I'm looking for some pics of tow bar mounts

[norville]

Hey folks, I have here a very nice blue ox tow bar and mount for a chevy. Rated to 5000# I've done the search thing and I've gotten a few ideas. But I'm still looking for a few more Ideas on how to mount this "A frame" tow bar up to my FJ40 like vehicle. I found universal mount from blue ox but that's $100. I know it'll work and it's safe but, I was hoping to find a cheaper solution. Could I use 2 or 4 pieces of 1/4"+ angle iron?? Or is there any other solutions out there?? This would really only be for emergency brake downs and maybe take 30 miles max...

thanks
bob

 

[spdwaver]

I have two vertically-mounted tabs welded onto my front bumper, with approx. .625" holes drilled in them that were used to mount a tow bar. Worked great.

 

[Eshu Elegua]

I do a quick search on this forum....if you just write tow bar..just 2 results...... but if you write..Front tow bar..its show 56 results on 3 pages....strange >>>> check here https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/134998-wishbone-tow-bars.html

 

[Fast Eddy]

Here's mine. Beefy. Probably more like 8000 lbs rated. It kept my '40 from rolling over once and paid the price with not more than a little tweak.

I always promise myself to recommend towing with nothing less than a big dually, so there you go. Even a SRW 3/4t is pushing your luck if you hit a wet spot unless you have some kind of towed-vehicle brakes. Even with DRW, we tow like a paranoid old grandma.

The chains and lack of bumper gussets in the first two pictures were temporary. The bottom picture is complete.

 

[norville]

Thanks for the pics that looks like 1/2" plate! I'll keep looking around. I guess I should look into reinforcing the bumper also. Although my bumper is 3/16" Oh I should also mention I have a PTO winch that is causing some of my installation issue..

thanks

bob

 

[PhilC64]

Mine is bolted under the bumper. I wish I had a better pic for you but you can get the idea.

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

Here's my old one using a stock bumper.

 

[Fast Eddy]

Thanks for the pics that looks like 1/2" plate! I'll keep looking around. I guess I should look into reinforcing the bumper also. Although my bumper is 3/16"

It is 1/2". I think 3/8" would have been enough. Maybe it was originally made for something bigger? The pins are machine-shop tight. It's great when they're clean and freshly lubed with light oil. Once they're all dirty, they need some persuasion. I bought it from Slickrock 2 years ago.

My bumper is also 3/16". The tow bar attaches right where the bumper is bolted to the frame rails with the gusset plates on top, so it's very strong at that point. All the HW is grade 8. No crumple zones in a Cruiser.

 

[rchandler]

 

[norville]

Here's my old one using a stock bumper.

That's kinda what I had in mind but I worry about the beef?

bob

 

[SouthBostonFJ40]

I believe that mine was actually a dealer installed option. It is very beefy.

 

[slickrock]

Here's my old one using a stock bumper.

Mine is the same, Mounts are welded to the bumper.

 

[norville]

How thick is that metal on the tabs?

bob

 

[slickrock]

1/4 maybe 5/16th.

 

[Fast Eddy]

How thick is that metal on the tabs?

And the metal on the bumper? And what's the sheer strength of those two little bolts? Even though that may not be fatal, I wouldn't call that "beefy".

If that setup went through my accident, I'm 100% sure the '40 would have rolled all the way over. As it was, we drove away within just a few minutes.