Alternative to Base Plate for Jeep Wrangler Unlimited?

I'm using my MetalCloak Framebuilt bumper as my base plate. The bumpers D-ring recovery points make excellent attachment points for your towbar. Blue Ox makes a couple different sized tow bar adaptors for different width recovery points to accomodate different bumper manufacturers. Here is what I'm talking about...



Ready to tow...

OffPavement - That's a really nice set up. Are these the adapters you have:
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ox-BX88291-Off-Road-Adapter/dp/B00DUTE1SK

The link appears invalid. At least on my phone.

Jaxom wrote:
The link appears invalid. At least on my phone.

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ox-BX88291-Off-Road-Adapter/dp/B00DUTE1SKTry this...these thing are pretty darn expensive.

Those are the same brackets that I use on my Smitybilt bumper. If your going to get a new bumper make sure the D Ring attachments are rated for towing. Also, those adapters come in two different pin sizes, 7/8 and 1 inch. Make sure you get the right one for the bumper your looking at. Take a look at the Blue Ox website for more info.

We'retheRussos wrote:

Jaxom wrote:
The link appears invalid. At least on my phone.

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ox-BX88291-Off-Road-Adapter/dp/B00DUTE1SKTry this...these thing are pretty darn expensive.

That's them... in their expense defense, you don't need an additional base plate and I feel are bullet proof, but there are significantly less expensive alternatives. I got mine as a beta test from Blue Ox.

Off Pavement wrote:

We'retheRussos wrote:

Jaxom wrote:
The link appears invalid. At least on my phone.

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ox-BX88291-Off-Road-Adapter/dp/B00DUTE1SKTry this...these thing are pretty darn expensive.

That's them... in their expense defense, you don't need an additional base plate and I feel are bullet proof, but there are significantly less expensive alternatives. I got mine as a beta test from Blue Ox.

They look pretty solid, but 220 is way too much for adapters. Has anyone tried http://blueox.com/p-677-bx88230-universal-blue-ox-bolt-on-adapter-tabs-class-iii.aspx

Seems like those could be a viable alternative. Bolt them up and possibly even have a shop weld them to add some strength.

You will save money in the long run if you decide if your going to use an aftermarket bumper or not. The factory bumper may or may not be strong enough to utilize those bolt on tabs at $80 plus installation and or reinforcement. If your going to spend the money for another bumper at several hundred dollars, which will also have provisions for a winch mount and lights, then just pony up the money for the correct adapters and be done with it. There may be cheaper ways to do it but not necessarily that much cheaper for all the hassle and possibly not the same quality you get with the ready made adapters. They fit, they work.