Slee Rear Bumper Receiver Install

[ripleykantoo]

Use safety chains and you should be fine. My trailer hitch broke at 65 while towing my classic mustang and the chains held up with no worries. Just make sure you use safety chains, becuase they are mandatory for a reason and you'll make Bucky feel better when you pass him at 80.

 

[Walking Eagle]

Use safety chains and you should be fine. My trailer hitch broke at 65 while towing my classic mustang and the chains held up with no worries. Just make sure you use safety chains, becuase they are mandatory for a reason and you'll make Bucky feel better when you pass him at 80.

safety chains won't help with this paticular hitch, unless you place them somewhere other than the spots for them on the hitch. If the hitch fails, the safety chains are attached to the failed part!

 

[Dusty]

you could put the chain through the d-rings.

 

[NorCalDoug]

Nice work Romer! I saw the link and do you guys think this one could be used for recovery or too dangerous?

James,
I have that one and agree with Romer -- I wouldn't use it for recovery. It might be okay, but I wouldn't trust a life on it.

That said...I...uh...know of someone, who might of might not have towed a StarCraft 11RT to Surf-n-Turf with that same not-rated-for-towing dealie.

I think I'll get the larger one that Christo has now and try to install it before CM06.

 

[Walking Eagle]

I'd just go to the local Atwoods or trailer supply and get a reciever, then weld in a 2x2" from frame rail to frame rail... but I like doing stuff myself.

If I'm going to take the liability myself by using a non-rated hitch, might as well.

 

[S.CarolinaFZJ80]

"testing" and "rating" aside that "bike rack" bolt on hitch from slee looks mighty strong to me. over in other parts of the world people are bolting hitches to that rear crossmember using the holes toyota put there just for that purpose. I immagined toyota "tested" that crossmember for at leaste a few thousand pounds. I can only reasonably supose that Slee's big ol bumper even reinforces the crossmember. This newer towing attachment/go-through-the-crossmember thing looks even beefier. The only thing to question are the welds and they look darn redundant. Having grown up a farm kid in a huge agricultural setting in Fresno California I can assure you there are lots of home made hitches out there on the road-few that look anything as sturdy as these slee jobs-Not that this makes it right to design your own-just fact-use the chain. and what about all those zillions of home made trailers on the road-do you trust the welds on the neck of the trailer that hooks to the ball? I'm for safety too it just doesn't seem like these slee hitches are the least common denominator.

If someone has used one of these slee hitches and has a resultant horror story I will eat my post-otherwise they look good to me

I bought my 80 with the 2" bike attachment receiver already attached a year and a half ago and have been towing with it ever since. I had no reson to believe that it wasn't meant for towing.

I even towed a 6,400 lbs. load (car on trailer) with NO problems at all. The hitch is in great shape. No stress cracks or anything!

It wasn't untill I stumbled across threads today regarding the hitch that I realized that it wasn't rated. Huh!?!?

Well as a testament to Slee's design, it works and works well.

 

[kerrye]

I've bought, installed and towed with lots of commercially available bumper hitches over the years that looked a lot less sturdy than either of those hitches. I had one on my former FJ55 that did yeoman's work for years.

 

[Tredwards]

I know this is an old thread. Just ordered a slee dual swing out rear bumper with this hitch. What are you opinions of this hitch now? Plan to tow 1000-3000 lb trailer but fairly infrequently so figured this would give best ground clearance option for this bumper and that tow weight.

 

[oilbrnr]

You should be fine.

 

[Tredwards]

Needless to say I am a little nervous about cutting through rear crossmember but feel this is the best way to get a sturdy mount. We will see how it goes.

 

[oilbrnr]

Well, if you have the Slee rear bumper, the crossmember is kinda moot IMHO.

 

[rifleshooter]

Well thanks Bucky on your vote of confidance on my installation skills. Sorry about your friend, but I am not stupid enough to tow something to heavey for this set-up. Stay out of Colorado and Utah and you should be safe.

May as well add Montana to the list.