I’ve been searching for a after market rear bumper and tire carrier that lets me use my Curt trailer hitch any suggestions?
Rear Bumpers
- Thread starter TimC
- Start date
I think most of the ones you're going to find that are bumper / tire carrier combo's will come with a hitch also. Any reason you want to keep your existing hitch ?
X2, especially since bolt-on receiver hitches like that are notorious for dragging on the ground/reducing ground clearance when offroad. I ran that type of hitch on my then-new 1997 TJ but removed it when I started offroading and went with a bumper with an integrated receiver hitch.
Bumpers with integrated receiver hitches are significantly better if you offroad. Check these American made rear bumpers out, they can be ordered with a spare tire carrier. I've installed two of their rear bumpers and their quality and strength is outstanding. https://www.thedirtworx.com/gallery?lightbox=dataItem-ksz75vob2
This is my current Dirtworx rear bumper with integrated receiver hitch, you can see it does not reduce ground clearance.
KD Fabworks down by Vancouver, WA makes one also
https://www.kdfabworks.com/TJ-Rear-Bumper-with-Tire-Carrier_p_62.html
https://www.kdfabworks.com/TJ-Rear-Bumper-with-Tire-Carrier_p_62.html
Thanks for the quick feedback. I’m not dead set on keeping the hitch just looking at options And Just trying to make use of what I already have, and trying to decide how deep i want to get into the jeep.
Thants for the links I’ll look into those some more but first impression a little rich for what I’m looking to do. Any other suggestions out there with or without an integrated hitch?
Thants for the links I’ll look into those some more but first impression a little rich for what I’m looking to do. Any other suggestions out there with or without an integrated hitch?
An aftermarket bumper with tire carriershould work with the Curt tow hitch. However, the built in tire carriers suck. They rattle, they wear out, they’re cumbersome. A MoRyde system is better. Then you can either keep your stock bumper and Curt receiver hitch, or Smittybilt sells a nice bumper with an integrated receiver for $200.
I wouldn't say tire carriers suck, but yes, they can rattle and it can get old having to open one more door every time you want to get into the rear of the vehicle. But the ability to carry additional gear, fuel, water, whatever back there can be beneficial given your use case.
I've got one of those Dirtworx bumpers Jerry linked and I've been very happy with how it has held up to abuse and how it has allowed me to carry jerry cans of water in a spot that would not be used for anything else. But ya, the other 95% of the time the extra step of opening the tire carrier is a definite con.
We have this one on the Rubican, works great.
No bumper change so you can use you Curt Hitch.
https://orfab.com/collections/tire-carriers/products/85201-jeep-tj-tire-carrier
No bumper change so you can use you Curt Hitch.
https://orfab.com/collections/tire-carriers/products/85201-jeep-tj-tire-carrier
I had one similar to this on my old 82' Scrambler. It was attached to the body. Not a good idea for the Scrambler, as it had seems at the corners. 35" tires and two jerry cans was asking alot, and it started to come apart at those seems.
you/friend have some fab skills? this cost me nearly nothing with the exception of buying the frame reinforcement bracket. modified a tune receiving hitch and then "skinned" with the oem bumper. The 33" spare just kisses the top of it so the bumper is taking a bit of the weight off the factory tire mount. Just another way around the barn.
Thanks for all the input. JustDandee I like what you did but I thank I’m going to look more into the MORryde, I’m going up to 31” 10.50‘s and just want to be able to carry a full size spare without doing any damage to the tailgate.
I went the morryde route because my stock hinges were really stiff to open the tailgate and I knew I was going up to a 35" tyre.
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