Mounting Bolt Placement When Installing Draw-Tite Front Mounted Receiver 65048 on 2006 Jeep Wrangler

Question:

I see the instructions say this is mounted using one bumper bolt and one bolt to the sway bar. What happens to the second bumper bolt? Is it omitted? I figure Jeep had a reason for two bolts per side of the bumper.

asked by: Charles K

Helpful Expert Reply:

That's a valid question. I just got done conferring with my contact in Tech Services at Draw-Tite, and he confirmed that the second or rearward bumper bolt is indeed omitted. The front mounted receiver's mounting flange provides more than enough reinforcement that the middle bolt isn't necessary. The height difference between the top of the frame member and the top of the bumper beam requires that 3 stacked round washers be used under the hitch mounting flange and one block washer atop the flange. This block washer would obstruct that middle bolt hole anyway.

expert reply by: Mike L