Looking for opinions regarding a bolt-on trailer hitch vs an after market bumper with a built in receiver. Which are the best after market companies for the product?

Did XJ's come stock with a trailer package? My XJ has a factory oil cooler but no hitch. It is a former national Park Service vehicle and is sans roof rack as well.

 

If you are asking, then I say go with a bumper. Simply because it does more then just give you a hitch reciever. There are a lot of options/companies, and you can pick the style that fits your Jeep. Check the vendors here, there are some great fabricators that sell products to CF members. XJs did come with factory tow packages, and many after market reciever hitch kits for the XJ. If you can swing the bumper, then do so...

 

Those ex-gov service XJs are awesome to find. I think they order them with some kind of offroad or heavy duty equipment package. MY son's 87 XJ was an ex county sheriff's vehicle. It had the OEM XJ D44, front, crossmember and gastank skidplate package, Aux tranny cooler, vinyl seats and rubber flooring.....oh yeah and the rear inside door handles were disconnected and it had these really cool A pillar mounted spotlights. I would love to find another XJ just like that one only in better shape.

 

hitchs are a hole lot cheaper

 

I tried the CF search function but ended up with unrelated drivel. I don't mind putting out the shekels for the bumper if it's a good value. I did look at Rusty's but all it listed was a price and a photo with zero additional information. The after market bolt-on class III's seem to hang a bit too low and look....well, like a bolt on after thought. Definitely leaning toward the bumper/receiver.

Do you know where I can find info on the factory tow package and what was included.

 

factory xj class three hitch here 35 bucks jy with strips and bolts hang pretty high

 

Mine has the skid package, 20 gallon tank, and the SE trim. No power anything inside with 45K when we got it 3 months ago. Drives like a new one but the interior is a bit scarred from taking workers, tools and materials to job sites in the park. The ranger said it never went over 50 mph on park roads. It's our first XJ and makes us wish we bought some new and stashed 'em!

 

Got any recommendations? I'm looking for a class III but don't want it coming off for obvious reasons. Don't mind spending the extra bucks for quality material and workmanship.

 

It is definitely high and tight and looks like it belongs there. The Curt bolt on's appear to hang too low due to the way they're built.

Is the factory hitch a bolt on as well then?

 

...lol... i bought it its mine you cant have it...lol... my point is there out there just gotta look

 

:-)

I've been to local scrap yards and been watching the craigslist. May end up with the receiver bumper though.

 

I'd go with a receiver bumper. You can get one for a couple hundred from JCR Offroad. It will have really great tie ins and comes with D-ring mounts for recovery.

 

Look in the vendor sales section for the guy from Mt Airy NC that makes bumpers for not a lot of $. He'll make 'em with or without a receiver.

I've had (2) class 3 hitches on my '96. I bought the first from Jeep and it rusted off. I bought the 2nd from a utility trailer dealer, and it appears much better made and was less $ despite buying it 10 years later. Both mounted up high, so no concern there.

 

I've been towing for a long time, both cargo trailers and RVs. I've learned much over the course of many miles.

One of the major issue with towing is how much are you going to tow versus how much can the tow vehicle handle. That's something every manufacturer covers in the owners manuals. But more important for this conversation, any towing device is only as good as it's weakest point. Bumpers with hitch ***** have been around for a long time on pickups, but do not have the capacity of a good frame mounted hitch. Also, with any bumper being susceptible to being struck, this would undoubtedly weaken it if any damage occurs, even minor. For safety and capacity, I'd always go with a frame mounted hitch system. I would imagine that it will be cheaper also, if that's any issue with you.

 

JCR Offroad appears to be a well executed product. It is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for the info.

I don't see a provision for a tag light on the tire carrier bumper though....