Hey so the install of my hitch started relatively smooth but the nut strip on the passenger side is shot. Do I just try and shove the strip further into the rail or do i try and take the bumper off and pull it out so i can fish the new bolts and hardware in.

 

I would be getting a new nut strip, something like this: https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJNTSP.html

This is an area you want to be solid for everyone's sake.

 

I just installed a hitch on my 98. I removed the bumper. The lower clip nuts were rusted away so I had to grind off the bolt heads. I oiled up the two studs on the mounts with 3-in-1 oil and slowly worked the nuts off (15mm) with a wrench. That took awhile slowly loosening-tightening-loosening back and forth until they freed up. I removed the bumper end cap trim pieces first. They slide off backwards. Once the bumper was off I removed the bumper mount bolts (13mm) and mounts to gain access to the box beams where the left & right fasteners are. The right side threaded strip was in good shape, as were the carriage bolt pieces on the left. I had removed the hitch a couple years ago when I got the vehicle because I did not expect to be towing anything with it. Then my son wanted to transport a couple bikes so back on it went, after a complete refinish, to use as a receiver for a receiver-style bike rack. About the only problem I had was getting the left side carriage bolts and their respective plates back in the box beam and aligned again with the holes. I ended up getting a large pair of surgical clamps that worked great. Going back together, the last part (hanging the bumper) was pretty easy because I'd cleaned the threads on the studs and other fasteners and coated them with moly anti-seize compound. I went to the Home Depot (Specialty Fasteners drawers in Hardware) and got some 3/8 X 16 clip nuts that worked fine where the original clip nuts were used. I had to loosen the upper mount nuts to have enough play to engage the new bolts for the clip nuts, and then snugged all 4 fasteners down tight.

If I was to have to replace the right side threaded steel piece I'd just buy some raw stock from Home depot, measure out, drill and tap the holes myself. If I had to replace the left side carriage bolts I'd just duplicate the right side threaded strip and buy some grade 8 bolts.

 

buy these.

You will not regret it.

 

Well that's a lot of votes for the jcr nut strips. The hitch I rec'd from etrailers came with enough hardware for several different configurations and has enough carriage bolts and those square spacers that i fished through on the drivers side for me to do on the passenger side also.

So my real question is the nutstrip worth it or should i just use what I have. Granted I'm in no rush here. Also if I'm ordering something from jcr i may as well get the sliders while I'm at it.....🤔🤔
Ive been between affordable offroads sliders and jcr sliders. I cant tell if i want the upturned tubes or them sticking straight out lol.

 

New nut strips. NO QUESTION!

While you're at it, spray a bunch of Fluid Film inside the frame before you put the nut strips in place.

 

I installed a hitch with those square spacers and it worked fine for years and I pulled on it quite a bit. Everything still looked good when I pulled it out to install my rear bumper.

 

i used the square plates that came with my hitch, also. /\ no problems. i have always used those square deals when installing hitches, with no problems

 

I stripped all the stuff out of the frame rails cept the gas filler. Then used 1x2 x 3/16inch channel that just passed under the gas filler when I
inserted it in the frame, about 18 inches long, then welded a 2x4 x 1/4 inch square tube to it, full length on one side, short 2x4 on gas filler side. then made 1/2 thick 1.5 wide bar to run inside channel with tapped holes for the underside bolts. Then on back end of each assembly, welded a plate on which to attach my bolt on bumler/hitch receiver.

Strong as a brick house. Probably stiffens the body too. haha!

 

Square spacer gang! 🤘 I mean I'm not in a rush to install the hitch but if I already have the hardware I'm gonna go with what I have!