Jeep Bumper with Tow attachments

[mbisson]

Does anybody make a winch bumper with tow bar attachment points already built in? I am planning on getting a Jeep as a toad. I already have a winch I want to use. If I am going to be buying a new winch bumper anyways, I would think a smart bumper maker would make one that would hook up to a Blue Ox.

I know many of you have a lot more experience than I do, so please let me know if you have seen something that would work.

Thanks, Mike

[kuldaddy]

I looked into this when we bought our Jeep and could not find any aftermarket bumper to fit the standard tow bars (roadmaster or blue ox) or tow bars made to fit an aftermarket bumper. I think you will have to have something custom made or custom added to an aftermarket bumper.

BTW, I looked through some of the Jeep forums as well.

Good luck.

[Rich and Cork]

I have a 2008 Wrangler that I put after market steel bumpers on. They were made by Hanson, but similar ones come from a number of manufacturers. These bumpers normally have shackle mounts attached that have a 7/8 inch opening. I welded up some new brackets for my tow bar to match these shackle mounts. If you cannot weld, I am sure you can get it done for a very reasonable fee. I also cut down 7/8 bolts to use to secure the hitch to the bumper through the shackle mount, drilling a hole for hitch pins.

[kuldaddy]

Originally Posted by Rich and Cork

I have a 2008 Wrangler that I put after market steel bumpers on. They were made by Hanson, but similar ones come from a number of manufacturers. These bumpers normally have shackle mounts attached that have a 7/8 inch opening. I welded up some new brackets for my tow bar to match these shackle mounts. If you cannot weld, I am sure you can get it done for a very reasonable fee. I also cut down 7/8 bolts to use to secure the hitch to the bumper through the shackle mount, drilling a hole for hitch pins.

Rich,
Do you have any pictures of this? I would like to see this before I attempt to fabricate....

Thanks

[mbisson]

Originally Posted by Rich and Cork

I have a 2008 Wrangler that I put after market steel bumpers on. They were made by Hanson, but similar ones come from a number of manufacturers. These bumpers normally have shackle mounts attached that have a 7/8 inch opening. I welded up some new brackets for my tow bar to match these shackle mounts. If you cannot weld, I am sure you can get it done for a very reasonable fee. I also cut down 7/8 bolts to use to secure the hitch to the bumper through the shackle mount, drilling a hole for hitch pins.

This sounds very doable. A picture would be a great help while trying to explain it to a welder.
Thanks, mike

[hardy1000]

Originally Posted by mbisson

Does anybody make a winch bumper with tow bar attachment points already built in? I am planning on getting a Jeep as a toad. I already have a winch I want to use. If I am going to be buying a new winch bumper anyways, I would think a smart bumper maker would make one that would hook up to a Blue Ox.

I know many of you have a lot more experience than I do, so please let me know if you have seen something that would work.

Thanks, Mike

Mike,

I could not find anything like that that would be safe to go wheelin with without destroying it if you get into trouble. I installed the Blue OX base plate and tow bar and Unified Tow Brake...works great.

Blue OX Baseplate - $343.00

[Rich and Cork]

Here is a picture:



I welded up the brackets on the hitch. I cut down two 7/8 inch bolts and drilled holes for the hitch pins.

[mbisson]

Originally Posted by Rich and Cork

Here is a picture:

Attachment 2172

I welded up the brackets on the hitch. I cut down two 7/8 inch bolts and drilled holes for the hitch pins.

Thank you for the picture. That looks like it would work well.

mike

[Gayland]

I essentially did the same thing that Rich and Cork did but maybe one step further. I had a Blue Ox 7335 tow bar and removed the connecting ends and fabricated new ends as shown in the attached pics. I replaced the three-finger Blue Ox adapters and attached new fabricated adapters directly to the shackle mounts.
I tried using the Blue Ox p/n BX88230 but I couldn't mount them the required 24" apart.
Another way of doing it with your Hanson bumper (which is a very good bumper) is to cut the middle finger out of the BO three-finger adapter and add some spacers. I've seem this done. It wouldn't work with my bumper because the shackle mounts are too thick from the hole to the outer front edge.

[Gayland]

Here are some pics of the shackle points.

[hardy1000]

Originally Posted by Rich and Cork

Here is a picture:

Attachment 2172

I welded up the brackets on the hitch. I cut down two 7/8 inch bolts and drilled holes for the hitch pins.

That looks great, I like the Hansen bumper and your idea...I wish I would have thought of that.

[Rich and Cork]

Originally Posted by hardy1000

That looks great, I like the Hansen bumper and your idea...I wish I would have thought of that.

Thanks. The Hanson bumpers have had a good reputation for quite a while. They sold their product to another off road company last year, but make the same product with the same name. It was really nice to unbolt the old and bolt on the new. Absolutely no adjustments need to be made. Wish I could weld that accurately.

[floridaflash]

Body Armor makes great Jeep bumpers and also sell a bracket for tow bars.
Jeep BodyArmor4x4, Toyota FJ, Jeep JK Front Bumpters
I got the brackets but they didn't quite fit my tow bar so I had to modify them slightly but they work great.
David

[mbisson]

Originally Posted by floridaflash

Body Armor makes great Jeep bumpers and also sell a bracket for tow bars.
Jeep BodyArmor4x4, Toyota FJ, Jeep JK Front Bumpters
I got the brackets but they didn't quite fit my tow bar so I had to modify them slightly but they work great.
David

What do they charge for the tow bar adapters? Do they look good and beefy in person?