Wrangler tow on aftermarket bumper

[Mile_High]

Any thoughts on towing a Wrangler with an aftermarket bumper using the D-ring eyes? I have a Blue ox baseplate still in the box, and now thinking about a winch, which of course leads to maybe changing out the bumper. The problem is very few aftermarket bumpers allow for the base plate below.

I know the D-ring eyes are designed for pulling, and I know I can get some Blue Ox adapters to fit them, but are all bumpers rated to do that? Seems I may be going out on a limb bypassing the Blue Ox baseplate with regards to intended use.

[BradW]

SnoBear wrote:
I have the RockHard bumper setup with their Roadmaster tow mounts that bolt through the bumper to the frame. I use the D-Rings for my safety cables. Only towed my 4 door JKU 11,000 miles so far, but all seems to be solid.

I think RockHard is one of the very few aftermarket JK bumper manufacturers who has a good set-up for flat towing using their bumper. I bought one of their Blue Ox towbar adapters that I will be using with a modified Poison Spyder bumper.

[pauldub]

I towed my XJ Cherokee off an aftermarket bumper. I made my own adapters to fit the tow bar to the tabs on the bumper. I now have a 4Runner and I'm towing it off the smallish tabs on the ARB bumper.

[JimM68]

crasster wrote:
Not sure why the aftermarket bumper would make any difference if it is made out of the same gauge steel as factory.... I don't think you'll have any issues.

The factory bumpers are made of sheet metal, except for the end caps (they call them "milkjugs") which are plastic!

When I towed a 2000 TJ Wrangler, I used Rockhard bumpers. They are 1/4" formed and welded steel plate, made to take a lickin and keep on tickin. At that time, Blue Ox sold towbar tabs for $52.

I through bolted the tabs to the bumper, and the bumper attached with grade 5 hardware that went completely through vertically, with the frame sandwiched by the bumper. The whole setup was very strong.

Additionally, this setup provided a much better approach angle than the factory bumper (even with the tow bar tabs) and HUGELY better than a baseplate which would hang below the factory bumper.

[JohnnyT]

Moved from class A forum

[SnoBear]

I have the RockHard bumper setup with their Roadmaster tow mounts that bolt through the bumper to the frame. I use the D-Rings for my safety cables. Only towed my 4 door JKU 11,000 miles so far, but all seems to be solid.

[Mile_High]

Very nice!

[Thunder_Mountai]

Mile High wrote:

Thunder Mountain wrote:
Since you are in the Denver area, give Tomken in Buena Vista a call at 719-395-2526. I had him make my bumper with the rescue ring attachment points to fit my Blue Ox tow bar. To make D rings fit in the narrow Blue Ox hard points, I had to grind them down a bit. Just dumb simple to hitch up. Check out this Tomken bumper.

Thanks Thunder Mountain. I assume that was to make them fit in the 1" 2 blade open blue ox connectors, or was that for the 3-blade like I have now?

It was made to fit the three blade. They fabricate and powder coat them on site. They welded a bracket for the breakaway switch and one for the light cable.

[Mile_High]

Thunder Mountain wrote:
Since you are in the Denver area, give Tomken in Buena Vista a call at 719-395-2526. I had him make my bumper with the rescue ring attachment points to fit my Blue Ox tow bar. To make D rings fit in the narrow Blue Ox hard points, I had to grind them down a bit. Just dumb simple to hitch up. Check out this Tomken bumper.

Thanks Thunder Mountain. I assume that was to make them fit in the 1" 2 blade open blue ox connectors, or was that for the 3-blade like I have now?

[Mile_High]

crasster wrote:
Not sure why the aftermarket bumper would make any difference if it is made out of the same gauge steel as factory.... I don't think you'll have any issues.

For me, I'm not a good judge of what is enough steel. If I eliminate the base plate and go direct to the aftermarket bumper, I just want to know its rated for it and safe. Heck, I see how many busted tow bars and tabs there are on the forum, so not something I want to take too lightly. Some of this aftermarket is for glitter, and may not actually be designed for a full time tow versus jerking it out of the ditch.

Sounds Like some good feedback and options though, and I'm not the first person to wonder this if the aftermarket folks and blue ox are already teaming and offer rated systems that don't require a base plate.

[msmith1199]

crasster wrote:
Not sure why the aftermarket bumper would make any difference if it is made out of the same gauge steel as factory.... I don't think you'll have any issues.

It's about fit, not what the bumper is made of. The base plates attach to the frame under the bumper. Aftermarket bumpers block access.

[crasster]

Not sure why the aftermarket bumper would make any difference if it is made out of the same gauge steel as factory.... I don't think you'll have any issues.

[Thunder_Mountai]

Since you are in the Denver area, give Tomken in Buena Vista a call at 719-395-2526. I had him make my bumper with the rescue ring attachment points to fit my Blue Ox tow bar. To make D rings fit in the narrow Blue Ox hard points, I had to grind them down a bit. Just dumb simple to hitch up. Check out this Tomken bumper.

[Mile_High]

Thanks all for the feedback and great info. I'm getting an education. Looks like it is very doable with the higher end bumpers rated for towing.

As I'm a week over returning my base plate, and a rated bumper may be $800-$1000, I think I'll do the baseplate for now and maybe try the Barricade Trailforce bumper. It looks like it would fit above the base plate.

One thing about a Jeep - nothing stays the same too long.

[WI]

I have a Warn front bumper & use the d-ring mounts with no issue. I know Warn does not "rate" the bumper for flat towing. I believe many manufactures don't want to go through the expense of certification or possible liability issues for a small market potential. I am confident that my d-ring mounts have been jerked on much harder getting me out of, over, or off of obstacles than they will encounter towing my Jeep.