Community Forums

MoHoGo · 04-21-2014, 04:33 PM

Several of the jeeps we have been looking at have tow hooks. Are these a possible way to eliminate the need for a baseplate system to mount the tow bar.

Seems like the tow hooks would be secured into the frame and wonder if Blue Ox or Roadmaster make an adapter from the mounting of the tow hook to a tow bar.

Thanks for any thoughts...pro or con

Jim

motorhomeguy · 04-21-2014, 05:08 PM

There are no pro's in towing a Jeep with it's tow hooks., it's simply dangerous to try to tow that way, but I'm sure there will be someone that will tell you it's alright - NOT... Why gambol with your safety, and especially others, out there on the road?

FlyingDiver · 04-21-2014, 05:56 PM

Not with the factory tow hooks, no. There's no way to secure a set of rigid towbar arms to them properly.

However, there are a number of after-market reinforced bumpers on the market, which have mount points that can be adapted to tow bars. For Wranglers only, as far as I know. These are the ones that attach to the frame and usually have a winch in them. Blue Ox makes an adapter kit for using these reinforced bumpers with their tow bar:

Blue Ox - BX88266 Universal Blue Ox Bolt-on Adapter Tabs, 20K

lanerd · 04-21-2014, 06:10 PM

With my '00 Tundra, the base plate was bolted right to the same place the tow hooks were bolted. Of course, I had to remove the hooks first. But the base plate was actually two separate pieces that came out from under the front of the truck (below the bumper) and followed the contour of the bumper so that the ends of them were about 8" higher than where they were bolted. The cross arm then bolted (pinned) to these two upright base plates and the tow bar connected to the cross bar.

So, base on this configuration, I would say that probably none of the tow bar mfg's make a tow bar that would connect directly to the tow hooks or bolt to the tow hooks bolt holes. But that's just a guess on my part.

Ron

vsheetz · 04-21-2014, 06:25 PM

Yes. Towing from aftermarket bumper via bolt on brackets or adapters for the D ring loops is common. blue Ox makes adapters, as does Hanson and others. Some bumper makers can provide them.

I currently have the Blue Ox bolt on brackets in use. On a previous jeep I had fabricated brackets to use the D ring loops.

grtharris · 04-21-2014, 09:27 PM

I have a Warn Elite bumper and winch and I'm now using the BX88296 Off Road Adapters

MoHoGo · 04-22-2014, 06:15 AM

I didn't mean tow behind the MH with the tow hook, meant to use the point where the tow hooks bolt on to add using the same bolt holes the connections for the tow bar.

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by motorhomeguy

There are no pro's in towing a Jeep with it's tow hooks., it's simply dangerous to try to tow that way, but I'm sure there will be someone that will tell you it's alright - NOT... Why gambol with your safety, and especially others, out there on the road?

FlyingDiver · 04-22-2014, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by campbell36

I didn't mean tow behind the MH with the tow hook, meant to use the point where the tow hooks bolt on to add using the same bolt holes the connections for the tow bar.

Thanks

Probably not without some other modifications. The tow hook points are designed for straight line (more or less) pulling. Baseplates are designed to support the lateral (side to side) stresses caused by the toad getting dragged around a turn by the RV. So all the baseplates I've seen have a horizontal stiffener of some sort. Internal for Blue Ox, the external cross-bar for Roadmaster. For the bumper kits, the assumption is that the heavy duty bumper provides that.

falconman · 04-22-2014, 09:07 AM

I would say that if it has the factory bumper and you like the looks then get the proper baseplate. If you want a different looking bumper, perhaps with a winch plate, then Smittybilt and others make bumpers with D-rings that you can attach tow bars to. The cost will be about the same. We are in the process of doing that now with our newly acquired 05 Rubicon that came with a Smiitybilt bumper. Got a Blue Ox towbar and D-ring adapters, ready to go.