junkyard tow hooks and hitch reciever

jbcherokee · Jun 10, 2009

I plan to head to the local pick-n-pull to look for an xj with stock tow hooks or a hitch i can grab for cheap and I am just wondering what years i can take them from. I have a 99 sport 2d with Chrysler 8.25" axle.

So what year xj will have tow hooks or towing packages I can grab?

Thanks

REWSTER · Jun 10, 2009

pretty sure as long as its a XJ model you will be ok, my hitch was from a "92" and i have "00" i think all the "frames" are the same

FireFly · Jun 10, 2009

haha xjs with frames sounds funny.

TheAlmightySam · Jun 10, 2009

Early tow hooks are different from late tow hooks - the bumper mounts are different. You'll want '97-'01 tow hooks.

-96 is on the left, 97- is on the right.

zluster · Jun 10, 2009

Since the bumper bracket is integrated into the tow hook you need 97+ hooks.

bdiamond · Jun 10, 2009

I'd try to find a factory hitch. They seem beefier than an aftermarket ones. The mount arms are about 12-14" long and they have a center bracket that ties into the rear crossmember. The center bracket is a pain to get loose.Take a set of torx sockets with you....

dagr8tim · Jun 10, 2009

So if you have a factory receiver, you should have the tow hooks?

My receiver has a sticker with the Chrysler logo and part numbers. I've looked under it many times and didn't see any tow hooks.

Can somebody provide more information as to their location on a 97?

TheAlmightySam · Jun 10, 2009

dagr8tim said:
So if you have a factory receiver, you should have the tow hooks?

My receiver has a sticker with the Chrysler logo and part numbers. I've looked under it many times and didn't see any tow hooks.

Can somebody provide more information as to their location on a 97?

Tow hooks go on the front, attached via brackets to the unibody frame rail. There was a rare tow hook option for the rear that used the same bolts as the hitch, but it's a POS (and nearly impossible to find) and the hitch works better as a recovery point anyway.

Having the factory tow kit does not indicate the presence of hooks. If you had hooks, you'd know it, because they stick out from the front fascia like so:

That's a '92, but '97+ are similar.

dagr8tim · Jun 10, 2009

TheAlmightySam said:
Tow hooks go on the front, attached via brackets to the unibody frame rail. There was a rare tow hook option for the rear that used the same bolts as the hitch, but it's a POS (and nearly impossible to find) and the hitch works better as a recovery point anyway.

Having the factory tow kit does not indicate the presence of hooks. If you had hooks, you'd know it, because they stick out from the front fascia like so:

Ok, I was thinking the tow hooks were in the rear, not the front. I must have mis read the original post.

jbcherokee · Jun 10, 2009

Would I be able to swap out the stock hooks for d-ring mounts like sold here?'
http://www.hicountryoffroad.com/Products/Cherokee/Recovery/cher_recovery.htm

FlexdXJ · Jun 10, 2009

jbcherokee said:
Would I be able to swap out the stock hooks for d-ring mounts like sold here?'
http://www.hicountryoffroad.com/Products/Cherokee/Recovery/cher_recovery.htm

Sure is! All you have to do is unbolt the factory brackets and you could always find someone on NAXJA

to sell them to. I guarantee it.

jbcherokee · Jun 10, 2009

How hard will it be to get the actual factory tow hooks off? Will I need to remove the front bumper?

bdiamond · Jun 10, 2009

jbcherokee said:
How hard will it be to get the actual factory tow hooks off? Will I need to remove the front bumper?

Yes, the bumper will need to come off. You need the outer plate the hook bolts to as well as the angle piece that bolts to the front crossmember.

jbcherokee · Jun 12, 2009

o ok thanks for the help. Hopefully I can get the bumper off at the junkyard but Ill be sure to post how it goes when i get there tomorrow or this weekend

jbcherokee · Jun 12, 2009

anyone have a guide for bumper removal? I am pretty sure how to do it just have never tried myself...

bdiamond · Jun 13, 2009

Their are only the two brackets. One on either frame rail. Pull those three bolts(15mm or t-45 torx IIRC) and unhook the vacuum capsule bolted to the passenger side of the bumper(2 10mm's)

PepperRedXJ · Jun 13, 2009

bdiamond said:
Their are only the two brackets. One on either frame rail. Pull those three bolts(15mm or t-45 torx IIRC) and unhook the vacuum capsule bolted to the passenger side of the bumper(2 10mm's)

X2

Just pull the 15mm bolts that attack the bracket to the "frame". There's 3 bolts per side, easily accessed. Then just give the whole bumper a good tug. Should come right off. :cheers:

jbcherokee · Jun 14, 2009

Went to the junkyard today. Terrible luck. 6 XJs, only one with a tow package and there was so much rust I don't think there was any metal left. =(.

Maybe Ill get more luck at another salvage yard

Darky · Jun 14, 2009

jbcherokee said:
anyone have a guide for bumper removal? I am pretty sure how to do it just have never tried myself...

Undo bolts, remove bumper.

Seriously, that's all there is. There's like 6 bolts, three on each bracket.

tbburg · Jun 14, 2009

If you find the tow hooks, when you get the brackets off, look in the hole in the frame rail at the rear of the bracket(it's about an inch in dia.) There's a spacer/plug in there that's part of the tow hook bracket.
Also, where the front 2 bolts that hold the bumper bracket on, there may be a L shaped bracket that bolts to the front of the radiator support and reinforces the bumper bracket. These are also part of the tow hook bracket.

Good luck on the search!

junkyard tow hooks and hitch reciever

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