I have a 98 XLT and just had my hitch bolts upgraded from a 2000 recall for insufficent hitch bolts. I'm no mechanic but after looking at the before and after the new bolts are much larger. My hitch is bolted on also not welded. After reading this forum and sufing around the net there has actually been hitch's that have come undone or extremely loose while towing. I would look into the recall!