Community Forums

DebiM · 09-11-2022, 10:43 AM

Hi Lt. Dan or David,

I am including pics of the Jeep we have with the winch. Let me know your thoughts on towing with our Class A. Pictures are below.

Thank you, Jerry

AKIQPilot · 09-11-2022, 10:54 AM

I tow my Wrangler with a Smitybilt XRC bumper similar to that. Works fantastic.

If your Class A is gasoline powered then look at the Ready Brute Elite style towbar. Towbar and braking system all built into one unit.

If your Class A has airbrakes there are other options that may be better than the RBE but they are way way more expensive.

Alpine36 · 09-11-2022, 11:57 AM

Since your xrc recovery tabs don't have a 1" round hole to install a pin bushing I'm thinking you need to fabricate an insert and weld it in place. Perhaps xrc makes one? While your at it weld a bracket to the backside of each recovery tab that bolts to the frame. I did that with our winch bumper (barricade brand) Towing off the bumper recovery tabs is a breeze. Like anything, frequent inspections are still mandatory.

AKIQPilot · 09-11-2022, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpine36

Since your xrc recovery tabs don't have a 1" round hole to install a pin bushing I'm thinking you need to fabricate an insert and weld it in place. Perhaps xrc makes one? While your at it weld a bracket to the backside of each recovery tab that bolts to the frame. I did that with our winch bumper (barricade brand) Towing off the bumper recovery tabs is a breeze. Like anything, frequent inspections are still mandatory.

The XRC bumper on Debs Wrangler has the Shackle holes. You can clearly see them in the bottom picture. That bumper is rated for 12,000lbs and the D Ring mounts are welded on the inside and outside. This bumper is fine for connecting directly to a towbar.

I have the older version of the XRC bumper. D Rings welded on the inside and outside. Back then Smittybilt specifically stated that their bumpers were designed to have a towbar connected directly to them. These new bumpers are better designed and better built than the old ones like I have.

Big-Foot · 09-12-2022, 08:37 AM

I, personally, would not trust a bumper for towing unless the manufacturer of said bumper has rated it for tow-bar service. I don’t give a care how beefy it looks, I have seen a number of cases where unscrupulous manufacturers will “doll-up” the welds to make them look good. Even as stout as my front bumper is, I still went with a purpose built base-plate…

AKIQPilot · 09-12-2022, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Foot

I, personally, would not trust a bumper for towing unless the manufacturer of said bumper has rated it for tow-bar service. I don’t give a care how beefy it looks, I have seen a number of cases where unscrupulous manufacturers will “doll-up” the welds to make them look good. Even as stout as my front bumper is, I still went with a purpose built base-plate…

The Smittybilt XRC bumpers are rated for towing. Says so right on their website.

Alpine36 · 09-12-2022, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKIQPilot

The XRC bumper on Debs Wrangler has the Shackle holes. You can clearly see them in the bottom picture. That bumper is rated for 12,000lbs and the D Ring mounts are welded on the inside and outside. This bumper is fine for connecting directly to a towbar.

I have the older version of the XRC bumper. D Rings welded on the inside and outside. Back then Smittybilt specifically stated that their bumpers were designed to have a towbar connected directly to them. These new bumpers are better designed and better built than the old ones like I have.

Not clearly visible on my phone, but yeah...If they are there use them. On our bumper recovery shackle holes they were actually slightly oversize, so to utilize the steel pin bushings Smittybilt provided with their tow bar I installed oil lite bushings to the bumper shackle holes and honed them to match the pin bushing O.D.
10k towing miles later and no issues whatsoever.

CWSWine · 09-13-2022, 07:57 AM

I don't know about other brands but the RockHard bumpers towing tabs are NOT welded to the bumper. They bolt thru the bumper and are bolted to brackets that are attached directly to the ends of the Jeeps frame rails. I have the Roadmaster tow points now but I could unbolt them and install other tow bar towing tabs.

Big-Foot · 09-13-2022, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKIQPilot

The Smittybilt XRC bumpers are rated for towing. Says so right on their website.

Not sure what your point is here. I never said that bumper wasn’t rated for towing.

AKIQPilot · 09-14-2022, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Foot

I, personally, would not trust a bumper for towing unless the manufacturer of said bumper has rated it for tow-bar service. I don’t give a care how beefy it looks, I have seen a number of cases where unscrupulous manufacturers will “doll-up” the welds to make them look good. Even as stout as my front bumper is, I still went with a purpose built base-plate…

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Foot

Not sure what your point is here. I never said that bumper wasn’t rated for towing.

My point was the OP's bumper is rated for towing and it says so right on the manufacturers website.

Big-Foot · 09-15-2022, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKIQPilot

My point was the OP's bumper is rated for towing and it says so right on the manufacturers website.

And that’s just dandy…. My point was/is that I would not trust a bumper for towing “unless” it was rated for such service by the manufacturer of said bumper…
We’re both in agreement, we just came at it from different directions.
—
I’ve had People ask why I don’t tow with the bumper on my Jeep since it certainly looks strong enough (bumper weighs 125#). Simple answer, it wasn’t rated for towing. So I mounted a baseplate behind it.