ARB strong enough to tow from?

[Tuner]

The fine folks at Blue Ox only make baseplates for the 100 series so I'm considering buying an ARB front bumper and bolting on a set of universal brackets to flat tow my '96 80 series crusher. The Warn bumper specifically states it is not to be used as such and I'm wondering...is ARB up to the task?

 

[WildYoats]

For what it's worth, I had a tow bar attached to my ARB on my 4Runner and flat towed it with no problems. It was on there for many years, and I frequently inspected that area, no issues. BUT, your 100 is a wee bit heavier than my 4Runner was.

 

[Tuner]

Thanks, I do not know how the ARB attaches to the frame thus the question.

 

[e9999]

The ARB bull bar, at least the winch one, attaches directly to the frame with strong sleeves that wrap around the rail end with 6 serious bolts each. The bumper itself appears to be made of thinner metal, but still strong enough to withstand winching. So, I guess it would depend where you'd attach the towing stuff. But should be possible to find a strong enough spot or to reinforce things properly. May be possible to use the frame bolts? All in all, I would think that if it's strong enough for winching the truck out of a predicament, it's strong enough for towing but I'd still attach directly to the frame...

 

[reffug]

If you crawl under and look at the way the ARB attaches I think you will feel comfortable. I don't think it should be an issue. Just 02.

 

[Tuner]

If you crawl under and look at the way the ARB attaches I think you will feel comfortable. I don't think it should be an issue. Just 02.

Sadly this part of N. Florida is the cultural hinterland for crawlers to observe...but your .02 is good enough for me. The regular towing baseplate bolts to the frame where tow hooks go so I suspect the ARB mounting is similar. Quarter inch steel should be beefy enough to handle the load of a straight pull and of braking pressures.

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

I would be more concerned with where you intend to mount the towbar to the ARB than the actual ARB coming off of the truck. I've seen a few pictures of failures of the D-ring tabs ripping out. Granted these were under severe circumstances, but nevertheless it is a documented failure.

Ary

 

[e9999]

the 3 holes under the frame rail fronts are still accessible with an ARB on. So maybe you could still use those for your towing gizmo?

 

[Tuner]

These adapters would be bolted to the bumper as close as possible to the frame mounted brackets. I'd use the d-ring tabs to attach the safety chains.


http://www.blueox.us/PDFS/BX1108.PDF

 

[Tuner]

the 3 holes under the frame rail fronts are still accessible with an ARB on. So maybe you could still use those for your towing gizmo?

Thanks, that is some useful info right there! I wish the Blue Ox folks made a baseplate that would fit but they only make one to fit 100 series cruisers. If the the frame and holes are the same on the 80 and the 100, I'd be set...but I expect there were some mods when Toyota left the solid axle behind. This is what the real thing looks like:

http://www.aemfg.com/pdfs/BX2907.pdf

 

[reffug]

Do you have a winch? Your sig doesn't say.

You planning on using that area of the ARB?

Winch or non-winch ARB?

Either way I think you'll be fine.

 

[Tuner]

Sorry about the sig...I don't have either model. I want to purchase a non winch model for a base on which to mount the tow plates.

 

[e9999]

you're not buying the ARB just for that, right? if so, why aren't you just bolting things onto the frame instead?

 

[alaskacruiser]

Along these lines, can someone please post a picture of their ARB from underneath the front of the truck?

 

[Tuner]

you're not buying the ARB just for that, right? if so, why aren't you just bolting things onto the frame instead?

I cannot buy a baseplate for a 96LC or I would not need the ARB...although I'd still want one I currently have a BS brushguard to which I welded the old 4runner baseplate for a trial run. It worked fine but is not sturdy enough for continued use.

The ARB looks like a desirable mod that could provide me with a platform for the towing brackets. Straightline towing in neutral should present less load than winching out of a hole but I'd hate to fold the bumper trying to stop the rig. If I understand the product, I shouldn't have to worry about damaging the ARB.

 

[alia176]

Along these lines, can someone please post a picture of their ARB from underneath the front of the truck?

Here you go!

As you can see, the holes in the chassis are running fore and aft. The tow bar mount as depicted in the above link needs the holes to run left/right. However, any competent trailer shop can easily run a rect tubing (or similar) between the two chassis rails and then mount the hardware to it. There's no need for an ARB bumper if you need to spend the money elsewhere!

Just my .02 cents!

Ali

 

[Tuner]

Here you go!

As you can see, the holes in the chassis are running fore and aft. The tow bar mount as depicted in the above link needs the holes to run left/right. However, any competent trailer shop can easily run a rect tubing (or similar) between the two chassis rails and then mount the hardware to it. There's no need for an ARB bumper if you need to spend the money elsewhere!

Just my .02 cents!

Ali

Thank you for the photo and you're right about the local machine shop. They wanted $450 to fab a baseplate from the Blue Ox drawing in the link above...which is why I started thinking ARB.

Of course the ideal setup would be if the frame rails/holes on a 96 and a 98 LC were identical...or close enough to make the Blue Ox baseplate work. That kind of info is not easy to come by.

All things considered, the great rep that ARB enjoys on this forum from folks who know their sh*t makes it a good place to start.

 

[93CRUISERE]

BLUE OX

MY TOW BAR

 

[john_eckels]

You may want to research flat towing an 80 in this forum. If I remember correctly, it is not a good idea. I think it had to do with the transfer case not getting lubricated. Edit, I found the thread https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/61565-motorhome-towing-80-a.html

The fine folks at Blue Ox only make baseplates for the 100 series so I'm considering buying an ARB front bumper and bolting on a set of universal brackets to flat tow my '96 80 series crusher. The Warn bumper specifically states it is not to be used as such and I'm wondering...is ARB up to the task?

 

[yohavos]

This was a 5 year old thread


But what the heck, here's a recent one about this very thing: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/482260-how-flat-tow-your-80-series-safely.html