Flat tow mount options

[1990JEEPXJ]

I have a ‘22 JLUR with the steel bumpers. I like them and want to try and keep them. I also don’t want to add a tow bar that hangs below the bumper. Is there I way to use the 8 bolts that secure the recovery hooks with a flat plate and a d-ring mount welded to it? I know I’d have to trim the plastic covers but that’s easy.

Sponsored

 

[Craigger]

I've never heard of anyone doing that but it seems that if you keep the stock steel bumper, it would put the d-ring mounts offset from the frame and cause some pretty big stresses on the bracket you'd be fabricating.

As far as aftermarket bumpers - only Rock Hard and LOD advertise their bumpers as flat-towable. Both of them use the tow brackets that go straight into the frame rails, presumably for strength.

Good luck on finding a solution. For reference I've included a photo of my Rock Hard bumper that I've used to flat-tow my JLUR thousands of miles behind my motorhome.

 

[RubiBlueJLU]

There are the Maximus-3 tow loops. They originally had an issue with bending the horns, but have upgraded their system to include a cross-bar to fix that. Requires two slot be cut in the lower edge of the bumper. They look like recovery points when installed.

I run the RockJock base plate. Bolts to the horns and the bottom of the bumper. Replaces the air dam. Blends in with the bumper, too. Little to no effect on wheeling.

Have pulled mine coast to cast with it. (and a Blue Ox tow bar)

 

[1990JEEPXJ]

Edit: Now that I look at it, it looks like the front of the frame where the tow hooks mount isn’t a flat surface?

I was thinking something like this mount with the LOD frame tie ins.

Or some other form of similar frame reinforcement.

 

[andy29847]

The Jeep bumpers have metal cans welded on the mounting plate the precludes using the frame horns as a place to mount tow brackets. I tried to modify a plastic bumper and it looked like poop. Even if you get the tow brackets on the bumper somehow, you still need a place for the safety chains. Rockhard has been my go-to solution.

Part #10 is the mounting plate for the metal bumpers. Isn't it hilarious how many parts are used to make the bumper?

 

[roaniecowpony]

I looked and looked back in 2019 and ended up at a Rockhard Patriot aluminum bumper, some fittings that my friend made (1" dia pins) from my drawing and LOD tie-in brackets. The towbar I used was a Blue BX7420 10,000 lb. I prefer coiled rubber coated steel cables to safety chains.

Recently, I lifted the jeep quite a bit and the tow bar was at a steep angle. I ended up with a receiver offset adapter.
High-Low Hitch Drop-Downs: 8" Drop-Down | Camping World

Sponsored