[Jakevenom]

Hi All,
Quick question- I have a MOPAR Trailer Hitch and a 2007 Nitro… Hitch is currently installed and works fine but goes over the spare tyre cavity. Just wondering if it would be safe to move the hitch forward and only use 4 of the 6 bolts provided so the spare fits again? Any help much appreciated!

 

[2ndgen]

Odd. The factory hitch is supposed to fit a full size spare.
The part number I have for the receiver is 82210266.
Also odd is that the hitch label on yours says it's for both the Dodge Nitro (KA) and the Jeep Liberty (KK) (branded as Jeep Cherokee outside the US). AFAIK, the JL and Nitro had different part numbers for the receiver due to some minor differences...? Maybe not?

 

[Jakevenom]

Odd. The factory hitch is supposed to fit a full size spare.
The part number I have for the receiver is 82210266.
Also odd is that the hitch label on yours says it's for both the Dodge Nitro (KA) and the Jeep Liberty (KK) (branded as Jeep Cherokee outside the US). AFAIK, the JL and Nitro had different part numbers for the receiver due to some minor differences...? Maybe not?

Yeah it’s weird. Originally I deflated the spare and was able to squeeze it up there with a lot of effort and help with a crow bar but it would always protrude. If I bring it forward and just don’t use the 2 front bolts, it would fit as I very rarely tow anything, Just want to make sure it’s safe enough…

 

[2ndgen]

Well if you rarely tow, why not just take it off entirely until you actually need to tow something--then put the spare on the trailer when you do...?

 

[Nitrogen]

as a general rule the Liberty KK hitch does not fit the Nitro without making some mods, the chassis of the Liberty and Nitro are slightly different, the fact that your hitch as been made to fit both the KA and the KK is where the problem lies,
another forum member "metaldog" i think, bought a secondhand Liberty hitch and came across several issues when installing it,

depends on how much you need to move it back, there looks like there is room to drill 3 new holes on each side, or maybe take it to a welder and ask them to extend it slightly should be fairly easy,

but to be on the safe side i would not move it forward and leave out the 2 rear bolts,

 

[Metaldog]

as a general rule the Liberty KK hitch does not fit the Nitro without making some mods, the chassis of the Liberty and Nitro are slightly different, the fact that your hitch as been made to fit both the KA and the KK is where the problem lies,
another forum member "metaldog" i think, bought a secondhand Liberty hitch and came across several issues when installing it,

depends on how much you need to move it back, there looks like there is room to drill 3 new holes on each side, or maybe take it to a welder and ask them to extend it slightly should be fairly easy,

but to be on the safe side i would not move it forward and leave out the 2 rear bolts,

^^^this^^^
@Nitrogen is correct. I did post a thread on it as I picked up a hitch from a salvage yard off of a Liberty for $25.

It was a close fit, but I ended up with the same issue of the spare not fitting. Ultimately, I scraped the idea and bought the correct hitch and wiring off of Amazon.

After all was said & done I had a perfectly working hitch for around $150.

$25 trailer hitch!