TJM tow option?

[reffug]

I have done some searching with little results. I have a rear TJM bumper on my 80 and although I never thought that I would I now have a desire to have a tow option with this rig. I have seen pics of the TJM with a tow option that looks as if it fit under the bumper itself but I'm not sure how this is being accomplished. TJM's website makes no mention of such an animal that I can find. Does anybody here have that bumper equiped to pull a trailer and if so how was it done? Pics would be helpful if available.

 

[Romer]

Does the stock hitch fit with a TJM?

 

[reffug]

Does the stock hitch fit with a TJM?

I don't know. Biggest thing I am looking for is a way to be able to remove whatever I do quickly so that I still have my rear departure angle for wheelin. There are also 4 bolts dead center in the bumper and what looks like a panel which could be cut out. However with no mention of this on the TJM site I wonder if there is anything behind it that would allow a quick insert for a ball. Was just kinda hoping somebody with this bump had already done something of the sort and could shed some quick light on the situation.

 

[LX_TREME]

A lot different TJM front bumper but only one available for 80-s TJM rear bumper.

 

[Nay]

Use the Slee 2" receiver. You do this by cutting through the center of the four stock bolt holes and presumably your TJM bumper, and then the hitch bolts back into the frame.

No need to remove it for wheeling as it does not compromise clearance and for occasional towing it has worked perfectly for me (and I just have mine bolted through the stock crossmember).

There are other threads on this if you care to read up on perceived pros and cons...but this is a great compromise to obtain a class III hitch (no, Slee doesn't have it rated) without losing any clearance and you gain frame triangulation where the spare tire used to be. Great mod

Read here for info and pics:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=106930&highlight=slee+receiver+mount

 

[dclee]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe the OEM tow hitch will just bolt up to the frame rails under the TJM bumper. That would be the safest way to go, IMHO.

If you just need to tow something light, and want to be able to do so off-road, bolt a pintle hitch to the four holes in the crossmember, sort like Nay has described. Those holes are designed for a pintle, and it will give you the best range of motion for undulating terrain.

My $0.02,

 

[reffug]

Use the Slee 2" receiver. You do this by cutting through the center of the four stock bolt holes and presumably your TJM bumper, and then the hitch bolts back into the frame.

Read here for info and pics:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=106930&highlight=slee+receiver+mount

After looking this over it might be a viable option for me except for one small problem. I am not sure that there is enough clearance in the back of my rig for the cross supports to tie into the frame. There is a very large gas tank occupying most of that space.

Cdan how is yours put together since our configuration in the back is basically the same? Do you happen to have any pics?

 

[Nay]

After looking this over it might be a viable option for me except for one small problem. I am not sure that there is enough clearance in the back of my rig for the cross supports to tie into the frame. There is a very large gas tank occupying most of that space.

Cdan how is yours put together since our configuration in the back is basically the same? Do you happen to have any pics?

That would be a problem. The base hitch might still work for you so you don't have to fab your own (with the tight clearance to the bumper), and then with some cross supports welded back into the structure of the bumper behind the crossmember or just forward of the tank to the frame.

In other words, my setup is using the stock crossmember and I don't have an aftermarket bumper creating additional frame tie-in points. Since you do, I think you could look into integrating the hitch into the bumper and tying the back side back into the bumper itself, welded at all points (won't that be fun with the gas tank back there)? Then you'd have a Class III bumper, self rated .

Nay

 

[Boston Mangler]

A lot different TJM front bumper but only one available for 80-s TJM rear bumper.

Thats a sharp looking bumper!

 

[apcoleman]

Jamie,

I'm pretty sure I have a stock hitch sitting in my garage. Its yours if you want it.

 

[FaronF]

yes the stock hitch works with the TJM rear bumper

When I had the TJM rear bumper on my 97, it fit fine w/the factory rear tow hitch.

It reduces your departure angle a bit, but it also protects the exhaust (and a spare tire, if you have one underneath in the stock location)

Faron

 

[Boston Mangler]

When I had the TJM rear bumper on my 97, it fit fine w/the factory rear tow hitch.

It reduces your departure angle a bit, but it also protects the exhaust (and a spare tire, if you have one underneath in the stock location)

Faron

I am interested in more details on that license plate relocation setup

 

[FaronF]

ha that was a last minute thing...

I am interested in more details on that license plate relocation setup

Funny you would notice that--I got that TJM rear tire carrier right before (like a day or two before) my journey to Moab, and I didn't realize that the license plate would have to be relocated, so I whipped up that bracket in minutes with some pieces of channel and nuts/bolts that I had laying around.

Due to a lack of time, and more important things to do, when I returned I never had a chance to 'fix' the license plate holder, but hey, it was working, and never gave me a bit of trouble.

I probably still have it at home in the 'box of little stuff I removed from the 97'. If I can find it, I'll snap a pic of it for you & post it here.

Faron

 

[Trunk Monkey]

You can use either a pintle/ball hitch or the stock hitch, fits fine.

 

[reffug]

When I had the TJM rear bumper on my 97, it fit fine w/the factory rear tow hitch.

It reduces your departure angle a bit, but it also protects the exhaust (and a spare tire, if you have one underneath in the stock location)

Faron

That is a rather extreme loss of departure angle IMO. Sides dat I don't have my spare under there I have about 45 gallons of gas. I'm thinking that the cut and weld method is gonna be my only option. Gotta keep the dep. angle and be able to pull about 2500 lbs on a ball set up. Cdan where are you?

 

[SUMOTOY]

That is a rather extreme loss of departure angle IMO. Sides dat I don't have my spare under there I have about 45 gallons of gas. I'm thinking that the cut and weld method is gonna be my only option. Gotta keep the dep. angle and be able to pull about 2500 lbs on a ball set up. Cdan where are you?

Reffug:
Take the truck to a truck welder, or find an avid offroad builder (I know we have both as the same guy here in Chicagoland). I already took some of the rear TJM pics and asked if it was possible to reinforce and weld to put a 5k+ trailer load on it.

The Bottom Line: Any master welder can reinforce what you have to bring you up to class 4 and beyond. The nice thing about beefy frame trucks.

Scott Justusson

 

[Nay]

CDan's setup is similar to Slee - why not just start with the Slee hitch sans the braces back to the frame? It sits up close to the bumper so there is no cost of depature angle - people with the pintle hitches (or other hitches mounted to the stock bolts) have to unbolt them for steep climbs and you'll drag a stock mounted hitch everywhere. Plus you get safety chain hookups so you aren't messing with a need for frame mounts.

For class II towing (2,500 lbs) you could just bolt this through the TJM and crossmember and weld it to the TJM bumper and back to the rear of the crossmember with a backing plate if you really thought it was necessary. You can cut the length off several inches if needed for the gas tank clearance (it is longer than necessary).

It's the perfect prefabricated base for what you are talking about.

Nay