Reciever Size?

Macdaddy4738

Macdaddy4738

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2005
Gonna be buying a hitch for my Jeep soon. I'll be towing at MOST 300 pounds (2 kayaks and a cargo box...)

So what receiver size is most common? Keep in mind I would like to use the hitch as a rear tow point when wheeling (is that even advisable?)....would a 1 1/4 be okay for this or no?
 
Id run a 2 inch if I was going to use it as a recovery point. Its hard to stuff a 2in strap in a 1.25 hole. Plus everyone and their brother has a hitch to fit the 2in receiver in case you need to tow something and left the hitch at home (btdt)

Duane
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
Id be running a D ring on the hitch for a recovery point, does that matter any?
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Yup. the construction of a Class III hitch will be significantly more substantial than a class I hitch.

Why not just get a real bumper that can do everything you're looking for? it'll add ground clearance too. hitches on jeeps hang down incredibly low.
 
Outta my price range for now, I need the hitch to tow my Kayak and Im getting dammed tired of having no way to getting it to the lake, so Im doing this now.

Plus, the hitch doesnt sit any lower than my gas tank either way. I'll upgrade it eventually, and I dont wheel it that often anyways.
 
Is it a cherokee? Ever consider a roof rack? Either way, a hitch will be about 200 bucks, the roof rack 300 (Craigslist has some deals though) and there is a guy on here who builds bumpers w/ receivers - novacayne75. Here are his prices:
$100 for basic front or rear bumper any width.
$200 for tire carrier
$20 for hitch in bumper
$15 ea for d-ring mounts
$20 for loop on front
$5 pr light tabs any place u want
$5 for cb antenna mount

He could probably work something out for you cause the tire carrier is for oversized tires. you wont need that right? So he will probably knock $100 bucks off since he wont need to build the swing away carrier. This is probably your best bet, and he can add a D ring. I have his number if you want it. Only problem is he is located in swannanoa wherever that is.
 
By the way, look at my profile pic. If you have a stock roof rack and you know knots, its not hard to strap it to the roof and go.
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
Outta my price range for now, I need the hitch to tow my Kayak and Im getting dammed tired of having no way to getting it to the lake, so Im doing this now.
Plus, the hitch doesnt sit any lower than my gas tank either way. I'll upgrade it eventually, and I dont wheel it that often anyways.
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If that bumper is out of your price range, then a decent Class III (2") will be also.

IMO - pony up the $$ for a real bumper w/ integrated 2" hitch.
Gain ground clearance, lose the crappy bumper, AND have a real hitch. Yes you won't really need it BUT you can always find 2" hitch parts etc, add-on doodads that use them. The small guys have limited availability.
 
Whatever you do, get a 2" hitch as everyone has said. The little ones suck if you ever try using a hitch hauler or bike rack in it.

AS for not sitting lower than the gas tank, the gas tank skid is "soft" and rounded back there. You hit the hitch on a rock ledge, it's loud, painful, painful, and stops you.
(Oh did I mention it hurts when you hit something?)
 
2" all the way. You can adapt down but not up. You definately get what you pay for in reciever hitches.
You can find random used ones in the $60-$75 range and have cut down / fabbed to fit by anyone with a welder unless you can get one specific for not much more.
 
I found a universal Class III hitch that fit a Cherokee and didn't hang down or decrease the departure angle at all. I think i got it at Agri Supply for like $89. This was a few years ago, so it may be a little more now. It took all of about 2 hours to install.

2" all the way. the 1.25" hitches are for cars
 
I'll agree with the others, A; it would be ridiculous to put a hitch on that was not 2". And B; I've got a friend with a tj just like yours and (given he has a towbar/ball in at all times) he's been stuck on that stupid fawking hitch more times than I can remember. It does hang low. New bumper time!
 
Plan for now is just to buy the hitch and get the trailer to get my boat to the water.

I'll upgrade to the bumper system when I have more money to put towards it.
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
Its for a wrangler.
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You could save money by strapping it to the roof. Its not gonna go anywhere attach it to the roll bar. Then after a month or so of putting some money away in the "new bumper fund" you can get yourself a nice 2" hitch included in the bumper.

.... Or you could pay too much for a hitch. Your call.
 
na, not strapping a 900 dollar boat to my roll bar.

the hitch im getting is gonna run me 50 bucks, which to me is reasonable if it allows me to get the boat to the water in a week or two....
 
Macdaddy4738 said:
na, not strapping a 900 dollar boat to my roll bar.
the hitch im getting is gonna run me 50 bucks, which to me is reasonable if it allows me to get the boat to the water in a week or two....
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Don't forget the 20$ for a wiring harness for trailer lights. :D
(I got pulled for that coming back from the lake :( )
One of the lights has something wrong, and gets really dim after dunking it in the water. Cops just sit there and wait for people with improper setups.

Oh, and when you get the generic harness to splice in, pay the 3$ more to get the neat one that has LEDs for each wire. That way when troubleshooting you'll know if it's the Jeep's wiring, the splice, or the trailer not working.
 
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