Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com. I
figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
locally.

Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ Canada".
Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?

Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch? They
are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!

Eric
99 TJ SE

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

Eric, do you offroad your TJ? If so, you won't like a bolt-on hitch since
it's guaranteed to drag on the terrain. A bumper with a built-in hitch like
Olympic's Rock bumper is not much more than a bolt-on hitch but being at
bumper height, it won't drag.

Jerry
--
Jerry Bransford
To email, remove 'me' from my email address
KC6TAY, PP-ASEL
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/

"Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
news:wzCJb.7009$6l1.4624@okepread03...
> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com.
I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ
Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch?
They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

Eric, do you offroad your TJ? If so, you won't like a bolt-on hitch since
it's guaranteed to drag on the terrain. A bumper with a built-in hitch like
Olympic's Rock bumper is not much more than a bolt-on hitch but being at
bumper height, it won't drag.

Jerry
--
Jerry Bransford
To email, remove 'me' from my email address
KC6TAY, PP-ASEL
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/

"Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
news:wzCJb.7009$6l1.4624@okepread03...
> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com.
I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ
Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch?
They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

Eric, do you offroad your TJ? If so, you won't like a bolt-on hitch since
it's guaranteed to drag on the terrain. A bumper with a built-in hitch like
Olympic's Rock bumper is not much more than a bolt-on hitch but being at
bumper height, it won't drag.

Jerry
--
Jerry Bransford
To email, remove 'me' from my email address
KC6TAY, PP-ASEL
See the Geezer Jeep at
http://members.cox.net/jerrypb/

"Eric" <gymrat@cox.net> wrote in message
news:wzCJb.7009$6l1.4624@okepread03...
> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com.
I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ
Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch?
They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

Get the integrated hitch/bumper I know you said you can't do it
anyway :<) Decent 2" receiver hitch runs US $100, bumpers with
hitch about $160 and up. But do get the 2" receiver.

If you get the hitch, make sure that the receiver goes INTO the
cross tube rather than hanging down below. Difference is about 4"
of ground clearance in the back. I had one on my other SUV, hung
up on driveway curb cuts. ARGH!

Eric wrote:

> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com. I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch? They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

Get the integrated hitch/bumper I know you said you can't do it
anyway :<) Decent 2" receiver hitch runs US $100, bumpers with
hitch about $160 and up. But do get the 2" receiver.

If you get the hitch, make sure that the receiver goes INTO the
cross tube rather than hanging down below. Difference is about 4"
of ground clearance in the back. I had one on my other SUV, hung
up on driveway curb cuts. ARGH!

Eric wrote:

> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com. I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch? They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

Get the integrated hitch/bumper I know you said you can't do it
anyway :<) Decent 2" receiver hitch runs US $100, bumpers with
hitch about $160 and up. But do get the 2" receiver.

If you get the hitch, make sure that the receiver goes INTO the
cross tube rather than hanging down below. Difference is about 4"
of ground clearance in the back. I had one on my other SUV, hung
up on driveway curb cuts. ARGH!

Eric wrote:

> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com. I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch? They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

I did this. In fact I bought a Hidden Hitch from etrailer.

I'm pleased. I wanted something cheap that would hold me over until I
decide which $500+ bumper system I'm going to buy. I go camping more
than I do extreme offroading so the low cost was worth the problems it
will give me on the trail.

I would recommend the tube hitch though. I bought the standard one
because it was like $20 cheaper. However, the tube one mounts with three
bolts to the side of the frame. The mounts on the square-tube version
are not as good. Two bolts mount to the rear cross-member which is
useless. Two more replace the bumper bolts on the bottom of the frame,
which is annoying on the exhaust side and forces the removal of the
factory rear tow hook.

Get the tube version- it has none of those problems and still mounts
through existing holes. You have to fish 6 bolts through the frame
instead of only two, but it turns out that isn't too hard because the
holes in the frame are large enough and they provide the fish wires to
do it with.

I didn't take pics of the install (it's too easy and the downloadable
install docs are really good and show everything. Check out the hitch
and the mounting locations here:

<http://wrangler.rutgers.edu/gallery/tj-hidden-hitch>

Eric wrote:
> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com. I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch? They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

I did this. In fact I bought a Hidden Hitch from etrailer.

I'm pleased. I wanted something cheap that would hold me over until I
decide which $500+ bumper system I'm going to buy. I go camping more
than I do extreme offroading so the low cost was worth the problems it
will give me on the trail.

I would recommend the tube hitch though. I bought the standard one
because it was like $20 cheaper. However, the tube one mounts with three
bolts to the side of the frame. The mounts on the square-tube version
are not as good. Two bolts mount to the rear cross-member which is
useless. Two more replace the bumper bolts on the bottom of the frame,
which is annoying on the exhaust side and forces the removal of the
factory rear tow hook.

Get the tube version- it has none of those problems and still mounts
through existing holes. You have to fish 6 bolts through the frame
instead of only two, but it turns out that isn't too hard because the
holes in the frame are large enough and they provide the fish wires to
do it with.

I didn't take pics of the install (it's too easy and the downloadable
install docs are really good and show everything. Check out the hitch
and the mounting locations here:

<http://wrangler.rutgers.edu/gallery/tj-hidden-hitch>

Eric wrote:
> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com. I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch? They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>

Re: Trailer hitch for TJ?
 

I did this. In fact I bought a Hidden Hitch from etrailer.

I'm pleased. I wanted something cheap that would hold me over until I
decide which $500+ bumper system I'm going to buy. I go camping more
than I do extreme offroading so the low cost was worth the problems it
will give me on the trail.

I would recommend the tube hitch though. I bought the standard one
because it was like $20 cheaper. However, the tube one mounts with three
bolts to the side of the frame. The mounts on the square-tube version
are not as good. Two bolts mount to the rear cross-member which is
useless. Two more replace the bumper bolts on the bottom of the frame,
which is annoying on the exhaust side and forces the removal of the
factory rear tow hook.

Get the tube version- it has none of those problems and still mounts
through existing holes. You have to fish 6 bolts through the frame
instead of only two, but it turns out that isn't too hard because the
holes in the frame are large enough and they provide the fish wires to
do it with.

I didn't take pics of the install (it's too easy and the downloadable
install docs are really good and show everything. Check out the hitch
and the mounting locations here:

<http://wrangler.rutgers.edu/gallery/tj-hidden-hitch>

Eric wrote:
> I am buying a hitch for my 99 TJ SE and took a look at www.etrailer.com. I
> figured installing one myself would be WAY cheaper than paying someone
> locally.
>
> Turns out, there are a few different styles, all within a few dollars of
> each other. The only difference is, most of them say "Fits Jeep TJ Canada".
> Is there something different about TJs in Canada? Will those fit on mine?
>
> Also, anyone have any preferences between Draw-Tite and Hidden Hitch? They
> are about the same price. Round tube or square tube? And no, a new rear
> bumper with integrated hitch isn't an option right now. Thanks!
>
> Eric
> 99 TJ SE
>
>