Hey everyone. I have a 2000 Cherokee XJ Sport that I bought a rear hitch for off Craigslist a while back. I want to finally install it, however, I need the correct hardware. A buddy of mine is saying to get these nutstrips http://www.jcroffroad.com/mm5/mercha...ct_Code=NTSTRP, remove the nutstrip that is all rusted on my passenger side near exhaust, and install the bumper.

Two questions... it looks like the bolts on the hardware don't line up with holes on my bumper. However, the holes on the bumper line up with the holes in the frame rail on my Cherokee where the hitch is going to go.

1) I'm confused by this... will it work? I'm attaching pictures.
2)Does this bracket have Grade 8 hardware (website doesn't say and they won't answer my calls)

3) (off topic), but how expensive would it be to get that one part welded back together? or do I even need to?

 

If the nut strip doesnt line up just drill holes where the nuts lie. Also, do not even think about using that D-ring

 

What do you mean bumper? The nutstrips go inside the unibody frame rails.
Comes with grade 5 bolts.

 

**** really? That's partly why I bought it.

 

Sorry I meant rear hitch.

 

Did it come off an XJ? I know that the nutstrips will work cause i have them on my XJ. The "D ring" looks to be a spot to run wires through.

 

dont know if you have this but might help
http://ecommerce.curthitch.biz/maste...121373_INS.pdf

 

Whats up with that safety chain bracket, how rusty is that thing? Looks kind of scary to me. I bought a new C3 hidden hitch with hardware for like $68 delivered to my door off egay like a year ago, might want to look for something like that.

 

I agree with Bossokee, the welds on that d-ring look terrible. On a decent pull I bet you could rip it right off lol.

 

As for your question.
The jcr nut strip lies inside of the frame rail, looks like you have the standard 4 bolt hitch that utilizes 3 inside the frame rail section and 1 on the bumper side of the rear cross member.
If you look at a stock nut strip it has a bump to accommodate the transition between the 3 inside the rail and the 1 outside. This is where the jcr nut strip reaches further into the Jeep for gas tank skid attachment.
Get in touch with FST i know they make a nut strip that will fit your needs at a competitive price without any hassle of buying extra bolts to make it work.

 

Yeah it must have because the holes line up perfectly with the frame rail. It just looks like the nut strips from jcr have weird spacing in between each hole, like it won't line up at all with my cherokee. But hey, if it works it works, I'm just going off what the picture has.

 

Thank you! This is great.

 

Yeah maybe I'll just buy another and sell this one. You wouldn't happen to have a link would you?

 

Our nutstrips are the most heavy duty on the market made from laser cut 1/4 plate with heady duty 1/2" nuts welded to them. Shoot me and email Drew.FST@gmail.com

They are $30 +shipping hardware included

 

you have probably seen this already but heres one for 106.00 shipped with hardware but dosent look like they use nutstrips, its been like 7 years since i did mine and frankly i dont remember how it installed i remember the hassle i had getting the passenger side nutstrip out intact
http://www.ebay.com/sch/Towing-Hauli...%2520Aspirated

used reese hitch on amazon for 95 shipped no mention of hardware included im sure its a higher quality hitch than the other as reese is a major player in the trailer towing game but without hardware i dunno guess it depends how much weight and how often you are going to be towing
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...condition=used

and i dont know what you are planning on doing for the lights but you will need one of those conversion boxes to make the lights work correctly because the jeep uses the same bulb for brake and turn and running its plug and play (although the one i ordered didnt work properly) you should see them on both sites