So I ordered a Curt 13160 hitch for this 2000 2WD XJ Limited we just picked up.
I was excited to throw it on there as soon as I got it today, so I ran out to do it.
The illustration on the instruction sheet points out that on the Driver's Side there are "Existing Weldnuts", and that you're supposed to feed the provided M12-1.75 x 40mm Hex Nuts from the bottom, and thread them into the "Existing Weldnuts".
So long story short, there's no "Existing Weldnuts" on this truck. I don't think there ever has been. It's not a question of the rivets holding a strip or anything on rusting off. You can tell, there's never been anything there.

So I call Curt, and the guy says "Yeah, I'll have to send you some hardware to do it like the Passenger's Side.".
Great...so I needed to tow a trailer this weekend, and now it's going to be sometime next week before I see this hardware from them.

Guess it's time for a trip to Lowe's for some Grade-8 Nuts.

Oh, and whoever said the installation time is 45 minutes is retarded. If you remove the rear bumper, which I probably will if I have to put nuts up in there, it's gonna take a while longer.

 

You should really get the nut strips for both sides or make your own if you can, remember it's only a unit body not a real frame if your towing anything really heavy that is,( for extra safety).No need to remove the bumper just use wire or fishing line or get the wire bolt pullers.

 

the bumper has to come off to put nutstrips in. I ordered both sides and changed out my right side (exhaust hangs on it). remove the plastic strip on top of bumper and slip in a 15 ml socket with no extension. Bumper comes off quick.

 

IIRC, our UHaul hitch took less than 45 min and we didn't touch the bumper. Hitch came with those wire thingys that attach to the bolts and snake thru the holes. Quick/simple install.

 

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=984222

 

I fitted the Curt hitch to my 2000Xj and it was a *****. Drivers side was 15 minutes using the bolts and wire they provided in the kit - they can be fed into the rear member from the opening in the back - NO NEED TO REMOVE BUMPER. The passenger side was a different story. the original nut strip was rusted to hell, so I drilled the rivets holding it in and kinda set it up the side within the frame member so it was out of the way, then used the same setup as the drivers side - fed bolts down through the resulting holes. Very fiddly, and considered removing the bumper but even the first nut I tried to remove was rusted solid so figured that would be more trouble than it was worth. All in all a four hour job. Jeez.

 

How is your last tail pipe hanger (the one that uses and exhaust clamp over the the little metal piece) AND your gas tank's heat shield held up then if there there is no driver side nut strip?

 

Unless a Cherokee came with a hitch or rear tow hooks from the factory, only the passenger side (exhaust) had a nut strip from the factory.

And I had to remove my rear bumper to put my hitch on...I think it only took about 45 minutes...guess you just need to move faster.

Because the heat shield and exhaust are on the passenger side........

 

I wrote the wrong side. EVERY XJ had a nut strip on the passenger side. He's saying that there is no nut strip AT ALL. I meant to write passenger side lol. But yeah, how are your gas tank shield and tail pipe held up then on the passenger side?

 

He's talking about the driver's side:

 

If you are going to be towing anything heavier than a lawn tractor on the trailer then you need to get the nutstrips...

http://www.jeep4x4center.com/sill-re...-52001175.html

http://www.jcroffroad.com/Merchant2/...ry_Code=XJMISC

Both of these are way cheaper than the stealership and provide quite a bit of strength to the rear of your unibody.