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Topic: Wrangler tow on aftermarket bumper
Posted By: Mile High on 04/13/17 10:34am

Any thoughts on towing a Wrangler with an aftermarket bumper using the D-ring eyes? I have a Blue ox baseplate still in the box, and now thinking about a winch, which of course leads to maybe changing out the bumper. The problem is very few aftermarket bumpers allow for the base plate below.

I know the D-ring eyes are designed for pulling, and I know I can get some Blue Ox adapters to fit them, but are all bumpers rated to do that? Seems I may be going out on a limb bypassing the Blue Ox baseplate with regards to intended use.

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Posted By: tropical36 on 04/13/17 10:50am

Mile High wrote:

Any thoughts on towing a Wrangler with an aftermarket bumper using the D-ring eyes? I have a Blue ox baseplate still in the box, and now thinking about a winch, which of course leads to maybe changing out the bumper. The problem is very few aftermarket bumpers allow for the base plate below.

I know the D-ring eyes are designed for pulling, and I know I can get some Blue Ox adapters to fit them, but are all bumpers rated to do that? Seems I may be going out on a limb bypassing the Blue Ox baseplate with regards to intended use.

About the only thing I can say on the subject is that with my DEMCO base plate, it doesn't pull on the bumper itself, but is tucked in behind the frame plates, that the bumper is attached to and utilizing most of the same bolts for attaching. With my setup and for it to pull loose the whole end of the frame, including the bumper would have to come off, as it doesn't really pull against any bolts, as per say.
Seems to me, that this base plate would also work with an aftermarket bumper, but then, I'd have to give it a good looksee first.
I can also get adapters for my tow bar to fit any base plate and am presently using a NSA READYBRUTE/ELITE.

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Posted By: anakindogwalker on 04/13/17 11:45am

I tow my Jeep Wrangler attaching to the bumper via the d-ring eyes. I have a LOD bumper with a winch. No problems.

Posted By: scrubjaysnest on 04/13/17 12:11pm

Several after market bumpers are available with Blue Ox compatible attachment points and are winch ready. Found this out after we had all ready bought the base plate and separate winch mounting plate. Cost is about the same.

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Posted By: msmith1199 on 04/13/17 01:21pm

I was looking at the same thing for my Jeep and decided just to keep the stock front bumper. I'm not a heavy duty four-wheeler, so I decided what I would do is get a winch mounted that can fit in a 2 inch receiver and I would use it on the back if needed. The times I've need a winch in a 4x4 (and didn't have one) it would have been better on the rear. I'm not going to climb a hill that the vehicle can't get up on it's own power, so my use for a winch would be getting unstuck from someplace I got stuck and odds are in that scenario you would need to pull out from the back anyway.

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Posted By: Y-Guy on 04/13/17 04:53pm

Every bumper manufacturer I reached out to did not recommenced towing with the D-Rings. However, there are a few manufacturers that make ones that engineered and back up by the manufacturer, these are usually bumpers that the bolts pass through the bumper. That said I think a 2 door might be reasonable, but I won't do it with my 4 door.

Here are a few threads for you.

Jeep Wrangler aftermarket bumper and bracket

2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited setup opinions

Custom Made Bumper

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Posted By: Ductape on 04/13/17 04:55pm

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-8000-bo.htm

I towed a JK with a Rockhard bumper. Worked great.

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Posted By: TechWriter on 04/13/17 05:19pm

Ductape wrote:

https://www.rockhard4x4.com/product_p/rh-8000-bo.htm

I towed a JK with a Rockhard bumper. Worked great.

Similar to my aftermarket Rugged Ridge XHD Modular with Storage ends.

Eight bolts (4 on each side) hold the bumper to the Jeep's frame, and the 1" D-ring mounts attach to these bolts.

Since I already had a BlueOx tow bar, I was able to modify it to connect to the 1" D-rings. Because we do some off-roading, I did not want to use a BlueOx baseplate as it would be in a easily "damageable" location -- my JK Rubicon.

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Posted By: WI on 04/14/17 06:51am

I have a Warn front bumper & use the d-ring mounts with no issue. I know Warn does not "rate" the bumper for flat towing. I believe many manufactures don't want to go through the expense of certification or possible liability issues for a small market potential. I am confident that my d-ring mounts have been jerked on much harder getting me out of, over, or off of obstacles than they will encounter towing my Jeep.

Posted By: Mile High on 04/14/17 10:24am

Thanks all for the feedback and great info. I'm getting an education. Looks like it is very doable with the higher end bumpers rated for towing.

As I'm a week over returning my base plate, and a rated bumper may be $800-$1000, I think I'll do the baseplate for now and maybe try the Barricade Trailforce bumper. It looks like it would fit above the base plate.

One thing about a Jeep - nothing stays the same too long.

Posted By: Thunder Mountain on 04/14/17 12:47pm

Since you are in the Denver area, give Tomken in Buena Vista a call at 719-395-2526. I had him make my bumper with the rescue ring attachment points to fit my Blue Ox tow bar. To make D rings fit in the narrow Blue Ox hard points, I had to grind them down a bit. Just dumb simple to hitch up. Check out this Tomken bumper.

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Posted By: crasster on 04/14/17 01:17pm

Not sure why the aftermarket bumper would make any difference if it is made out of the same gauge steel as factory.... I don't think you'll have any issues.

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Posted By: msmith1199 on 04/14/17 02:05pm

crasster wrote:

Not sure why the aftermarket bumper would make any difference if it is made out of the same gauge steel as factory.... I don't think you'll have any issues.


It's about fit, not what the bumper is made of. The base plates attach to the frame under the bumper. Aftermarket bumpers block access.

Posted By: Mile High on 04/14/17 04:32pm

crasster wrote:

Not sure why the aftermarket bumper would make any difference if it is made out of the same gauge steel as factory.... I don't think you'll have any issues.


For me, I'm not a good judge of what is enough steel. If I eliminate the base plate and go direct to the aftermarket bumper, I just want to know its rated for it and safe. Heck, I see how many busted tow bars and tabs there are on the forum, so not something I want to take too lightly. Some of this aftermarket is for glitter, and may not actually be designed for a full time tow versus jerking it out of the ditch.

Sounds Like some good feedback and options though, and I'm not the first person to wonder this if the aftermarket folks and blue ox are already teaming and offer rated systems that don't require a base plate.

Posted By: Mile High on 04/14/17 04:36pm

Thunder Mountain wrote:

Since you are in the Denver area, give Tomken in Buena Vista a call at 719-395-2526. I had him make my bumper with the rescue ring attachment points to fit my Blue Ox tow bar. To make D rings fit in the narrow Blue Ox hard points, I had to grind them down a bit. Just dumb simple to hitch up. Check out this Tomken bumper.


Thanks Thunder Mountain. I assume that was to make them fit in the 1" 2 blade open blue ox connectors, or was that for the 3-blade like I have now?

Posted By: Thunder Mountain on 04/14/17 05:03pm

Mile High wrote:

Thunder Mountain wrote:

Since you are in the Denver area, give Tomken in Buena Vista a call at 719-395-2526. I had him make my bumper with the rescue ring attachment points to fit my Blue Ox tow bar. To make D rings fit in the narrow Blue Ox hard points, I had to grind them down a bit. Just dumb simple to hitch up. Check out this Tomken bumper.


Thanks Thunder Mountain. I assume that was to make them fit in the 1" 2 blade open blue ox connectors, or was that for the 3-blade like I have now?


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Posted By: Mile High on 04/14/17 09:12pm

Very nice!

Posted By: SnoBear on 04/15/17 10:22am

I have the RockHard bumper setup with their Roadmaster tow mounts that bolt through the bumper to the frame. I use the D-Rings for my safety cables. Only towed my 4 door JKU 11,000 miles so far, but all seems to be solid.

Posted By: JohnnyT on 04/15/17 01:24pm

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Posted By: JimM68 on 04/17/17 09:42am

crasster wrote:

Not sure why the aftermarket bumper would make any difference if it is made out of the same gauge steel as factory.... I don't think you'll have any issues.


The factory bumpers are made of sheet metal, except for the end caps (they call them "milkjugs") which are plastic!

When I towed a 2000 TJ Wrangler, I used Rockhard bumpers. They are 1/4" formed and welded steel plate, made to take a lickin and keep on tickin. At that time, Blue Ox sold towbar tabs for $52.

I through bolted the tabs to the bumper, and the bumper attached with grade 5 hardware that went completely through vertically, with the frame sandwiched by the bumper. The whole setup was very strong.

Additionally, this setup provided a much better approach angle than the factory bumper (even with the tow bar tabs) and HUGELY better than a baseplate which would hang below the factory bumper.

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Posted By: pauldub on 04/18/17 09:25pm

I towed my XJ Cherokee off an aftermarket bumper. I made my own adapters to fit the tow bar to the tabs on the bumper. I now have a 4Runner and I'm towing it off the smallish tabs on the ARB bumper.

Posted By: BradW on 05/02/17 02:33pm

SnoBear wrote:

I have the RockHard bumper setup with their Roadmaster tow mounts that bolt through the bumper to the frame. I use the D-Rings for my safety cables. Only towed my 4 door JKU 11,000 miles so far, but all seems to be solid.


I think RockHard is one of the very few aftermarket JK bumper manufacturers who has a good set-up for flat towing using their bumper. I bought one of their Blue Ox towbar adapters that I will be using with a modified Poison Spyder bumper.

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