Class II receiver hitch

[WXman]

Here you go.

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[Jake]

Hey @WXman thanks for posting that video. That confirms what I had suspected about 8 months ago. At that time I had noticed a round hole in a metal plate under the bumper and had wondered if that was there so you could drop a hitch ball shaft through there and then attach the nut to it from under the bumper. But the puzzling thing was that there was no hole on the top of the Gladiator bumper (just below where a license tag goes) so you could insert the ball shaft through. Still isn’t such a hole there. Ford put a hole in the attached SUV’s bumper. I guess that we now know that Jeep expects us to just drill the hole. For me I would just go ahead and get the $250 class IV hitch, mainly so I can have a receiver tube. Mystery now solved. Thanks again. Much appreciated.

 

[Jake]

In case anyone is interested I managed to dig out an old picture of underneath a Gladiator that I kept showing the Jeep Class II bumper hitch. As you can see I believe Jeep wants you to drill a hole from the bottom of the bumper up to the top of the bumper and then insert a hitch ball from the top and secure the nut from the bottom. Drill right through the round hole in the metal plate circled. This is why they refer to it as a bumper hitch, not as a receiver hitch. Right @JeepCares?

Oh and for everyone’s info you will note that this appears to be an Overland truck. Note the rear rock rail. Looks like you could easily use those 3 bolt holes to mount a rear bumper step to if you don’t have an Overland model. Hey @JeepCares any plans for Mopar to offer such rear bumper steps? Love to know.

 

[5JeepsAz]

Hey @WXman thanks for posting that video. That confirms what I had suspected about 8 months ago. At that time I had noticed a round hole in a metal plate under the bumper and had wondered if that was there so you could drop a hitch ball shaft through there and then attach the nut to it from under the bumper. But the puzzling thing was that there was no hole on the top of the Gladiator bumper (just below where a license tag goes) so you could insert the ball shaft through. Still isn’t such a hole there. Ford put a hole in the attached SUV’s bumper. I guess that we now know that Jeep expects us to just drill the hole. For me I would just go ahead and get the $250 class IV hitch, mainly so I can have a receiver tube. Mystery now solved. Thanks again. Much appreciated.

Okay you were right.

 

[JeepCares]

In case anyone is interested I managed to dig out an old picture of underneath a Gladiator that I kept showing the Jeep Class II bumper hitch. As you can see I believe Jeep wants you to drill a hole from the bottom of the bumper up to the top of the bumper and then insert a hitch ball from the top and secure the nut from the bottom. Drill right through the round hole in the metal plate circled. This is why they refer to it as a bumper hitch, not as a receiver hitch. Right @JeepCares?

Oh and for everyone’s info you will note that this appears to be an Overland truck. Note the rear rock rail. Looks like you could easily use those 3 bolt holes to mount a rear bumper step to if you don’t have an Overland model. Hey @JeepCares any plans for Mopar to offer such rear bumper steps? Love to know.

Hi Jake,

Unfortunately, I am unable to determine this as I am not mechanically trained but I recommend discussing this with your dealer for confirmation on the proper function of this. Regarding the release of rear bumper steps, we have not been informed that said parts would be released.

Lydia
Jeep Social Care Specialist

 

[Jake]

For everyone’s info I just noticed this on a Gladiators rear bumper. Translation of what’s in the center of the circled area on the bumper: insert drill bit here. X marks the spot.

 

[JK4AER]

Has anyone found the part number for just the reciever hitch? My JT Rubicon didn't come with the tow package but it has the rear tubular cross member that it looks like the reciever hitch would bolt to.

 

[Jake]

If your rear end looks like this then you will more than likely just have to drill a hole into your bumper and drop a hitch ball into that hole and secure the nut from below. See post 66 above. And if you want a normal tube receiver hitch then you should just go to a hitch shop and get them to slap one on for you. Lots about this in this thread.

 

[JK4AER]

If your rear end looks like this then you will more than likely just have to drill a hole into your bumper and drop a hitch ball into that hole and secure the nut from below. See post 66 above. And if you want a normal tube receiver hitch then you should just go to a hitch shop and get them to slap one on for you. Lots about this in this thread.

Thanks. I was looking for a Class IV reciever, not the bumper mount.

 

[Jake]

Hey @JeepCares now @JK4AER has me scratching my head and wondering about this now. May have opened up another little can of worms, maybe not. I suspect that the round tubes under the truck are there to support the weight and to give the truck the towing capacity of the class II hitch. And I now wonder just how easy or how difficult it could be to just put a class 3 or 4 hitch on after it’s already got the standard class II hitch on it. Does a mechanic now have to remove these tubular looking supports in order to put on a class 3 or 4 hitch? See this picture. I circled these tubes. It looks to be rather difficult to do, makes me wonder if it’s impossible to do. But I don’t know, am not a mechanic or an engineer, just a guy scratching my head and wondering. Please advise/comment.

 

[JK4AER]

@Jake, Mopar Part 68368176AA is the entire hitch assembly which includes the tubular cross member. I have been trying to find just the reciever part number. I picked up my license plates yesterday and looked at another JT and the reciever was welded to the crossmember. I thought there would be a bolt on version like the JK and JL.

 

[Jake]

Hey @JK4AER you should take your truck to a Jeep dealership and ask them how you can get a class 4 hitch installed. Hopefully there is a simple way to take off that class II hitch so you can do this. If it is welded into place and if it can’t be removed then I would be more than upset. Hopefully Jeep didn’t do such a thing. I say give them the benefit of the doubt for now. Love to know what you find out. For me it’s no problem as I plan to order the $250 class 4 hitch from a factory and will not get stuck with that class II bumper hitch. Hey @JeepCares what”s the 411 here?

 

[WXman]

For those wondering, YES the Class II "hitch" which is only a mounting plate for a bumper ball would need to be totally removed in order to install a Class III or IV hitch in its place.

This would be simple to do if you have access to air tools and a torque ratchet. I would not recommend it with basic hand tools. Those bolts are torqued very tight.

Wiring is already done from the factory, so you don't need to do anything with that.

Trailer brake controllers are a separate item and not currently offered from the factory.

 

[Jake]

Hey thanks @WXman for the info. This should make @JK4AER a happy camper.

 

[usnavycdr]

I know this thread is old but figured I would throw.02 cents in. I bought my Willys Sport with trailer wiring but no hitch. The bumper indeed can be used as a Class II ball in bumper hitch. I wanted more. Apparently even installing the Mopar Class IV in place of bumper support tube only gets me the max capacity of 4500 lbs. without the Max Tow package’s HD brakes, upgraded cooling fan and upgraded alternator along with 4.10 gears instead of my 3.73
Will I ever tow over 4500? Maybe not, but I know my limitations won’t be the frame mounted receiver connection at least so I feel better spending the $250 on Class IV kit even if I use it as a Class III.

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