Towing on a stock 1990 HDJ81 - rating?

[podiev]

HDJ81 owners,

My 1990 HDJ81 came with a pintle hook on the rear bumper. looked underneath at pintle hook was bolted on the rear bumper using four bolts. The rear bumper in itself seems welded to the frame (or part of the framw). I cannot see any mods being done by the PO. So my thinking is that the pintle hook setup is stock.

Can I tow another car using that pintlehook? How about another LC? What is the tow rating?

The reason for this question is that I might have read somewhere on the 80-series section (can't remember) that the US-specs LC80s are not rated for towing (stock). Hence they usually attach receivers like DrawTite. Probably because the receivers are somehow better bolted to the frame (than just the rear bumper).

I have not done any towing since we got the rig two years ago. But we might do in the future. Am considering getting a trailer for hauling stuff. But before I spend more time/money on the trailer, I need to know whether I need "to beef" the stock LC80 first so it can tow. What mods do I need to do to use the pintlehook for towing?

 

[crushers]

is it bolted to the bumper or to the rear frame cross member?
rear frame cross member is good for 3500 #

 

[podiev]

is it bolted to the bumper or to the rear frame cross member?
rear frame cross member is good for 3500 #

I don't have the actual pics right now but I have attached the following for illustration purposes.

picA - viewing from the outside, the pintlehook is bolted to the bumper (red circle)

pic B - viewing from from behind/underneath the bumper, the nuts for the bolts can be seen to be attached to the red line that I indicated. And I can only access the lower two nuts from behind. The upper two bolts were threaded directly to the stock holes. I know this because I had my mechanic replace the bolts about 4 weeks ago (the PO used different styled bolts - so for aesthetic purposes, I had all replaced by the same style bolt.

does this mean the hook is bolted to the rear frame cross member? (which from my diagram is the one in green).

thanks for the quick response.

 

[roscoFJ73]

If you get under there you should be able to see if it goes through the bumper.

Normally a heavy duty tow bar comes under and up ,completely separate from the bumper

Most towbars sit lower than the bumper so the trailer sits level.
The one below appears fixed to the bumper and the frame.
Im guessing yours is fixed where those 4 bolts on the bumper are,normally there is a U shaped recovery point there.

 

[podiev]

my lc80 is not with me until this weekend so I can't snap a pic. But the pintlehook goes to the 4 holes on the bumper where you tow bar connects to. And it does pass through the whole bumper. Am not sure though if the bolts pass through the rear frame xmember. But it looks like it as I don't see any mods done by a PO (like new welding or something). And from what can tell aside from the RHD to LHD conversion done on the rig, the LC is stock

I'll post a pic next week so that you guys can see. Nothing critical anyway at this point.

 

[denis]

What you see as the bumper is really the frame crossmember. The only bumper thing on a 80 series are the side platic trims

 

[crushers]

and there is your answer...
that hitching spot is good for 3500# in my judgement...

 

[podiev]

thanks a lot for your help. now I can tow!!!