Front hitch, Curt install PITA!!!

jinstall · **Posted:** Sat Oct 22, 2011 10:28 pm

I have several photos from today. Should be a 30 min install, took over 4hrs! This is NOT for 2005-2007 KJ's at all. I will be taking this issue up with Curt on Monday. I cut as little as possible from the front bumper to keep it somewhat sturdy. If you do not have time to do this SLOWLY then do not even attempt it. Grrrr.

http://imageshack.us/g/96/web2gl.jpg/

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:10 am

I can't tell a lot by your pictures but it appears it comes out lower then the one I made for mine. My reciever comes out just below the main part of the bumper requiring raising the license plate that can be done by turning the bracket over. I didn't have to cut anything but the reviever section is squeezed out in the space just below the license plate.

Draw-tite used to make them but stopped when DC/Jeep changed the bumper. As I recall the 06 Limited front bumper is different still.

Years ago there was a member here who worked in a fab shop that made them for group members who wanted them and it was know then there were install problems with later bumpers.

I forgot to ask, how many bolts per side, 2 or 3? I decided that two per side were enough for my purposes.

Joe

Wobbly · **Posted:** Sun Oct 23, 2011 1:04 pm

I was going to install one after my first experience shoehorning our 20' travel trailer through a gated fence into a parking spot with a 3' drop off into the neighbor's yard. There's about one foot tolerance on either side. My wife's signalling didn't help. Nor did the traffic on the street. Seemed like the trailer would go where it wished.

Since then I've practiced backing up with hands at the bottom of the steering wheel and using the "swoop" maneuver explained on the web. I also do my backing without signalling "assistance" and when traffic is light.

jinstall · **Posted:** Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:14 pm

Joe: went with all 3, just in case. I will work on getting better photos with the DSLR and post them up.

Wobbly: I plan on using it for surf fishing rack mainly and recovery. I haev never had any issues with backing trailers, so far, but I have driven many different configurations as well. I did back tandums once and that was a pain.

moto-scoot · **Posted:** Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:32 pm

I installed the mentioned reese front hitch on my 05 limited.
fit no problem & only had to cut the line between the tow bar cut outs.
definetly mounts much higher than your setup.Not my pic but just an example.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/396/1003795gz2.jpg/

jinstall · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:27 am

THAT is what I wanted, but they do not produce them anymore. Curt was the only one.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:50 am

jinstall wrote:

THAT is what I wanted, but they do not produce them anymore. Curt was the only one.

That is a really clean looking install pictured :BANANA:

But if your in a state that requires front plates, Ohio for example, that would require a radical relocation of the plate :juggle:

My reciever is below the one pictured squezed between the two horizontal sections with the plate bracket turned upside down :juggle:

gtommec · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:45 am

Joe Romas wrote:

jinstall wrote:

THAT is what I wanted, but they do not produce them anymore. Curt was the only one.

That is a really clean looking install pictured :BANANA:

But if your in a state that requires front plates, Ohio for example, that would require a radical relocation of the plate :juggle:

My reciever is below the one pictured squezed between the two horizontal sections with the plate bracket turned upside down :juggle:

you could always buy a decorative hitch plug and mount the plate to it, and just remove it when you need the hitch

jinstall · **Posted:** Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:02 pm

They make plate holders that slide in th e2" receiver. Mine is far below the plate holder. Sorry I will have to get some better photos tomorrow.

infernicus · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 2:36 am

This is one that somebody made, you can kind of see how its made.

It's very sturdy. I use it to stand on to get to the back of the engine.
Next summer I'm adding a fishing rod holder.

jinstall · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 6:49 am

Exactly what I am doing but with a fishing cart form Platnium in Coco Florida.

tonycrd · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 8:25 am

Jins, take it off again, and have someone cut the ears shorter.

This looks sooo weird.

This is where mine sits

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:47 pm

Not to Hijack but Tony ....No radiator electric fan for the 2.5 VM's ???

Now back to topic....
My 06 Limited ended up real clean (looks like the Blue limited) and this particular hitch has total of six attachment points. I will get a pic.

Roland

AZ CRD · **Posted:** Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:12 pm

My front hitch was easy enough. Some 2X2 steel and some welds. Bolted it on where the recovery hooks once resided. No bubbles, no troubles.

Pippobug · **Posted:** Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:33 am

Silverdiesel wrote:

Not to Hijack but Tony ....No radiator electric fan for the 2.5 VM's ???

Roland

Yes, we don't have one, only normal engine bay one still manages to keep il cool even towing a caravan in the summer (okay it doesn't get very warm over here 32C is the max we get here in the UK). Looks like we don't need one & we are about 300Kg lighter then a CRD 2.8.
Fil.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:52 pm

Here's the one I made. The license plate mounted on the reciever may be next :lol:

Notice it just fit in without cutting but I did have to turn over the front plate mount and raise it :oops:

A long time ago someone here posted dimentions and hole locations that I used :mrgreen:

[im

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hotobucket.com/

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tonycrd · **Posted:** Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:52 pm

yeah Joe, that's where a front hitch should be, looks excellent. The others are way to low and if you ever go off-road you scrape it on the ground...

And like Fil said, we do not have an electric fan, we have a beefier steel bladed engine mounted fan. And the 2.5 never came with an auto tranny...so we don't need extra fans.

Silverdiesel · **Posted:** Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:00 pm

excuse the dirt and bugs....

tonycrd · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 2:47 pm

Silver, that's the same as mine, a Hidden-Hitch.

jinstall · **Posted:** Wed Nov 02, 2011 5:40 pm

Still nothing from Curt Mfg

Front hitch, Curt install PITA!!!

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