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This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your Jeep Cherokee's frame with no welding required. Powder coated steel is sturdy and corrosion resistant.
Features:
Specs:
At etrailer.com we're committed to the products we sell, and to our customers. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff are available via both phone and email to address your questions and concerns for the lifetime of your hitch. The technicians at etrailer perform hitch installations on a daily basis, making them a valuable resource for do-it-yourselfers. The one-on-one, personal service you'll receive comes straight from an expert in the towing and automotive field. We've installed it, we've wired it and we've towed with it, so whatever your question, we can answer it.
Tech Tip
No drilling required for installation
Complete Towing Package for 1987 Jeep Cherokee
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Average Customer Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars (333 Customer Reviews)
This fully welded trailer hitch receiver bolts onto your vehicle's frame with no welding required. Powder coated steel is sturdy and corrosion resistant.I gave it a 3 because it did not fit as well as the video showed on my 1999 Jeep Cherokee XJ, the bolt holes on both sides did not match up exact, had to use a small sledge hammer to bang in past rear bumper, it was a really tight fit. I will need to drill or bore out the other bolt holes to get the remainder of the three bolts in. See photos below. Overall I happy with it. Built sturdy. I would still recommend this hitch, not all XJs’ are built equal.
This is my 3rd hitch from etrailer and another great transaction & install. Easily saves 2-3 times of what it would cost to have it done at a shop. The first 2 hitches were installed on newer vehicles, but this recent hitch was installed on a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. The online videos are a lifesaver! The weld nuts on the old Jeep were rusted really bad, but in the video they explain the best way to clean them out and it works. Their wiring kits are fool-proof & super easy to install. I'll continue to use etrailer for all my towing needs.
Todd
12/15/2015
Thanks for the pictures. The design of the hitch with the 4 bolts was unclear how the 4th bolt went on until your picture of the bolt going thru the muffler hanger bracket, thank you so much.
Steve M.
5/26/2016
Hitch has been rock solid for a year now
I bought this hitch a year ago. It fit our 2000 Jeep Cherokee perfectly (my son and I installed it ourselves). I would recommend this hitch if you are in the market for one.
Dale
9/8/2023
Ive had the hitch for a year. There have been no issues and it still is as solid as ever. I would recommend this hitch for your Jeep Cherokee.
Mike L.
11/1/2023
I'm very happy with this hitch. Shipping was quick, price was great, and the hitch was easy to install by myself. I watched the installation video and followed the process. I was most impressed that the holes on the hitch matched exactly with the holes in my car's frame and the process to pull bolts through the frame worked perfectly. Ready to go fishing??
Rick
5/26/2018
Hitch is great 1 year later. No rust or loose parts.
So I am late posting this review because the Cherokee I purchased the hitch as a replacement for was totaled before I had a chance to install it. It was to be an upgrade for a lightweight hitch that was needing replacement. So the hitch hung around until I finally installed it on our only Cherokee that had never been used for towing. So this vehicle has never had a receiver installed before. It is bone stock, no pans or shields and never hit in the rear. Yet, the hitch didn't fit. The side plates were too long and didn't clear the bumper. We had 3 other Cherokees all with hitches so I know the bumper can be cleared. This bumper was in the proper factory position and not bent. I had to notch the bumper on both sides with an angle grinder to allow the hitch to line up with the mounting holes in the frame. As long as Cherokees have been around, you would think the hitch design and welding would be built to fit without cutting the vehicle. The other brand hitches fit fine on our other vehicles.
The other issue was the instructions. They were backward compaired to how a Cherokee XJ is built. I know it is a minor issue. And anyone that couldn't figure out the proper install despite the backward sheet is not skilled enough to install a hitch anyway. My issue with it is this. As much as you pay for the product, and the instructions are backward? It makes me question if attention to detail and quality is not in the small stuff, how good is the rest?
On the brighter side, the hardware kit was easy to use and the wire to pull the bolts and washers into the frame worked very well. Even though the instructions showed the wrong locations for the factory nut strip. It was the first time I have installed a receiver on a Jeep that didn't already have the nut strip (on both sides). Cherokees with only a tailpipe hanger but no tank shield or receiver only have the nut strip on the passanger side. The instructions show the strip and hardware to be on the driver side.
Also, this hitch is very heavy and I didn't have a helper that day, so I rested one side on a jack stand while I got the hardware started on the other side. No problem. And where the bumper had to be notched, you can only see it from underneath. But I used a skirt of spray bed liner to prevent rust to the bumper. Mopar Rust Penetrant MS-3613 a few days ahead of time helps to get the tailpipe free from the hanger bracket and make room to get a tool on the nut strip bolt.
Been a year with it installed on the xj, no complaints fit perfect and does the job, have a buddy to help otherwise it'll be a pain to install
The product is constructed for heavy duty long life. The welds are perfect with attention to detail. I purchased the Curt brand because of the added weight rating and tongue weight rating. I had a problem with a weld nut on the passenger side and Rebecca in customer service was outstanding with her support! George and Rebecca shipped out additional parts to me right away and provided me with a video on how to work around the problem. I have nothing bad to say about my experience. This is the second hitch that I have purchased from eteailer and I will be getting a third for our Volvo XC real soon. Even with the weld nut issue if you have an air compressor and impact sockets you can install the hitch in under an hour. I did not have an extra set of hands, I am disabled so I built a rack out of scrap 2x4's and plywood and used my floor jack to raise the hitch and hold it into place.
this is open a 2000 cherokee sport The back hitch was great went right up and all was nice fit just don't take off the bumpier the hitch hides the nuts and make it even harder to get off and on same with the front hitch and you can't put the bottom piece on but of then that it went right up the times they have are after you take the bolts and nuts off and clean it all then you can put them in at that time I broke two in the front and one in the back I had to weld a nut on to them to get them out
P.S. the wiring harness is a must have very clean instill with it no cut wires I love that
Surprisingly fast shipping during this pandemic. Once we got it my son and I had it installed in about an hour. He can't wait to tow our offroad trailer. Thanks for such great service and a great product.
David C.
4/9/2021
Spectacular!
This is my second hitch from etrailer. Simple installs with the instructions and supplied mounting hardware. This time I got a hitch and ball mount kit and it couldn't have been any easier. The different ball mount drops fit my trailers nicely.
It was a while before getting the hitch on my Jeep as I decided to get the Jeep painted first. A nice fit, the hitch bolted up easily. (first replacing the 23 year old nuts). I mostly tow a light canoe trailer.
When I bought my 96 XJ it had everything I wanted, except tow package. The Curt receiver & Curt wiring harness are excellent products. Thanks etrailer.com
The product was delivered and assembled as advertised. It was very helpful to have the video instruction in addition to the paper instructions. My wife and I just moved across the country and carried 2 bikes on a bike carrier off the hitch and we had no complaints.
Very solid product.
I received the hitch very quickly and decided not to wait for a second set of hands to help me install it. I don't have access to a lift, so I just back the Jeep up onto a set of ramps, which gave me plenty of room to work. The bolt leader made the install go pretty smoothly and I just supported the hitch on a set of jack stands. Easy enough to line up the bolts. 40 minute install time might be a little misleading... I'd say give yourself a good 90 minutes just in case you run into any snags.
Watching the install video was very helpful as well.
I also purchased the wiring harness and that was also an easy install.
Great product... fast shipping... fairly simple install... one happy customer. THANKS!
Easy bolt on for my Jeep Cherokee. Followed the instructions on a you tube video and even with a broken shoulder it was a piece of cake. All the hardware was high quality along with the hitch. I would recommend etrailer to anyone looking for great friendly service!
The Trailer hitch fit perfectly on my 1988 Jeep Wagoneer. It replaced the old rusted out trailer hitch. The old hitch was awful to get off but the new hitch went on very easy
The hitch fit perfectly.However I had to modify one of the flat washers because the frame hole location was out a 1/4 inch.
The video makes it look easy with a hoist,but doing the install in my driveway was much more complicated.took 3 hours for the install
Looks great
Great product,received super quick,installation was a snap had all the hardware needed.very happy with purchase highly recommend this company from the site purchase thru delivery process and finally follow up!!
If not for missing hardware, the hitch matched frame holes perfectly. I contacted Kelly on 4/14/2023 for the additional hardware needed to complete hitch installation. Waiting on hardware. Hoping the rest of the install goes without any MORE problems…would have awarded 5 stars if not for missing hardware. Hardware needed in supplied hardware package is NOT available at Home Depot or Lowe’s..
Other than the rusty bolts on my Jeep, this was a pretty straight forward install. I even did it by myself in my driveway at night with a flashlight.
This hitch seems pretty sturdy and well built. etrailer placed a product video on several different hitches for my model with was very helpful in my decision. Easy to install and connected fine. It was very easy to find this part when I entered my vehicle information. The video's on how to install were spot on.
Had bought a Reese universal fit from a local pars store….wasn’t a big fan of the way it fit and hung down. Ordered a Curt it was a direct fit, so much better
Easy install the fishing wire saved my day!
Very well made. Good Hardware. Fit was good. Online instructions were a plus. But installation needs two people. I installed it myself laying on my back but it was heavy and awkward to lift and align and I needed a set of extra hands several times. I am 6'4 and 250 lbs...yet had difficulty. A smaller person cannot install this hitch them self without help.
The hardest part was replacing the original Jeep nut straps inside the frame rails. The originals were badly corroded resulting in the welds of the nuts breaking allowing the bolts to turn and not allowing removal. As a result I had to remove the rear valance, rear bumper and bumper mounting brackets and access the nut straps from the rear of the frame rails. They can be a considerable challenge to remove. After cutting / grinding off the frozen bolts from the bottom...the original nut straps were removed and new straps were ordered. It was no fault of the trailer hitch that the mounting nut rails were so corroded...but it was the most difficult, time consuming hitch installation I have ever done. Not counting the time necessary to order the replacement nut straps...actual installation took over six hours....so be forewarned. Had my 99 XJ not been so rusty and had the original nut straps been in good condition...the installation could have been done in a an hour. Inspect your Jeep before installation and be sure to have replacement nut straps on hand if the originals are rusty, damaged or missing. I first tried to repair and re-thread the original nut straps...but they were too badly damaged.
Just order replacements.
The nut straps are called "Sill Reinforcement Brackets" and the part numbers are left side : #52001175, right side : #52001174. They are present in many XJ Cherokees from the factory from 1984-2001. But some Jeeps may not have them depending on original options. They were about $22 each and well worth the additional cost. Installation of the hitch without them would have been 10x more difficult.
Kerry O.
1/31/2018
Hitch has been bulletproof. Have received a number of compliments on how solid the hitch looks. Only problem is related to the design of the Jeep Cherokee and not the hitch itself. But to do any service to the fuel pump or the anti drain back valve on top of the fuel tank...the tank has to be removed from the vehicle. This requires that the hitch must first be removed...and as pointed out previously...reinstalling the hitch is a two man job. If the design of the hitch would allow fuel tank removal without removing the hitch first....I would give the hitch a perfect score.
Mike L.
1/31/2018
Helpful Links
Ordered the hitch and wiring on Friday at lunch and it was on my porch Tuesday at 2:00 pm.
My suggestions are as follows and may reflect others comments.
I regard the following tools as mandatory: an 18mm six point socket for the tailpipe bracket support with an 18 to 24 inch breaker bar, a 12mm x 1.75 tap and 2 good safety stands minimum. Safety glasses too, and remember to chock the front wheels.
The first thing to attack is the bracket. Prior to this chase 1 or 2 of the right hand holes with the tap and some cutting oil if you have it. Use one of the bolts in the kit to hold the nut plate in the frame tube in place. Go after the bracket bolt directly from the rear of the vehicle. If you decide to loosen the front bracket bolt it may be easier to remove the right rear wheel to get better access to it. After bolt removal chase the remaining involved holes with the tap. On the left side use a die grinder or round file
to extend the 2nd hole from the rear about 3/16 to 1/4 forward to give space for pulling the block forward far enough for the carriage bolt head to feed in from the rear due the the back rail
extending upward and limiting access. Place your blocks and carriage bolts, figure out a way to get the hitch up against the frame and use 2 nuts on adjacent holes to hold up the left side.
Go to the right side and put in the 4 bolts loosely. The 2 bolts placed close together on the left give a greater amount of wiggle room to locate the right. Place all nuts and washers on the left side, check placement of hitch and tighten down. If happy, torque them all down and you're good to go.
It will take longer then 30 minutes.
Steve F.
7/18/2016
Hitch works fine and its nice to have one rated for 5000 lbs. even if not needed. No substitute for sturdy.
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David G.
3/1/2024
It’s been a year, hard to believe time is flying. The hitch works great, used it quite a bit last year towing, no issues, even though I have a bolt not lining up, but that’s the XJ, not the hitch. I would definitely recommend this hitch from etrailer.