Jeep Toad w/Winch

[BradW]

We will be buying a 2015 Jeep JK Wrangler 2-door in a month or so that we will ocasionally flat tow behind our F-350 DRW / truck camper.

Our Jeep will have a Warn winch. I have not yet decided whether to replace the whole front bumper with a winch bumper or just mount the winch on top of the OEM bumper using a Warn winch plate.

Question: What considerations need to be made since I also need to attach a tow bar to the Jeep? I would prefer a tow bar that is removable and does not have attachment brackets which sacrifice ground clearance.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated, especially if you have a similar set-up.

Thanks,
BradW

[dubdub07]

BradW wrote:

Off Pavement wrote:

I like that Currie set up, but I think I might like using an aftermarket bumper with these adapters better.

http://blueox.com/p-1570-bx88291-bx88296-off-road-adapters.aspx

Thanks all for the very helpful suggestions,
Brad

I went to look at the adapters. I would go the Blue Ox adapter route with an aftermarket bumper. I have all aftermarket stuff on my Jeep and the clearance is fine unless you want more than 5" of lift and 35s. Much more than that is not really practical to tow anyway....

[Ductape]

Rockhard makes JK bumpers with integrated brackets to fit either Roadmaster or Blue Ox towbars. No loss of clearance.

Optional in aluminum if you want to keep weight down.

[BradW]

Off Pavement wrote:

I like that Currie set up, but I think I might like using an aftermarket bumper with these adapters better.

http://blueox.com/p-1570-bx88291-bx88296-off-road-adapters.aspx

Thanks all for the very helpful suggestions,
Brad

[jrp]

"" Did you run into any problems with the attachment point on the bumper being too high verse the hitch? I think there is some limit as to how much higher the towed vehicle attachment points can be verses the hitch. ""

I didn't have any issues with the towbar being within the +/- level range for the towbar. The flat section of the front of my aftermarket bumper gave me about 3" up or down to locate the new attachments for the towbar. I only have a 2" lift kit and 30" tires on my Wrangler so it doesn't sit that high. But if needed its easy to use a hitch height adapter as shown above.

[jpmihalk]

You may want to consider the Currie Enterprises Tow Bar Mounting Plate which replaces the plastic skid shield directly under the front bumper. I mounted one on my '10 Unlimited and it has been painless and no tow bar drop or rise was required. I think you will be able to keep your winch mount and whatever bumper you choose and use this as it mounts to the frame underneath.

Currie Tow Plate at Quadratec

[Off_Pavement]

I use an aftermarket winch bumper equipped with D-ring recovery mounts as the attachment points to tow our JK. It's lifted 3" with 37" tires. To get the tow bar level I use a 10" up/down hitch adapter...

I use an aftermarket winch bumper equipped with D-ring recovery mounts as the attachment points. Here is a side view pic of the setup...

[BradW]

jrp wrote:
The original tow brackets (Roadmaster style) attached at the front upper end of the frame and had no impact on ground clearance. Once I replaced the stock bumper, the issue was that the new bumper used the same mounting holes in the frame as the Roadmaster tow brackets. The tow brackets couldn't be bolted on after the new bumper had used those mounting holes, or vice versa. Since the new bumper steel plate was just as strong as the frame steel, my solution was to go with different type tow brackets that mount right on the front of the after market bumper (with new drilled holes), but still matched my Roadmaster towbar attachments.

Yes, that is my concern; two aftermarket parts competeing for the same mounting holes. That would be a soultion if I went with an aftermarket heavy duty winch bumper (adding brackets directly to the bumper). A JK is wider than a TJ, but the concept is the same.

Did you run into any problems with the attachment point on the bumper being too high verse the hitch? I think there is some limit as to how much higher the towed vehicle attachment points can be verses the hitch.

[BradW]

It definitely adds significant weight to the front; but I have to have a winch. I can install some .75" spring spacers up front if necessary.

My main concern is how the winch plate / winch bumper / tow bar attach to the vehicle. I don't want to end up with a winch bumper that interferes with the intended mounting locations for the tow bar or vice a versa.

Thanks,
Brad

[jrp]

My Wrangler is a 2006, so I'm not sure how different the new version is. I've towed mine part time from the day I bought it, either behind my MH or behind my F250; originally with the stock bumper, and then later with a heavy duty aftermarket offroad winch style bumper. The original tow brackets (Roadmaster style) attached at the front upper end of the frame and had no impact on ground clearance. Once I replaced the stock bumper, the issue was that the new bumper used the same mounting holes in the frame as the Roadmaster tow brackets. The tow brackets couldn't be bolted on after the new bumper had used those mounting holes, or vice versa. Since the new bumper steel plate was just as strong as the frame steel, my solution was to go with different type tow brackets that mount right on the front of the after market bumper (with new drilled holes), but still matched my Roadmaster towbar attachments.

[RicJones]

One thing to consider is the weight on the front end. With the winch, baseplate and winch plate you could be putting on close to 200 lbs without the weight of an aftermarket bumper.
Some of that could be eliminated with a bumber with all combined, if there is one available.
A friend just bought a 2014 Rubicon and was going to put his winch off his old jeep on the new one. The winch plate alone weighed 65 lbs. He decided that with the winch, plate and baseplate it was more weight then he wanted on the front end.

[Bumpyroad]

do a search for tow bars that have brackets that will fit your front end without losing clearance and work up from there. get a bumper to fit or use stock one.
bumpy