Pintle Hitch with 6 Inch Rise to Clear Spare Tire on a Jeep Liberty

Question:

Hi there, We have just purchased a small travel trailer that is around 1500lbs dry, it is also equipped with a pintle lunette ring hitch. I suppose this hitch is a bit of overkill, Im assuming that it was included because this is an off-road jeep style travel trailer. Anyway, the trailers level hitch height is 21in, my Jeep Libertys hitch height is 15in when measured from the middle of the hitch pin hole. I was looking on your site for a compatible pintle mount. It would normally be easy, however I have an externally mounted spare tire, that would interfere with any hitch higher than 20 in. So I need a mount with a long shank. Here are some measurements Vehicles factory hitch is a normal 2in receiver. From the middle of the vehicles hitch pin hole to the ground is 15in. From the middle of the hitch pin hole to a straight edge on the outside of the spare tire is 12in. It would seem I need a shank length of 12 or 12.5in. and if you flip the pintle mount from to raise I would need 6 or 6.5in /raise to come to the 21in hitch height of the trailer. Do you have any mounts that fit this application or have any other suggestions? Thank you.

asked by: Jonathan M

Expert Reply:

Given the low weight of the trailer you might be able to use an extension such as # HE06 since none of the pintle mounts will come out far enough to clear the spare tire on your Jeep Liberty. However, the use of an extender will reduce the tongue weight capacity of the hitch by 50 percent. As long as the tongue weight does not exceed the reduced tongue weight it will work.

You could use a pintle hook mount, # 63058, with pintle hitch # C48205.

If that will not work, then the easiest solution is to remove the spare tire and stow it elsewhere. Or, if the lunette ring is bolted on the trailer and not welded on you could just install a coupler in its place.

expert reply by: Michael H