OK... since I'm having zero luck finding M-bolts...How about this, Anyone ever try using the square shaped U-bolts ?? Do they come graded high enough to use in the mounting or are they too weak ?? Seems the parts deptat the local stealership put in a call to Mopar and was told the tow hook kit no longer uses the M-bolt, instead it uses the factory style stud plate.

Looking to mount the hooks without having to pull the bumper cover off and incur the added expense of buying the rivet gun and plastic rivets to put it back on ('02 Liberty), since I don't see using those too often. Any suggestions ?????

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'02 Sport 4x4, 3.7L, 245/70R16 Bigfoot A/T tires, Tow Hooks, Rear Hitch

I used Grade 8 bolts with a washer on mine (03 Sport). They have held up to tug me out of some hairy situations.


I was able to take the bumper off carefully with out needing the rivet gun to put it back on. The ones on the 02-04 are reuesable on the bumper but not the flare to the fender itself. You need to be careful taking the ones that hold the flare to the bumper.

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General Grabber AT2s (245/70r16),2" BDS lift,Front+Rear Tow Hooks, CB radio w/ 4' firestik.

Yeah after a discussion with the guy at the harware store the squre U-bolts were found to be rated at grade 2 so no dice there. How did you manage to get the bumper cover off without having to re-rivet it once you put in back on ??

Seems mine has what appears to be plastic pop rivets and the 4 torx screw across the top of the grill.

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'02 Sport 4x4, 3.7L, 245/70R16 Bigfoot A/T tires, Tow Hooks, Rear Hitch

i had some square u bolts made at a local spring shop. heavy duty 3/8" u bolts. i had the plate style bracket and had them match that. he charged me 14$ for the u bolts

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''Desert Ops Edition'' 03 jeep liberty light khaki
LTT gen1 CAI
Frankenlift 2 Premium full mopar skids front tow hooks
desert camo seats desert camo wraps
235/75/16 at's on MOABS
Monkey Farts

I'm kinda out in the sticks here so there's not anyplace running any fabrication, the local guy that was a machinist just retired and closed up shop I have a piece of 3/16 steel plate I can use to make a stud plate along with some grade 8 bolts, Just have the local muffler shop weld the bolt heads to the plate once I figure out the size of that hole located behind the black caps under th bumper cover (plate has to slide thru that hole, then will drop the welded studs down thru the stock holes used for mounting the tow hooks). The plate should be as good as the factory plate that mopar wants $12 each piece (x2)

ETA: did the guy that made yours give you any idea what grade the bolt were when finished ??

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'02 Sport 4x4, 3.7L, 245/70R16 Bigfoot A/T tires, Tow Hooks, Rear Hitch

The ones along the bottom on mine were reuseable. Basically if you get a flat head screw driver you should be able to pry the center out not too far but enough to be able to than pull the rivet right out(bottom of bumper).When you go to put everything back together you put the rivet back in and push the center "plug" back in. I'm at work now but I will try to snap a picture of mine when I get out. The clips that hold the flare to the bumper are a PITA. If you have a small tool with a hook on it I found that worked easiest for me to get them off without breaking them.

Once you get the crush caps off I want to say it was about 2"x2" a little taller than it is wide. Should be plenty of room to get

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General Grabber AT2s (245/70r16),2" BDS lift,Front+Rear Tow Hooks, CB radio w/ 4' firestik.

Thanks !!

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'02 Sport 4x4, 3.7L, 245/70R16 Bigfoot A/T tires, Tow Hooks, Rear Hitch

im not sure what grade they are but i told him each hook from jeep is rated for 5500lbs and he said yea no problem. let me know how ya make out

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''Desert Ops Edition'' 03 jeep liberty light khaki
LTT gen1 CAI
Frankenlift 2 Premium full mopar skids front tow hooks
desert camo seats desert camo wraps
235/75/16 at's on MOABS
Monkey Farts

On my KK, i was able to pull back part of the wheel well liner to gain acces to a hole where i could slip some bolts with washers using a hanger and fishing line. No bumper removal required. Dont know if this would work on a KJ but worth a look. Worked good for me!

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2010 KK 4WD BRILLIANT BLACK
Fox/King/Bilstein ATH BUMPERS ATH RACK GY DURATRACS

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