- Location
- Curtis Bay, MD
Hi again,
one accessory that I would really like to have for my XJ but haven't managed to pick up for cheap by watching forums, Craigslist, eBay, etc. is a receiver hitch. I would like the option of being able to pull a trailer should the need arise and my vehicle is spec'd so that the only thing really missing is the hitch itself (and the wiring, but I do have a 4-pin adapter that I picked up off a part-out, not sure if the factory trailer tow package included the wiring for a brake controller or not.)
Anyway, here's my thought. I could go for something like this:
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Jeep/Cherokee/1999/13160.html?vehicleid=1999303279
Which is $150, not the end of the world.
OR I could go for something like this:
http://nates4x4.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=51
which is only slightly more money, but would give a bumper with recovery points and preserves departure angle. Now I'm not into serious wheeling but it does seem like a good idea to try to maintain the capabilities that a vehicle came with whenever possible.
My question is regarding the receiver on the Nate's bumper, or a similar product if someone wants to recommend it. I am ASSuming that the main reason for including the receiver in an off-road bumper is to provide a place to put a receiver mount winch, not a ball mount. I'd probably be more likely to use it for actual towing and/or a bike rack mount. Typically, would it still be rated at the usual 500 lbs. tongue weight/5000 lbs. trailer weight or is it not really "certified" for towing use? I'll definitely drop Nate's an email and see what they say but also figure I'd post here to see if a new bumper was an idea even worth pursuing. (and yes, I know it's probably not the best, but I saw a post recommending it as "good but inexpensive" and I'm really just looking at it as an alternative to adding a trailer hitch and keeping the stock bumper.)
one accessory that I would really like to have for my XJ but haven't managed to pick up for cheap by watching forums, Craigslist, eBay, etc. is a receiver hitch. I would like the option of being able to pull a trailer should the need arise and my vehicle is spec'd so that the only thing really missing is the hitch itself (and the wiring, but I do have a 4-pin adapter that I picked up off a part-out, not sure if the factory trailer tow package included the wiring for a brake controller or not.)
Anyway, here's my thought. I could go for something like this:
http://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Hitch/Jeep/Cherokee/1999/13160.html?vehicleid=1999303279
Which is $150, not the end of the world.
OR I could go for something like this:
http://nates4x4.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=25&products_id=51
which is only slightly more money, but would give a bumper with recovery points and preserves departure angle. Now I'm not into serious wheeling but it does seem like a good idea to try to maintain the capabilities that a vehicle came with whenever possible.
My question is regarding the receiver on the Nate's bumper, or a similar product if someone wants to recommend it. I am ASSuming that the main reason for including the receiver in an off-road bumper is to provide a place to put a receiver mount winch, not a ball mount. I'd probably be more likely to use it for actual towing and/or a bike rack mount. Typically, would it still be rated at the usual 500 lbs. tongue weight/5000 lbs. trailer weight or is it not really "certified" for towing use? I'll definitely drop Nate's an email and see what they say but also figure I'd post here to see if a new bumper was an idea even worth pursuing. (and yes, I know it's probably not the best, but I saw a post recommending it as "good but inexpensive" and I'm really just looking at it as an alternative to adding a trailer hitch and keeping the stock bumper.)
