Stevo1971

What's up folks?
I'm having a moment with this tow hitch I ordered from etrailer a couple of weeks ago. I attempted to install it last week but ran into a problem. I decided to let the project sit while I let the answer come to me. Yeah, that's not working.
So, the problem is my fuel tank skid plate bows out a little on both sides, intentional, forbidding the hitch bracket arms from reaching their seat. I approached this from below.
My thought is to remove the bumper and go at it straight in rather than up. Once there it would share bolt holes with the skid plate (1) and the exhaust bracket (1).
Two questions.....
A) is removing the bumper the way to go?
B) what size socket do I need for the bolt on the skid plate?
I tried a few sockets from a couple socket sets and appear to need an 18 mm. Subsequently, I'm missing that one from both sets.
Any help is appreciated
Thanks

EZEARL

Although I did get an OEM fuel tank skid plate mounted I haven't got the hitch back on. Before I finished for the day I did try the hitch from below. No go. I then lined it up to where I would slide it in from the rear. As I mentioned before I have a pipe bumper so it's not in the way. I had also mentioned that I tried it from the rear on the skid before I installed it. It slid on using some force. Unless the width of the skid changed since I mounted it the hitch should go on.

Can't help with socket size since there were no nut strips there for the skid. 18mm is used a good bit on these XJ's though.

Stevo1971

Thanks for the tip. I think I know which way I need to go. I'm probably going to have to invest in another socket set. Probably an impact set. Oh yeah, that would make 3 sets that are missing the 18 mm. Yay.
Will tackle this weekend.
If anyone else has gone through this, feel free to chime in.

nickfancher1

I had the same issue with mine. I used a floor jack and forced it up there, was only able to get 7/8 bolts in though.

Actually I took the scissor jack out of my Camry and set that on top of the floor jack for extra height and the opening on the scissor jack was perfect to fit on the hitch's metal. Wasn't easy.

Stevo1971

During my initial look see for fitment I used a floor jack with a length of 4x4 and rested the hitch on that. It's a little wibbly wobbly as it rests solely in the middle. I think if I add a couple blocks to either side of the middle it would stabilize the hitch well in order to hold it in it's seated position. Once I get to that point.
In other news, I spoke with a techy at Etrailer today also. He said he's been on the job 7 yrs and this issue has only come up a small handful of times. He didn't have a concrete answer for me other than possibly loosening the skid plate and lowering it enough to Jimmy the hitch into place.
I'm going to try it without the bumper first before trying that. There is sure to be enough jimmying taking place without adding to the maheim.
Really wish it was as easy as 1 2 3 like their videos show. Par for the course

00t444e

I removed my bumper to install my hitch, the old nut strip had some bolts broke off in it and that was the only way to get it out.

texastaz38

If your buying a new socket set to get an 18mm, can you send me the 10mm sockets out of your old sets? Can't ever seem to find my 10mms. I think theres a meme on here for that. LOL Just funnin"

Happy Jeepin'
Texas Taz

Stevo1971

My skid plate bows out more just below where your attachment arms show.
Thanks for the pics.

Stevo1971

Lol. Funny how you accumulate gobs of sockets but never the ones you need.

BlueRidgeMark

I guess I'm the dummy. I didn't know there was any other way to do it.