Is it possible to remove the factory receiver hitch?

[fourfa]

My truck came with the factory tow package and the receiver hitch. I don’t tow, have never towed with this truck, not planning to tow. Meanwhile I’m rock crawling more and more, and the departure angle was the biggest problem for me on my recent first trip on the Rubicon.

I’ve been using a hitch insert to protect the bumper and the spare tire on shelf drops and steep ramps (see below). At this point I’d rather move the spare when needed (I strapped it in the back seat for the Rubicon), gain some clearance back there, and lose weight.

The receiver looks like this with the stock bumper removed. As far as I can tell, it’s not welded in place, just bolted to the frame rails. Problem is, of course, bumpers (stock and aftermarket) tend to mount to those plates (left/right of the recovery hooks) that are an integral part of the receiver assembly.

[I have seen one alternative (Evo High’n’Tight) that replaces the entire receiver and mounts to the same points on the frame as the receiver, so there’s one option]

What’s here if you don’t get the tow package? Is there a stock crossbar with the same dropdown crossmember, but no receiver? Crossmember with no dropdown? Just trying to work out what the options are here.

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[Badunit]

Not an expert here but it looks like the tow hitch is an integral part of the frame, acting as a crossmember. If the hitch part is bothering you, can you cut just that part off of it?

 

[Deleted member 57233]

Not an expert here but it looks like the tow hitch is an integral part of the frame, acting as a crossmember. If the hitch part is bothering you, can you cut just that part off of it?

They sell gladiators without the hitch, it's not integral to the frame.

 

[Badunit]

They sell gladiators without the hitch, it's not integral to the frame.

They sell them without support for a bumper hitchball, no crossmember at all?

 

[fourfa]

Got a part number for the non-receiver version (2)?

nvm, looks like it’s 68368181AA. I guess this is the version that accepts a ball on the center bracket

 

[Jrgunn5150]

The tube is part of the frame.

Cut it out and weld in a straight one.

 

[MPMB]

Looks like: 68368181AA for steel bumper or 68334758AA for non-steel.

don't quote me.

 

[Badunit]

Got a part number for the non-receiver version (2)?

nvm, looks like it’s 68368181AA. I guess this is the version that accepts a ball on the center bracket

There are two part numbers listed in my 2023 parts manual. I don't know what the difference is.
68368181AA
68334758AA

 

[fourfa]

OK, so the non-receiver version is basically the same - same heavy dropdown crossbeam, same bracketry, just missing the receiver itself. Makes sense as this is probably part of the crash protection. From this post I understand that the steel Rubicon bumper + corner sliders + corner brackets + receiver = 125 lbs. I weighed the steel Rubicon bumper alone as 40 lbs, each Rubicon corner slider as 7.2 lbs each (14.4 / pair), and each Rubicon corner bracket as 9.2 lb each (18.4 / pair). That makes the receiver assembly itself = 52 lbs. I wouldn't imagine the non-receiver crossbeam assembly to be less than 45 lbs.

So without removing the crossbeam, there's not much potential weight savings to be had here. There are aluminum bumpers in the 21-30 lbs range. RockHard4x4's aluminum bumper has integrated corner sliders, retains the factory crossmember, and comes to -24 lbs total. Most steel aftermarket bumpers are more like 100+ lbs. If you don't need corner protection, Evo's High'n'Tight that replaces the crossbeam is probably the best you can do at -58 lbs overall.

So there's still the clearance improvement. I could cut the receiver for free (irreversible), or obtain the non-receiver crossmember for $400+, or build something for $??? Going to have to think about what's worthwhile here. Thanks for the input folks

 

[Jrgunn5150]

For me, if the departure angle was a real concern, I wouldn't think twice about chopping the thing out and welding a straight piece in.

 

[AustyPosty]

If you're ever near Carson City NV or near Pleasanton CA (I'm there sometimes) ill sell you a non-hitch receiver for 30 bucks. Got a brand new one collecting dust in my garage.

 

[fourfa]

If you're ever near Carson City NV or near Pleasanton CA (I'm there sometimes) ill sell you a non-hitch receiver for 30 bucks. Got a brand new one collecting dust in my garage.

Could do Pleasanton! I assume you installed the receiver version and have this left over?

 

[Jaxmax]

Check out Relentless Fabrication rear bumper, does have a hitch but behind the license plate, one piece replace hitch, bumper , tow hooks, and bed sliders, it is inches higher and inches shorter and best of all no cutting your body. it is the way I want to go , but have not figured out if my 33.3" spare tire fits. I like the look of it, has sensors, shackle mounts and looks like it belongs while not really standing out......Jack

 

[Janster]

On the contrary…..
Take it out and you’ll be banging into something else under there - which - might be harder and more expensive to fix.

Consider it your *rockslider* for the bumper/undercarriage.

 

[Kindafearless]

The slightly more aggressive approach:

I removed my hitch with a plasma cutter. That’s one option As the second iteration, I replaced it with a reinforced metal bar with d-ring mounts.

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