need to tow with my LJ..whats the best off the shelf option?

[BIGdaddy]

i could go with a bumper mounted deal or keep my tin bumper and
go with as low a profile hitch as possible...

i can drill through metal very well, but i'm not a welder


what say you? what I'd like to do is get a garvin bumper without swingaway and eventually get the whole setup, but i don't know if can buy seperately.


thanks, all.

BTW, is a 2004 LJ unlimited.

 

[RedDog]

I just put a DrawTite hitch on my TJ last week primarily to mount a bicycle rack. The thing's frame mounted and you practically can't see it. Maybe overkill for a bicycle but I continue to ponder thoughts of some form of tent trailer down the road.

 

[gabe]

If your look at a lot of the aftermarket bumpers out there, make sure you ask if thier hitch is really for towing alot will say no. The only reason I can see to go with a bumper with a receiver built in is for departure angles when wheeling. I have a stock hitch and I’ve come down on it pretty hard but it hasn’t yet hurt me while wheeling in fact it’s probably prevented damage. And if you go with a hidden hitch or a Draw Tite like Reddog suggested I think you’ll feel better when towing and for me at least (my xj is on 34’s) the hitch saves me about two inches in a drop hitch which would be a 8” drop and I don’t know if one is made. I know I know time to lit the trailer.

 

[BIGdaddy]

great thanks, guys. thats the way i'll go, then...

one question, do i have to lose the stock tow point on the left?

if so, is a reciever mounted d-ring ok on these?

 

[1speed]

I'm using an Olympic bumper. Very stout and reasonably priced, Also adds some protection the stock sheet metal bumper just can't provide.

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=19569&d=1212785854

 

[Azlugz]

I have the stock factory hitch on my LJ and it is great, protects my tank from some of the rocks too!!! And yes, I usually have a ring in it for a recovery point and hve pulled a Super Duty thru the rocks with no trouble.

If you decide to go with an aftermarket bumper and use the receiver tube in it, be warned that 90% of the bumpers on the market advise against towing with them. They are designed as a recovery point and NOT a tow point. yea yea, a lot of people are going to say that if it can handle recovery it can handle towing but you are loading and stressing them completely different and most bumpers with a Recovery receiver in them will crack when used in towing due to the excessive vibration and jaring of a trailer and due to the downward force from the tongue weight that they were not designed to handle. You will also hear "I have done it for years" and a friend of mine said that till his broke. This is not assumed information, this is first hand knowledge, take it for what its worth!

 

[roadkill]

also many bumper manufacturers will put a disclaimer against towing as they have not been DOT certified for towing use. it seems it costs quit a bit of money to get certified and many choose not to cause of either financial costs to certify and/or liability issues. just repeating what I've been told.

I use an A to Z fabrication bumper/tire carrier with frame tie ins and have had zero issues in the 4 years that I've used that setup. its on its second jeep now, very stout and worth the money.

 

[RedDog]

great thanks, guys. thats the way i'll go, then...

one question, do i have to lose the stock tow point on the left?

if so, is a reciever mounted d-ring ok on these?

Indeed, both my rear tow hooks were removed by the hitch shop. Odd that they didn't even mention them. I'd given them no thought whatsoever and simply found them in the back of the Jeep later. Clearly neither side was compatible with the DrawTite on a TJ. Now I've got the slickest bike rack I've ever seen (SportRack) but no rear tow points. It never ends.

http://www.sportrack.com/a30901

 

[PhulesAU]

If you look at the Q-tech catalog, they carry Highrock rear bumpers that ARE rated for towing. pretty decent for aftermarket stuff. 2 recovery points and takes rock rash well.

 

[robert j. yates]

also many bumper manufacturers will put a disclaimer against towing as they have not been DOT certified for towing use. it seems it costs quit a bit of money to get certified and many choose not to cause of either financial costs to certify and/or liability issues. just repeating what I've been told.

I use an A to Z fabrication bumper/tire carrier with frame tie ins and have had zero issues in the 4 years that I've used that setup. its on its second jeep now, very stout and worth the money.

Thats pretty much it right there....I have frame tie-ins as well as a reinforced rear crossmember so I am not worried about my high clearance bumper also being used as a tow point. Just to be on the safe side, I also modified my bumper with additional internal reinforcement and a triangulated gusset tothe receiver tube. I didn't want to lose my clearance with a frame mounted hitch.

Also...given the realistic vs actual rated towing capacity of TJ's, its not like you will be hauling around a ton of weight anyways because the 6 just isn't up to it.

 

[gabe]

great thanks, guys. thats the way i'll go, then...

one question, do i have to lose the stock tow point on the left?

if so, is a reciever mounted d-ring ok on these?

Yes. When I get to my wheeling spot I unhook the pop-up, remove my drop hitch, and install a hitch (no drop) with a d-ring in it.
There is no doubt that this set up will reduce your depature angle but I wheel blues and low blacks and can't recall a time where this has prevented me from getting through.

 

[Azlugz]

Thats pretty much it right there....I have frame tie-ins as well as a reinforced rear crossmember so I am not worried about my high clearance bumper also being used as a tow point. Just to be on the safe side, I also modified my bumper with additional internal reinforcement and a triangulated gusset tothe receiver tube. I didn't want to lose my clearance with a frame mounted hitch.

Also...given the realistic vs actual rated towing capacity of TJ's, its not like you will be hauling around a ton of weight anyways because the 6 just isn't up to it.

Sorry, gotta disagree here too (just messin)!!! My LJ is rated to 3500lbs and I have pulled that and maybe pushed over it a few times and my jeep does fine with the straight 6 and the auto, I am runnin 33's with new 4.56's,we recently towed our Jumping Jack loaded with 2 quads and full gear for 4 people and 3 days about 3 hours down the road to the start of our adventure and then thru some pretty rough stuff on the trail and then loaded up and back for home, it did great. And I still got respectable mileage for a lifted jeep.

It hauls the quads too!!!

 

[Azlugz]

Thats pretty much it right there....I have frame tie-ins as well as a reinforced rear crossmember so I am not worried about my high clearance bumper also being used as a tow point. Just to be on the safe side, I also modified my bumper with additional internal reinforcement and a triangulated gusset tothe receiver tube. I didn't want to lose my clearance with a frame mounted hitch.

Also...given the realistic vs actual rated towing capacity of TJ's, its not like you will be hauling around a ton of weight anyways because the 6 just isn't up to it.

Sorry, gotta disagree here too (just messin)!!! My LJ is rated to 3500lbs and I have pulled that and maybe pushed over it a few times and my jeep does fine with the straight 6 and the auto, I am runnin 33's with new 4.56's,we recently towed our Jumping Jack loaded with 2 quads and full gear for 4 people and 3 days about 3 hours down the road to the start of our adventure and then thru some pretty rough stuff on the trail and then loaded up and back for home, it did great. And I still got respectable mileage for a lifted jeep.

It hauls the quads too!!!

 

[JJonesee]

I have a factory mopar hitch from mine I will sell you.

 

[JJonesee]

I also recomend

http://www.shrockworks.com/Jeep

But be prepaired to wait.