Welded nuts in rear crossmember - what for?

[JS114]

My neighbor has an '04 LX with the integrated hitch, which I'm jealous of. I have an aftermarket hitch on my '01 and hate how it looks and how low it hangs. I was poking around today and see that I have the four welded nuts on the back of my rear cross member, but no 2x2 hole for the insert to go in and my bumper cover is solid. What gives? Was some accessory offered that would have bolted up to the rear bumper? Can the bumper cover be replaced with one with the cutout and a hole cut in the cross member?

You can see the top driver's side nut in this picture. There another below it and two more on the other side.

Here's someone else's picture showing the four bolt holes hidden under the bumper cover.

 

[hoser]

No, you can't use the integrated hitch. But you can install a pintle hook...

 

[Greenbean]

Love me some pintle hook action!

Wish I could find a bumper with the cut out to match my rig I'd swap in a heartbeat!

 

[Lucky Strike]

Wait, so the cross bar on the 01 can handle a 4 bolt on hitch if we trim the rear bumper? Are the cross bars the same between 99-02 and 03 up besides the hole for the integrated hitch?

Put this on and be able to tow?
Convert-A-Ball Pintle Hook Combo with 3 Stainless Steel Balls - Bolt On - 25,000 lbs Convert-A-Ball Pintle Hitch PH1

..There's about to be a hitch for sale