Hi All. My cousin just bought a "new" old '89 YJ Wrangler recently. It has a Curt Manufacturing 2" hitch on it (#S015). I've toyed with the idea of replacing it with a more substantial aftermarket bumper with recovery points (shackles) built in. Nothing fancy, just something basic and beefier for potential recovery purposes. But I've run into a couple problems with the old hitch.
It's attached with 8 bolts vertically, 4 on either side. It also has 1 bolt on either side that attaches under the hitch, bolting up into the bolt holes under the frame.
The left side bolt is snapped off with some portion of the bolt still threaded in the bolt hole. I'm guessing I'd have to attempt to drill and use an extractor to try to get that bolt piece out. I've never had to do that before but I see no other option.
Perhaps the bigger issue is the right side. It still has the bolt in place. Although it's almost snug it turns freely with a minimum of effort. That leads me to believe the welded nut inside the frame has broken loose and that's why the bolt turns freely.
I could cut the bolt off but I have no idea how I might be able to fasten another bolt on that side of the bumper. I'm assuming the nut inside was tack welded on the inside of the frame hole (at the factory?) to accept bolts and hold the nut in place so a bolt could be tightened.
I see no way to access the inside of the frame in hopes of having another nut welded (?) in place. I know nothing is impossible and I can't believe I'm the only owner to have faced this dilemma. But I'm stumped on how to remedy this issue. I'm hoping the vast experience reflected in this forum might be able to point me towards a solution. At this point I'm willing to just keep the old hitch. But it, as well as any other hitch/bumper I might replace it with, will be in jeopardy it I can't address this issue.
Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions you may have.
It's attached with 8 bolts vertically, 4 on either side. It also has 1 bolt on either side that attaches under the hitch, bolting up into the bolt holes under the frame.
The left side bolt is snapped off with some portion of the bolt still threaded in the bolt hole. I'm guessing I'd have to attempt to drill and use an extractor to try to get that bolt piece out. I've never had to do that before but I see no other option.
Perhaps the bigger issue is the right side. It still has the bolt in place. Although it's almost snug it turns freely with a minimum of effort. That leads me to believe the welded nut inside the frame has broken loose and that's why the bolt turns freely.
I could cut the bolt off but I have no idea how I might be able to fasten another bolt on that side of the bumper. I'm assuming the nut inside was tack welded on the inside of the frame hole (at the factory?) to accept bolts and hold the nut in place so a bolt could be tightened.
I see no way to access the inside of the frame in hopes of having another nut welded (?) in place. I know nothing is impossible and I can't believe I'm the only owner to have faced this dilemma. But I'm stumped on how to remedy this issue. I'm hoping the vast experience reflected in this forum might be able to point me towards a solution. At this point I'm willing to just keep the old hitch. But it, as well as any other hitch/bumper I might replace it with, will be in jeopardy it I can't address this issue.
Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions you may have.