Need help on front mount receiver hitch install for Rubicon

[DLAW]

I ordered:
https://www.curtmfg.com/part/31086

All websites indicate that this works on all trim levels and says nothing about NOT working on a rubicon with the steel shield in the front. Now that I'm trying to install it, it's a disaster. The instructions don't say a word about a steel shield or rubicons. A square hole is supposed to be cut in the shield, but the other trim levels are plastic.

Does anyone have experience with this? Anyone have success getting a front mount receiver hitch installed on a Rubicon?

Thanks!

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[CerOf]

I believe most, if not all, rubicon’s have a metal front skid plate.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I have the Curt front receiver installed on my Overland, which has the plastic air dam. The receiver should fit, but you may need to find a shop with a cutting torch to modify the skid plate. There may also be issues with the lower mounting brackets for the skid plate, since the Curt package is designed for reattaching the plastic one.

 

[Blade1668]

Sounds like time for the "death wheel" aka side grinder with a cutoff disk. That would be my first choice over cutting torch, and I have both.

Pull off skid plate mark where the receiver needs to go through.... Double check everything mark off cut slightly smaller then test fit then cut out to the top or bottom to fit. Notice the smaller side comment correct width but not top to bottom. it would be off for me most of the time.

 

[Blade1668]

I wouldn't bother.. I'd just leave the air dam off. Check a 12 lifted JL or JT's that are actaully used off road and the air dam is off..

Or that
My XJ has a factor skid plate that has been good and bad at times. I guards my power steering cooler. I ditched the plastic air dam on my JT.

 

[DLAW]

I wouldn't bother.. I'd just leave the air dam off. Check 12 lifted JL or JT's that are actually used off road and the air dam is off on each one of them.

It's technically a "skid plate" for protection though right? I'm not too concerned about hitting it. I'm just a little concerned about rain and mud splashing up on the electronics I'm seeing right there. There is a plug, smack in the middle, protected by the shield/skid plate. Maybe that's the sway bar disconnect, I'm not sure.

I did install the hitch, and currently left off the plate. My problem isn't just cutting the hole. The rear side bolts no longer have a bracket to go to because they had to be removed for the hitch to fit.

I haven't seen a word on here about anyone solving that problem yet, so I figured I would ask. I know this topic came up last year.
Thanks!

 

[Summitsearcher]

Your skid plate mounting is different than my sport which has metal plate behind the plastic air dam. You could have the lower brackets extended or modified to reattach the skid. I’m not sure ? of the mounting point you are asking about without seeing the picture.

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