from what ive seen, all the factory ones look just like mine...and as far as the upper latch ur talking about, do you mean the top hinge or what ever it uses to pivit itself out from the jeep?...bc if you are, the top and bottom set up like your talking about, ive only ever seen that on Kias, and older honda SUVs, and older suvs like that...this is the factory carrier

its got the mount on the bumper..ive only ever seen them like this one...

 

i see what you're talking about...but they must have changed it later, bc i just found a pic of what you're talking about and its on the older ones with the 2.8 v6 which was made from 84-86..

the one i have must be one they redesigned...

heres the type you must be talking about...im sure mine is just a newer redesigned version of what your talking about in the pic ...still the same idea, they moved all the logos and plates into a space where people can see them, just like on mine...

 

lol...my friend was the lucky one...he just happened to stumble upon it 5 or 6 years ago, for sale in someones yard, all i did was buy it from my friend


also, look where the plate under the rear window is above where the plates usually go...usually there is the name "jeep" right there but its not there bc it was put on at the factory, and they knew it wouldnt be seen so they took it off...same reason they moved the 4.0 badge and the lisence plate

 

I beleve that only a few 1990's and 1991's had the tire carrier from the factory. I am in GA looking for on myself. Really I just dont want to give warn $500 for something that was once factory!

 

Just gotta be lucky at the jy. I happened to come by a factory swing out and bumper so pulled out all only cost $50 or so for everything.

 

Exactly, I went to my local jy waaay out in the boonies friday and there was 2 door with this exact bumper and tire carrier sitting by the crusher, they did not even put it in the yard. I got the bumper ,carrier and most of the rear hatch,lol for 40 bucks. They gave me the hatch so I could get the receiver or the thing the carrier locks onto off at the house. I have found 2 of the kind 4.3 xj is talking about that has the mount on the side also. bought one with out bumper but with bumper mount for 20.00 bucks. They are both factory. Any doubts if it's factory?https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f12/xj...carrier-39226/ post 12

 

To everyone saying it's not factory - yes it is. They are rare, but there were 2 styles of rear tire carriers that could be gotten on the XJ from 84-90 or 91. The lift gate still had the indentation for the license plate as AMC/Chrysler did not want to spend more money on an extra mold since the external tire carrier was an optional item. Big thing when installing one of these on an XJ that did not come with it is to be sure that the bumper mounts are reinforced (for the bumper only mounted style - 2nd design) and the passenger quarter panel is reinforced (1st style that mounted below the passenger rear window as well) to support the weight. Another thing to consider is that these carriers are designed to only carry a 31" tire.

 

He is correct it is factorry and i have 1 on my jeep