Towing and Hitches

[BluPhant]

So I'm going to have to break in my hitch sometime soon. In order to do that, I'm gonna hve to get something to throw in the hole.

Jeep has the ball mount kit (2" rise, 3 1/4" drop) p/n 82207716 for $33.00. I'd still have to get a ball.

An all-inclusive kit is available from U-Haul

You must be registered for see images

which includes pretty much everything I'd need for $40.

Soooo my question is this. Do I need to get a longer ball mount thing to clear the spare? The specs are the same as the jeep one, which is what they recommend for the liberty. I'm reading articles about people using extenders or getting longer mounts.... just wondering if this is something I'm gonna need to do.

Tnx much

-Blu

 

[SRotblat]

which hitch do you have? the OE one will require a 14" ball mount to extend beyond the spare, my Draw-Tite only needed 10.5" (hitch neck extends back more..)

 

[BluPhant]

U-Haul tubular. I think I'd need something similar to get it beyond the spare, but my question is do I really have to care? I'll be towing a u-haul trailer for now. If it doesnt totally clear the spare, does it really matter?

I just cant seem to find something that long without being custom fabricated. I have neither the time nor $ to do that.

Tnx for input!!!!

-Blu

 

[SRotblat]

I got my 10.5" ball mount from Drawtite-hitches.com, and I've seen the 14s I think on etrailer.com.

No you dont need a longer ball mount to extend beyond the spare. in most cases mounting the trailer and/or the trailer itself will clear the spare tire. There are cases where if there is something mounted close to the end of the tongue of the trailer it might make contact wtih te spare. The folks a uhaul should allow you to test to make sure before you buy if your concerned.

 

[BluPhant]

Rock on.. thats what I'd figured. Gonna have to do the electrical soon... have an opportunity to get some really nice furniture for almost nothing, but I have to move it myself, and soon.

-Blu

 

[04RkMtnKJ]

I towed a trailer the other day using the redeiver that my brother uses for his Cherokee. The thing that i ran into was getting the trailer on and off. The lock on the toungue that sticks up would hit my tire and if i tried to push it down a little to clear the tire the lock wouldnt allow the the ball in. I ended up having to pull the receiver out attaching it to the toungue and then sliding back in which wasnt that big of a deal when the trailer was empty but I can imagine trying to do it full.

Now that I know that a 14" will work better I am going to have to start shopping around for one of those.

 

[grogiefrog]

You guys make me want to tow! Dang it, no tow package... sad2.gif

 

[SRotblat]

mine doesnt have the "tow package" either but I tow. I added a Draw-Tite hitch ane their T-One wiring. I've towed 4 times hefty loads, twice ~5klbs (car on uhaul auto transport trailer) and twice a car on a uhaul dolly.