Front hitch options for 2023 Gladiator Rubicon

[paulkamprath]

Our new Rubicon is coming soon and I'd like to put a front hitch on it, but I haven't had any luck finding one that says it will fit the Rubicon trim package.

Does anyone know of a source for a front hitch that fits the Rubicon? Or is there a way to make the Kurt or Drawtite hitches that fit all the other trim levels work on the Rubicon?

I tried searching, but with "front hitch" in the search it brings up every post that mentions a rear hitch too. I gave up after looking at a couple pages of results and not finding anything about a front hitch.

Thanks, Paul

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[Mr._Bill]

I put the Curt front receiver on my 2020 Overland. As far as I know, Curt only makes one model of the front receiver for the JT/JL.

 

[paulkamprath]

As far as I con find Curt only make one front receiver for the 2020-2023 Gladiators, but it says in the fitment guide that it does not fit the Rubicon trim level.

I was hoping someone else with a Rubicon had found a front hitch that worked.

 

[Mr._Bill]

As far as I con find Curt only make one front receiver for the 2020-2023 Gladiators, but it says in the fitment guide that it does not fit the Rubicon trim level.

I was hoping someone else with a Rubicon had found a front hitch that worked.

You might look in the Towing section and see if there are some older threads on this. I think the issue with the Rubicon is there are some pieces bolted to the frame that get in the way, something to do with the skid plate. Curt includes pieces to attach the plastic air dam to the receiver, but those don't work with the metal skid plate.

 

[fourfa]

Yeah you'll need to cut metal to notch the skid plate, or swap it out

 

[EddyArnold]

I have a 21 JTRD with the Curt one... I had to cut a notch in the skidplate... I'll try to find some pics for you.

 

[SPED1]

Curt hits the front electric sway bar

 

[EddyArnold]

 

[rharr]

depending on what you are trying to do, if you are going to do a custom bumper you can weld in a hitch receiver to a custom bumper too. That approach will give you more clearance, as the bolt on stuff hangs low.

 

[Riding with Gladys]

I had a similar problem with my Mojave. Ultimately went with a rock hard bumper with a receiver built in. Bolted right on super easy and had an integrated winch plate and bull bar which were upgrades I wanted.

 

[paulkamprath]

EddyArnold

Did your Curt hit the electric sway bar or does the 2021 not have that? If it doesn't interfere with the sway bar I think I'll go that way.

Thanks everyone.

I now see the old threads listed on the bottom of this page and I've started reading through them. They were probably in the search results somewhere, but not in the first couple pages.

 

[paulkamprath]

For anyone that stumbles onto this thread, here is a link to the discussion that answered all my questions about front hitches on Gladiator Rubicons.


Looking for input on an idea for a front receiver hitch for a winch

 

[rgboehm]

I had a similar problem with my Mojave. Ultimately went with a rock hard bumper with a receiver built in. Bolted right on super easy and had an integrated winch plate and bull bar which were upgrades I wanted.

 

[rgboehm]

What is the Rock hard p/n? Looked at there web site, it shows a bumper that says hitch receiver but pictures do not show it.

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