a comparison of the two different front ends:
Image
Looking underneath it looks like the front fascia on the '05 and up extends down about an inch or so further than the '02-04s, which is one reason they have the molded sections that you cut out for the tow hooks. For a front hitch you might be able to drop the crossbar the same amount and have it fit on both, but I'd have to do some measuring to be sure.

EDIT: OK, I guess I was reading your post wrong. Not sure exactly what indent you're talking about, if you could highlight it in your first pic or maybe post up something else that might help.


Here you go:

Image

Image
Author:  corwyyn [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
OK, that's what I thought you were talking about. In the first one there is a rivet that goes in that hole, looks like it was removed when the air dam was trimmed (the section I highlighted is missing in yours):
Image

In the second one, those are the standard tow hook mount holes. The front hitch uses the two outer ones that you have circled. Not a great picture but here is a shot of one of the mounts on my hitch:
Image

From what others were posting about the '02-'04 hitch fitting on the '05+ models it looks like all the dimensions are the same, so fabbing one to fit both shouldn't be a problem.
Author:  Landy [ Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
Very cool. Thanks for the support Kevin.

As I already mentioned, the bumper indent hole idea was to locate a bracket I fabbed up to hold the inner fender in and away from rubbing due to 30.5" and 31" tires.

So I was trying to figure out if everybody's Libb had this to allow for generic bracket location.

If this works on my 30.5" tires, then I'll send someone a set that has 31" tires and we'll see if this little bracket can solve some of our larger tire rubbing issues and IF it does, and there's enough interest, I'll punch and form a sheet (or more) full of them and make them available.

Landy
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