Front mounted hitch receiver on a CRD..?

DragonDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:32 am

I am noticing that the bumper on the CRD's (being 05's and 06's) is different from the earlier KJs.

If you got to the "mother-site" = http://www.lostkjs.com, you see a picture of an earlier KJ with a hitch receiver on the front of a rock crawling KJ that is out for a lil stroll. My questions are: Has anyone put a front mounted hitch receiver on a CRD? Does anyone have pics of sed receiver? Does anyone have install instructions on how to install on a CRD? Would anyone like to donate one my way? :wink:

(okay - so I had to try)

alljeep · **Posted:** Thu Jul 27, 2006 7:50 am

Here is mine. It's a Reese that was listed as a 2002 Liberty front mount hitch. The hole patterns are the same from '02-current for mounting to the frame rails. You will have to drill the rear hole on each side(farthest toward engine on the frame rails), but it's easy.

Just take your time removing the front bumper, there are two different types of plastic holding it on: a few push pins per side and one tab per side, holding each side on, but go slow and you will see. Also, some bolts once you remove the front grill to get to them. Grill is easy as well.

For the Limited bumper, you may have to cut a square for the hitch to stick through, for the Sport you can cut, or do what I did and just bend it a little when re-installing the front bumper. This is a picture from last year, so a lot of folks have already seen it. They are probably saying, "not that picture, again" but I haven't taken any updated ones yet.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:38 pm

I ordered a Reese unit from hitchfinder.com a couple of days ago. Got an email this evening that UPS has a tracking number for it. Hope it is not just an elaborate tease. :wink:

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:36 pm

Well, it arrived today. Looks just like Alljeep's, including the loops, but it says Drawtite on it. If I ever get some time off to put it on, I'll post a pic or two of the hitch on my 05 limited.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:51 pm

I ordered one too while they were still available. We will see.

I really wanted something between an ARB and a Rock Lizard. Figure spending $150 bucks for something that isn't perfect is better than spend four times that and still not finding my perfection. What I wanted was a Rock Lizard with a Bambi filter. If I find perfection then I will probably resell this. I am sure there will be a market for it.

If anyone has figured out how to install some kind of front guard as well as the hitch please post it up!

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:10 pm

Cowcatcher wrote:

I ordered one too while they were still available. We will see.

I really wanted something between an ARB and a Rock Lizard. Figure spending $150 bucks for something that isn't perfect is better than spend four times that and still not finding my perfection. What I wanted was a Rock Lizard with a Bambi filter. If I find perfection then I will probably resell this. I am sure there will be a market for it.

If anyone has figured out how to install some kind of front guard as well as the hitch please post it up!

I have toyed with the idea of a guard mounted in the front hitch, but it would be custom. I have to get the hitch mounted first. I have looked at it a little bit, and I think some plastic surgery will be needed for the middle of the hitch to clear the bumper.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:02 pm

Hey Matt, could you carve the receiver off and then re-weld it about 2" lower?

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 01, 2006 9:10 pm

That is a thought. My first reaction was "I don't want to go carving on a new part." Then I realized that I was already talking about carving on the Jeep itself. :oops:

When I get a little deeper into this I'll make a decision. Luckily, I work with two of the best steel fabricators anywhere.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:52 pm

You know there are other posts on here that say this hitch is out of production and there are only about 10 left in the warehouses nationwide. Based on your post that was why I jumped and purchased when I did. I got my ship confirmation today.

I was thinking about a hitch mounted guard too. I am sure it would work well for brush but I am not so sure how it will work with 60 MPH deer. Perhaps that is what the insurance is for.

alljeep · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:44 am

Cowcatcher wrote:

You know there are other posts on here that say this hitch is out of production and there are only about 10 left in the warehouses nationwide. Based on your post that was why I jumped and purchased when I did. I got my ship confirmation today.

I was thinking about a hitch mounted guard too. I am sure it would work well for brush but I am not so sure how it will work with 60 MPH deer. Perhaps that is what the insurance is for.

That was back wheen Reese was bought out by DrawTite, so only a few of the Reese left. Exact same hitch, just a different sticker now. At the time, we all thought it was gone for good.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:35 am

No, the one that I am thinking of was in the last week and a half in another section, general or off/road and there was quite an arguement. Someone was actually sending the parent company that owns Reese, Drawtight and others emails and posting them, plus having telephone calls with customer service. Basically said there was low demand and it would not return under any label. Several had ordered and then had the orders rejected in just recent weeks.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:54 pm

Here is what it looks like on my 05 Limited CRD. Real happy with it. Took about 2.5 to 3 hours. I tried pushing the plastic up like Alljeep did, but I couldn't get the bumper to fit up right if I did that. The flexible plastic is easily cut. I used a hack saw blade and then cleaned it up with a sharp utility knife. The worst part was detaching the black plastic extension from the bottom of the bumper as it is attached with metal rivets. It had to be cut also, and it was just easier to work with it one piece at a time and fit it up. If anybody wants more pics I've got some, I just wanted to show it off.

click for larger

Here is a view of the notch I had to cut in what I am calling the bumper extension. As you can see, I cut more than I needed to. The notch in the vertical part is needed. The notch in the horizontal is not.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sat Aug 12, 2006 10:55 am

I got mine and am thinking about the install Matt. I would like to see the additional pictures. PLEEZE!

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:27 pm

I'll get some more pics up as soon as Imageshack decides to cooperate. If your front bumper is like mine, you won't have much trouble. The only unexpected wrinkle was the metal rivets which secure the black extension to the main bumper. They are a pain. I didn't try drilling them, but I suspect the steel center is somewhat hard. I removed the bumper and extension as one piece and then separated them. It may be possible to leave them joined, but it will be a little more awkward to reinstall - maybe a lot more awkward. I used cutting pliers to cut the aluminum petals off the backside of the rivets. Stainless screws with plastic nuts are my replacement fasteners for the metal rivets because both sides are easy to access where the metal rivets were used. The kit for the hitch had plenty of plastic rivets to replace the plastic rivets, but not enough to replace the metal rivets too. If I had it to do over I would put a couple layers of masking tape on the fender flare where it meets the bumper. I put some very minor scratches in my flare. Tape would have prevented that. Be warned there is a hidden plastic clip where the flare meets the bumper.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 12, 2006 12:37 pm

Here is a pic of one of the notches I cut. Don't cut yours this deep! I should have stopped a half inch before I got into the horizontal section.

This one shows the hitch on. The black metal caps have to come off the end of the frame rails in order to fish the bolts and support plates in. I found a magnetic retrieval tool was a good way to put the bolts in. I put the bolt through the plate and then used the magnet tool to set it back in the frame. Some patience required!

This one shows the clip that I mentioned earlier. It is part of the flare, so not readily replaceable.

A view of how the notched part fits up to the hitch.

P.S. I'm having trouble getting images uploaded, so bear with me.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sat Aug 12, 2006 2:20 pm

Thanks Matt.

Looks like the slot only needs to go to where it starts to flare to the horizontal.

Perhaps a good project for Sunday as I need to go to an event this afternoon.

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:23 am

Cowcatcher wrote:

Thanks Matt.

Looks like the slot only needs to go to where it starts to flare to the horizontal.

Perhaps a good project for Sunday as I need to go to an event this afternoon.

Look forward to your pics! Only other tip I can think of at this point is this: The flexible bumper is easy to cut, but the best way I found to do it was to mark a line with a sharpy, score it with a utility knife, snap it along that line, and then cut the backside. Kinda like sheetrock believe it or not. I didn't figure that trick out until I did some additional cutting on the underside to allow for the hitch pin.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:28 am

First task is to figure out the grill. It doesn't have screws like all the photos of the earlier models. Those darn tabs in the top on the middle don't seem to be too easy to get to release, but then I was just poking around today.

Anyone know what the little black baggie is on the drivers side front of the liner? Looks like a piece of packing but I am thinking it is for sound deadening..

Goglio704 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:35 am

The tabs are annoying in that if you're working alone as I was, you need a third hand to keep them from snapping back in when you move to the next one. I think the baggie is sound deadening, I remember seeing it, but I didn't look at it close.

alljeep · **Posted:** Sun Aug 13, 2006 12:16 pm

Cowcatcher wrote:

First task is to figure out the grill. It doesn't have screws like all the photos of the earlier models. Those darn tabs in the top on the middle don't seem to be too easy to get to release, but then I was just poking around today.

Anyone know what the little black baggie is on the drivers side front of the liner? Looks like a piece of packing but I am thinking it is for sound deadening..

It's sound deadening and will stay on when you remove things....

Front mounted hitch receiver on a CRD..?

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