Xj Tow Bar Vs Whole New Bumper??

[TRobertsRN]

I have a 2000 XJ stock.

I have been looking into tow bars that can be installed with the stock bumper.

For the price of these bars I am considering getting an aftermarket bumper that I can install mounts that will fit my current inexpensive draw tite tow bar myself easily.

What are some bumpers out there that come with tow bar attachment points or can be front drilled to install my own mounts?

I am also up for one of members shops fabing me a front bumper with tow bar attachment points. Any of you guys are welcome to PM me a price.


If I get a bumper may go winch bumper or not.

Thanks

[jporvaz]

I picked up a cheap tow bar off Craigslift.org and had brackets made that are bolted to my stock bumper. I plan to put a Protofab winch bumper on it eventually and these brackets should transfer over with no problems. I can do picks if you'd like to see them.

John

[AZXJ]

We have fabbed quite a few tow bars for snow birds.. They all yank thier Jeeps behind thier motorhomes back to the midwest when it gets hot around here.. :D

[mingoglia]

Do you have the brackets for the tow bar? Do they look like this?

http://gallery.mikeandsherri.com/d/16534-4/DSC02864.JPG

http://gallery.mikeandsherri.com/d/16531-4/DSC02863.JPG

If you don't have the brackets I'm sure Dave could have some throw together easily. The newer versions of this Drawtite tow bar have better brackets than mine. The reason why I'm wondering is mine have never really set my mind at ease rolling down the highway. They're starting to pull through the bumper even though I have a piece of steel behind the bolt (mine only use one bolt, while the newer version has a backing plate on it with a bolt on both sides). One of my projects is going to be to weld a plate to the backside of it and mount it like the newest version of the bracket.

Anyway, I'm sure Dave can take what you have and get it to work on the XJ.

Mi9ke

[AZXJ]

When I towbar'd my old XJ I used the stock tow hook brackets and the Draw tite tow bar. After a while the unibody started to split at the front crossmember. The best way to do the tow bar setup on the XJ's is to use a cross member that runs between the uni rails and uses grade 8 bolts not hitch pins.. I lost more hitch pins then I even care to talk about.. After all the trips to Payson up and down the big hills I'm thankful I always pulled over and checked the pins before climbing or going down hill.. just imagine what would happen if one side came loose..