Dayton3456

So I’m trying to remove the original trailer hitch to put on a new bumper but this metal plate with 3 torx bolts looks like the only way it can be removed is with a grinder, am I missing something?

XJlimitedx99

Looks like you could just get a shorter torx bit, no? Or use the torx bit by itself with a wrench on the shank rather than the ratchet on the drive end? You gotta figure someone got that on at one point, presumably without an angle grinder.

Dayton3456

i’ll have to take another look but I remember thinking that it looks like the bolt is as long or longer so unless it had a hex head where I could use a crescent? I don’t see how I could do it, what I think they did is I think they just had the torque spit in to hold it and they tightened the nut then welded it after

andjones

From what I can see in the FSM is that the bolts you want to remove are not part of the stock hitch. The hitch is only attached to the frame rails.

RockyMtn96XJ

I took mine off and only removed like 8-10 bolts on the underside of the "frame rail". No torx, just regular 5/8" or something. But my hitch could be aftermarket also. I dont know... previous owner may have put it in. I have a brake controller also. Sounds aftermarket to me.... 96 Sport. I dont remember asking him when I bought it 5 years ago.

Dayton3456

thank you, yeah I wasn’t sure and looking at other peoples videos there’s no mention of it, looks like the previous guy put it in and for some reason welded the bolts, just don’t wanna weaken my stock towing capacity, I just grinded it off