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.

Mile High wrote: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.About the only thing I can say on the subject is that with my DEMCO base plate, it doesn't pull on the bumper itself, but is tucked in behind the frame plates, that the bumper is attached to and utilizing most of the same bolts for attaching. With my setup and for it to pull loose the whole end of the frame, including the bumper would have to come off, as it doesn't really pull against any bolts, as per say.Seems to me, that this base plate would also work with an aftermarket bumper, but then, I'd have to give it a good looksee first.I can also get adapters for my tow bar to fit any base plate and am presently using a NSA READYBRUTE/ELITE.

I tow my Jeep Wrangler attaching to the bumper via the d-ring eyes. I have a LOD bumper with a winch. No problems.

Several after market bumpers are available with Blue Ox compatible attachment points and are winch ready. Found this out after we had all ready bought the base plate and separate winch mounting plate. Cost is about the same.

I was looking at the same thing for my Jeep and decided just to keep the stock front bumper. I'm not a heavy duty four-wheeler, so I decided what I would do is get a winch mounted that can fit in a 2 inch receiver and I would use it on the back if needed. The times I've need a winch in a 4x4 (and didn't have one) it would have been better on the rear. I'm not going to climb a hill that the vehicle can't get up on it's own power, so my use for a winch would be getting unstuck from someplace I got stuck and odds are in that scenario you would need to pull out from the back anyway.

Every bumper manufacturer I reached out to did not recommenced towing with the D-Rings. However, there are a few manufacturers that make ones that engineered and back up by the manufacturer, these are usually bumpers that the bolts pass through the bumper. That said I think a 2 door might be reasonable, but I won't do it with my 4 door. Here are a few threads for you.Jeep Wrangler aftermarket bumper and bracket 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited setup opinions Custom Made Bumper

Wrangler tow on aftermarket bumper | Good Sam Community

BradW
Explorer II
May 02, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 19, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 17, 2017
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
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2017
Moved from class A forum
SnoBear
Explorer
Apr 15, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 15, 2017
Very nice!
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Apr 14, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 14, 2017
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
Explorer
Apr 14, 2017
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
Explorer II
Apr 14, 2017
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.