Front Tow Hitch Receiver w/ D-Ring Shackle Tabs (HEAVY DUTY) for Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ 1999 - 2004, Grand Cherokee WK 2005 - 2010, Jeep Commander XK 2006 - 2010 (fits CRD and Gasoline Models)
The Idea: To have a removable winch mounted to a tow receiver plate with solid D-Rings attachments. Recessed design, low overhang with minimal approach angle loss. To be mounted behind factory bumpers. The front tow receiver has many uses and comes in quite useful. 100% Bolt On.
In Summary as stated by a fellow Jeeper, "You guys just put all front tow hitch manufacturer's to shame with this product". It's probably true.
Our WJ and WK, XK Front Tow Hitch Receiver w/ Shackle Tabs are built with A572 Grade-50 steel which is also used in building beams. It's welded to 1/4" plates and two 1/4" thick gussets. The Center tube is a 2" x 2" by .188 wall thickness. We weld MULTI-pass on all contact points of the 3/4" shackle tab plate. Mounted to your frame rails with Grade-8 hardware and frame sandwich plates which are also 1/4" thick. Take Recovery Seriously!!!
(WJ) The mounting plate is constructed from 1/4" Plate and has three mounting holes to the underside of the WJ's uni-body frame-rail. Mounts to factory holes, no drilling required. Minor grinding required under uni-body frame-rail. To mount behind Limited bumpers you must cut off the two center plastic pieces to amke enough room for the 2" receiver.
(WK and XK) The mounting plate is constructed from 1/4" Plate and has four mounting holes to the underside of the WK's/XK's uni-body frame-rail. Mounts to three factory holes plus one additional hole deep back into the frame-rail, one hole drilling required per side.
The Shackle Tab is constructed of 3/4" thick x 7" length Grade-50 Steel and is welded to the 1/4" plate all around with two gussets on the side. The shackle tab has a 7/8"" hole for D-Ring Shackles. These are the same shackle tabs we use on our winch mounts and bumpers.
Grade 50 is a high strength, low alloy steel that finds its best application where there is need for more strength per unit of weight. Less of this material is needed to fulfill given strength requirements than is necessary with regular carbon steels.
Grade 50 is used in general plate applications when the plate will be riveted, bolted, or welded. Grade 50 is a Columbium-Vanadium steel that offers a minimum yield of 50,000 PSI. In addition, ASTM A572 Grade 50 is noted for its increased resistance to atmospheric corrosion. Grade 50 contains more alloying elements than plain carbon steel and thus is somewhat more difficult to form. Grade 50 is more difficult to cold work, but can be successfully bent or shaped but requires more force than plain carbon steel.
ASTM A572 Grade 50 is considered a "workhorse" grade and is widely used in many applications. Steel mills produce channel and heavy beams with Grade 50. It is commonly used in structural applications, heavy construction equipment, building structures, heavy duty anchoring systems, truck frames, poles, liners, conveyors, boom sections, structural steel shapes, and applications that require high strength per weight ratio.
Hardware:
All required Grade-8 mounting hardware is included. Shackle Tabs arrive as a pair.
Finish:
Arrives Bare Steel.
Installation:
Very simple. Bolt on application - See video
For WJ - Remove factory bumper fascia, grind down small sheet-metal lip under uni-body frame rail, install Front Tow Receiver and frame rail mounting plates, reinstall bumper fascia. Grinding required, no drilling required.
For WK/XK - Remove factory bumper fascia, install Front Tow Receiver Kit and frame rail backing plate using three nuts and bolts in factory holes, drill a 3/8" hole for the fourth mounting location deep back on the frame rail. Reinstall bumper fascia. Drilling required. No grinding or cutting necessary.