I'm wanting to put a receiver type hitch on my 2006 crd sport. My question is should I buy a oem off the dealer or go aftermarket? I plan on doing the install myself and would appreciate some advise from anyone who had done this job already. I am wanting a hitch that does not hang down any lower, or stick out any more than necessary.

My oem hitch is sloppy, I would go aftermarket. It may stick out farther too(to help clear the tire).

ETRAILER.COM BABY!

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Ryan
2006 Ford F-250 PSD CC FX4
**GONE**
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD
SAMCO Hoses//GDE Tune//PML Trans Pan//TransGo HD Shift Kit//MBRP Exhaust

1986 2R Mustang SVO

What's wrong with the OEM hitch. I have one on my CRD and it works great. God forbid it come loose or something.

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Chad Hargis
Nashville, TN
2008 Grand Cherokee CRD
2005 Liberty CRD *SOLD*

Hi LAB123,

I have a 2006 Liberty CRD sport and have gone through the decision you are embarking on. There are a number of threads on LOST that cover this topic. If I remember right, your CRD will pull more than the gas versions of the Liberty.

Basically, the OEM hitch will cost more, but have little benefits over the aftermarket ones. Of the aftermarket ones, I found that some were more beefy than others (limitations on maximum pull and tongue weights). While I went with a Drawtite because of its beefy capabilities, it stuck out a little more than the OEM. Other brands did not stick out so much.

Also important is the wiring. If you plan to pull any trailers with brakes or that use a 7 prong plug, you may want to consider the OEM wiring harness. Note that there will be two cable assemblies involved. If a 4 prong plug is all you intend to use, go with the cheaper wiring assembly.

Anyway, I hope that this helps. Good luck!

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Steel Blue 07 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD
Mopar Skid Plates/GDE Programmer/Fumoto Oil Valve
80K+ miles & still smiling

Sold: Silver 06 Jeep Liberty Sport CRD

We had a Draw-Tite receiver installed for $200. It's rated at 7500# pull and 750# tongue load when used with a weight-distributing hitch. I installed the MOPAR wiring harness, which I bought from directmoparparts over the web. Reese makes Draw-Tite and several of the other brands.

If you want the prettiest hitch, get a Westfalia or Bosal abnehmbar AHK for a European Jeep Cherokee. With the lousy value of the USD it will cost a lot including shipping.

Wobbly

The problem with my hitch is this: the ball mount (I've tried several) is loose in the receiver. It rattles a lot. I don't think its dangerous or anything, I just think the quality could be better

Get a DrawTite, it looks good, nice and beefy, and has the longest tongue to get past the wheel

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2003 Jeep Liberty Freedom Edition
3.7L 5-spd 4x4, Rusty's 2.5 in. coil lift
General Grabbers AT2's 245/75-16E on MOABS
EVIC installed, iPod wired, Hella 500's and Grilles
Mopar Bike Rack, Mopar Roof Rack, Black Widow Roof Basket w/ air deflector
Draw-Tite Hitch, Front Tint, Debadged on sides and front

I have a Reese ball mount (wt.dist w/sway control ball) and a stock MOPAR trailer package. The Reese ball mount has two positions that allow for the hitch ball to be slightly under the spare or completely away from the spare. I think the tongue weight rating changes about 100# between the inner and outer positions (still higher than the max weight that we are allowed to have). The shank has an extremely good fit, such that one must give it a wee wiggleto get it into the receiver, and is really beefy. The whole kit and kaboodle, vertically adjustable ball mount with angle ability and weight distribution bars and associated "clamps", cost $399 CDN.

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2006 Liberty Limited CRD 4x4 (57000 KM)
New Injector Pump
New ECU
New MAF, MAP, Crank and Cam sensors
New Fuel filter head/heater and wiring harness (x2)
New Glow Plug Control Module and wires to it
New EVIC (Only thing on this list covered by warranty)
New Fuel Rail

It's not the receiver's fault the stinger rattles, how were they to know the exact size of the one you bought? Hit it a couple licks with a few beads, grind them down to fit tight, done.

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No one knows as much as all of us.

I've never had one this loose, I guess I thought the 2" reciever would be sort of universal. I have 3 ball mounts (different size balls) and they are all loose. A couple of beads is a good idea though.

Hi! I bought the "Hidden Hitch" Simple bolt-on instalation...NO tire clearance problems!
I'm using a standard Reese drawbar.
LK

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2005 KJ Sport CRD Traded for VW, R32
Patriot Blue
245-70-16 Revos
Fumoto valve
Cat filter, on hold
ScanGage II
2 1/2" straight through chambered muffler(Summit Racing)
Shell Rotella T 5W-40
PML diffrential cover.
L.O.S.T. 075679