Tow hook and hitch

[minimedic]

I'm looking to buy these for my '06. However, the prices that I'm comming up with are all over the place:

Mopar: Front hooks $101, Back hitch $183 (no wiring)
Carquest: Front $20, Back $150 (no wire, ball extra) -$215 (w/wire)
4 Wheel Parts: Front $6-10, Back $209 (no wire)
4 Wheel Parts (online): Tublar hitch '02-'04 - $149.95, is there a big difference from '04-'06?
Desert Rat: Hitch $250

Called a few other local stores & pretty much the same as far as prices all over. The one thing I did notice was that they all said that the front hooks "you might have to drill a hole, but it works just fine on the other jeeps". Also, most places had "universal" hitches. Are these compatable with the libby's and how easy is it to install???

Need these before Aug 18. Thanks for the help!!

 

[rkeegstra]

JParts has the Mopar front tow hooks for 83.27:

http://jparts.com/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=218&osCsid=776f0fef4f07af56d4117188b27e7cd7

They are easy to install on an '06. No drilling or anything, just bolt on. I don't know if you want to go with a "generic" front tow hook that requires cutting and pasting.

Hitches get complicated. I can personally recommend the DrawTite 75128 ($150 from etrailer), but you will need a tow wiring harness thing, and they come in two flavors - four wire or seven wire. Seven is better but more expensive ($110 vs. $76 or so). Oh wait, that's if you have the overhead console, otherwise it's a whole different story. Are you confused yet? It took me a couple of weeks to get all the data together when I put mine in.

If you're going to put in a hitch and a gas tank skid, do yourself a favor and do them at the same time.

But front tow hooks, no question. And easy for the '06.

Russ

 

[minimedic]

Hitches get complicated. I can personally recommend the DrawTite 75128 ($150 from etrailer), but you will need a tow wiring harness thing, and they come in two flavors - four wire or seven wire. Seven is better but more expensive ($110 vs. $76 or so). Oh wait, that's if you have the overhead console, otherwise it's a whole different story.

If you're going to put in a hitch and a gas tank skid, do yourself a favor and do them at the same time.Russ

SO why does it matter if you have a overhead console in your vehicle just to put a hitch in on the rear??? As far as the wiring goes, since I'm not pulling anything (yet), figured I'd go ahead and get the hitch & then I can put the wiring in at a later date, right???

With gas tank skid, can I do that w/the hitch and not have to do the others just yet?
And yup, I'm confused... but can I use the "I'm just a girl " card as my excuse for being confused!?! LOL!

 

[Corwyyn]

SO why does it matter if you have a overhead console in your vehicle just to put a hitch in on the rear??? As far as the wiring goes, since I'm not pulling anything (yet), figured I'd go ahead and get the hitch & then I can put the wiring in at a later date, right???

I think it has to do with having the tow package with the brake controller for a trailer, and the main concern is with the wiring, not the hitch itself. If you get a Class III hitch you should be fine, if you really need to tow a 5,000 trailer at some future time it'd probably be cheaper to rent a truck for the job...

I bought my hitch at U-haul a couple of years ago for $125, and got the $17 4-pin connector which they installed for free!

With gas tank skid, can I do that w/the hitch and not have to do the others just yet?
And yup, I'm confused... but can I use the "I'm just a girl " card as my excuse for being confused!?! LOL!

You could, and like Russ said if you are planning on getting the tank skid anyway then this would be the best time since you could install both and not have to worry about dropping the hitch later to do the skid. I installed my rear hitch by myself and I'm kinda dreading the day when I'll need to drop it to install a tank skid we'll let you get away with the 'just a girl' thing until you get your first battle scar on the Jeep; after that it'll be 'you should know this by now'

 

[rkeegstra]

Since your immediate need is for a recovery point at the rear of the Libertad then yes, just put the physical hitch receiver on and you can worry about all the wiring decisions later.

A full set of skids and front tow hooks and a hitch install - that's a casual three or four man-hours. Or one really frantic man-hour .

 

[Atrus]

FYI, I have an '07 with the trailer tow package from the factory and I don't have the EVIC.

 

[o8k]

what all does the tow package include for the Libby? and is there a ****** radiator somewhere in the deal? I read somewhere that all the CRD's came w/ the tow package but didnt advertise it for some reason. not sure if thats true.

The hitch in the back for towing is allways a good idea, but for a recovery point from the front... Ive seen a variety of ideas out there on this, alternatives that seemed fairly cheap and functional. may be worth investigating. people have found a variety of d-rings and cheap bolt ons for the front bumper that act as recovery points that may work ok. But then again, im not the "expert" in recovery =) My idea of recovery is Towing someone out of a jam not yanking. So as far as that goes, maybe these things people have done are not good i dont know. too much info? unfortunately i have only data to bring to the table, not answers, but if the data helps, yay =)


I would look em up for you on lost but my internet isnt hooked up at my house yet and ive been internet'ing ovr my cell phone, which ISNT fast so my researching is limited as it would take me forever.

 

[MoladoGuy]

You don't need to have an overhead to have trailer brakes on the Liberty. I am planning on wiring up the Class III hitch I have and will go the 7-pin route. As for installing the hitch/skid, do it at the same time! I have yet to install a gas tank skid and will have to go through installing my hitch again. I should have played it smart and install it all together, but I was too excited to install the hitch.

 

[cowcatcher]

An alternative for front hooks is a front hitch. I put a Drawtite on mine which some say is no longer available but the Hidden Hitch brand still is. Installation is more difficult but you have other options with the hitch like a front, hitch mount winch, bike rack, etc. Cost is only a little more than retail on the hooks.

If you are sure you want the hooks but are not in a hurry then watch the members sales area here and at www.LOSTKJS.com. In my short Liberty life it seems to me that a large number of owners start out with hooks and change to something else later making used hooks readily available.

 

[rkeegstra]

This is the place you want to start reading about hitches n wiring n stuff, if you haven't read it already:

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/showpost.php?p=247554&postcount=1