04 KJ tow hitch w/ rear skid

XJMA · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:00 am

I need to throw a tow hitch, class III (2" receiver) onto my wifes KJ this week. It has a rear skid and I'd like to keep it on. Which trailer hitch will work for me? Some guy on ebay has a "liberty trailer hitch" from mopar, but I'm not sure if it's for a KK or KJ? Will it work either way? Anyone got pics of their trailer hitches? Oh, and I guess the rear tow hook will have to go, right?

Also, does the trailer hitch go on before or after the skid? I would assume after, right?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:34 am

Any of the KJ hitches should work with the stock skid with no problems
yes install it after the skid
The KK hitch will work with a cut off bumper with a couple of minor mods, bolts right up though. I ran one for a while before I swapped bumpers

XJMA · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:01 pm

Where would I find a link to a KJ with a 'cut off bumper?' How much of a cut in the bumper does it need?? Metal parts or just the plastic?

Thanx for the help! I REALLY want to be able to take my brothers boat next week!!

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:37 pm

the first picture shows the regular KJ hitch, bumper came down right above the part where you install the receiver
second picture shows a KK hitch installed
3rd with cut bumper and KJ hitch

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:42 pm

Here is the one I was trying to find, shows how much I cut off

XJMA · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 3:50 pm

Sweet, thanx.

XJMA · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 6:54 pm

ended up picking up this

http://providence.craigslist.org/pts/2510760429.html

and one of these http://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehi ... d=20079803
is on the way. Thanx for the help!!

XJMA · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 6:35 pm

one more Q before the install of the mopar class3 hitch. the wife is away until tomorrow. i put the stock gas tank skid on with i believe factory bolts...yes, i remember them being a pita with blue loctite already on the threads! so, there will be three bolts per side for the hitch. does the skid have two or three bolts per side?? one thread i found said that there are three bolts per side on the skid, but the other thread says only two bolts per side for skid. what gives??

3 bolts per side
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=60629&hilit=gas+tank+skid+install

2 bolts per side - will need two more for hitch
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=59167&hilit=gas+tank+skid+install

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:02 pm

Class 3 must use all 6 bolts,3 per side and the same bolts that holds the skid in place and must be metric grade 10.9.ClassII hitches can get away with using only 4 bolts,2 per side.

XJMA · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2011 2:10 am

so the skid only has two bolts per side?? that's what i'm getting at. i'll need to find two more to mount this hitch? the wife is away for a few days so i can't just go outside and look!!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:36 am

The skid should be held in with 6 bolts,3 per side.

XJMA · **Posted:** Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:24 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

The skid should be held in with 6 bolts,3 per side.

Awesome, so I won't need any other bolts!! IIRC I got the hitch mounting bolts to put the skid on anyways....hopefully they've kept the rust out of the holes! htanx for the advice, I'll post pics with the trailer once I'm done!

XJMA · **Posted:** Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:31 pm

Forgot to get a pic of the hitch installed but it looks great, went right over the stock gas tank skid, from the back all you can see is the receiver and the box that holds the wire connector!! Love it. Worked great, took this one pic in the parking lot of Cabela's in Scarborough....other than that didn't take any pics of the jeep, just of the lake and all the fish I caught!

04 KJ tow hitch w/ rear skid

Who is online