Getting time to get ready to flat tow and I guess get a new bumper, I can’t seem to find a bumper that is approved for flat tow?I have the tow bar and light harness and ready break setup.any suggestions?thanks
Bumper not flat tow rated
- Thread starter Moglocker
- Start date
It's hard to find a bumper that is rated to tow due to liability worries and the costs associated with the testing required for an official tow rating. TJs are only rated to tow 2000 lbs. and most any bumper with an integrated 2" receiver hitch should have no problem with that. Neither of my last two bumpers were officially rated to tow, due to the above reasons, but I tow my pop-up tent trailer all the time without issues or any worry at all.
I had custom tow points made for my factory bumper that tie into the frame. Cost about $100 at a local offroad shop that does all their own fab work.
Lighter and cheaper than an aftermarket bumper, plus I like the stock look.
Lighter and cheaper than an aftermarket bumper, plus I like the stock look.
JCR all day long. Read the Q&A on the below product page. It's the first question answered and yes, flat tow approved. I've logged hundreds of miles towing my LJ with my JCR bumper D-ring tabs behind the motorhome and no problems. Not even a bolt coming loose. You'll just have to buy or make the D-ring adapters.
https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/SWBFC.html
https://www.jcroffroad.com/product/SWBFC.html
I always used a Blue Ox baseplate, but that looks really good. Love it.
Who flat tows their rig backwards?
It’s to get even tire wear.
I've been going through the same search. I still have my stock bumper but just don't feel comfortable with drilling it and attaching the tow bar to such thin metal. At this point I think I'm just going to order a cheap Smittybilt bumper with D rings. It is easy enough to swap bumpers if/when I want to tow in the future.
I would think a d-ring designed for recovery would be more than adequate for flat towing. Way less stress and 2 vs. 1. All you need are the adapters.
https://images.app.goo.gl/wZHnvi5aCFYv4Tyk8
https://images.app.goo.gl/wZHnvi5aCFYv4Tyk8
Last edited:
Mumblewood
TJ Enthusiast
I made a set real similar to that on the cheap using scrap. Worked real good and never worried about about it. $100 is a good price if ya can’t make them yourself.
My older RE bumper is pretty stout. Don’t think they make them anymore, but flat-towed the LJ from Arizona to Gaudalajara, Mexico area with no problems. Used a Blue Ox tow bar with the the D-ring adapters I bought from etrailer.com. Spendy, about 250 bucks.
I have a Smittybilt tow bar designed to attach to d-rings, towed mine a couple times with it...no problem. I actually used a hitch haul I have on the back of the Jeep for lights since I outfitted it with LED trailer lights, just used a 25’ trailer extension cable and routed it through the jeep and then across the hood. Plan to to it again, also picked up a brake buddy to try and stay legal.
I looked around at a lot of bumpers with suitable D rings but didn't really like any of them. I am always trying to save weight and didn't want to replace my 7lbs bumper with a heavy steel one. I ended up ordering the Currie tow bar mounting kit. I also ordered a Curt tow bar which seems to be equal to the Smittybilt.