I need recovery points on my XJ. I also want a hitch for moving stuff around the yard and light towing.

I'm considering using either a Hidden Hitch or a bumper with hitch from
L and L Fabrication. One thing I don't like about the Hidden Hitch is it will hang below the stock bumper, having a negative effect on my departure angle. I can't tell from the pics on L and L's website if their hitch is built into the profile of their bumper or if it protrudes below it.

Are there any issues with using a hitch as a recovery point?
Any good pics of L and L's rear bumper with hitch?
Any other words of wisdom?

A class three hitch with proper hardware is a perfectly fine towing/ recovery point. I haven't noticed enough ill effects of departure angles to move it into the bumper. As for L&L's quality- top notch for sure.

i'm not sure if L&L bumpers, or any others for that matter, are actually rated for towing.

i'm sure if the bumper is mounted along the frame rails as a hitch would mount, it would be perfectly fine for towing, considering it's properly welded with proper penetration.

as for a hitch being used as a recovery point, it's much safer than most, if not all factory mounted style bumpers.
i've used my hitch for a few years using a warn shackle receiver.

I've got myself a curt class 3 hitch. it's not installed yet but from the research I made on here and other forums, it looks like one of the best choice.

can someone tell me if nutstrips are really necessary?

They help, they certainly arent necessary. Just use proper size and grade hardware.

Just be sure to check it every so often. Mine apparently had rusted pretty bad on the inside and I never noticed. The last trip I was on, I pulled out a stuck Toyota and YJ no problem. Then I went to unearth a stuck K2500 'Burban and this happened.

Def nut strips are better than just nuts and washers .

Have you looked at other bumpers some have the hitch up higher but cost more.Like http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/mercha...ct_Code=XJ-R-S http://www.dirtboundoffroad.com/jeep...p-cherokee-xj/ cheapest one i found is https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f10/b-...umpers-144000/

i wouldn't trust an l&l bumper for any type of recovery, especially snatching (I have one). they do not tie into the unibody any better than the factory bumper (just flush against the sheet metal). You'd have to do some hack and fab to get the L&L to accept some type of nut strip system. I've been trying to think of some way to modify my bumper to tie into the "frame" rails.

My hitch had done the same exact thing rusted from the inside out! The only thing holding it together is the edges of the tubbing!

I think I'm going to do a hitch with nutstrips on the rear. That looks to be a lot stouter than a bumper with a factory style mount system.

good choice.
however, it wouldn't take much to adapt a bumper to add the mounting either inside or along the frame rails and bolt it to the nutstrips.