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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: oldjeep on July 11, 2008, 01:37:58 PM

Title: Tow bar drop
Post by: oldjeep on July 11, 2008, 01:37:58 PM

I bought a reese tow bar a while back but havn't installed it due to the angle that the bar would sit at.  I had a problem on my cj when I used to flat tow it with the downward angle of the tow bar making the jeep want to jump up during a hard stop.

I don't intend to pull it around much, but need an easy way to recover it if it breaks.  Once my wife gets home with the suv, I'll have to see if the jeep wants to track correctly.

Comes off with 4 bolts - not planning on leaving it there ;)

(http://www.oldjeep.com/images/YJ/July2008/P7110028.JPG)
(http://www.oldjeep.com/images/YJ/July2008/P7110029.JPG)

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: neale_rs on July 11, 2008, 02:01:48 PM

Looks good.  You might consider a brace from the bottom of the vertical bar to somewhere on the frame underneath to help handle the potential leverage on the bolts and bumper.

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: oldjeep on July 11, 2008, 02:38:58 PM

I'm not too worried about it.  The square tube is 1/4" wall, the bumper is atleast 1/4" thick and tied to the frame with 6  1/2" grade 8 bolts
(http://www.mn-jeep.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17156)

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: oldjeep on July 11, 2008, 02:39:58 PM

Quote from: oldjeep on July 11, 2008, 02:38:58 PM

I'm not too worried about it.  The square tube is 1/4" wall, the bumper is atleast 1/4" thick and tied to the frame with 6  1/2" grade 8 bolts

(http://www.oldjeep.com/images/YJ/July2008/P7110006.JPG)

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: oldjeep on July 11, 2008, 04:40:26 PM

Just finished up the last step - cut the column lock pin so that I don't have to leave the key in it when towing.  Now it's off to dinner and a movie in a nice air conditioned place.

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: neale_rs on July 11, 2008, 04:46:22 PM

Actually, it kind of reminds me of those stock low-hanging tow hitches the early CJs came with in the back.  They must have had similar torque on them and seemed to work OK.

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: Bounty Hunter on July 12, 2008, 02:10:35 AM

I have a 9" drop drawbar that slides in my 2" receiver of my jeep to tow trailers, simply flip it upside in my tow rig to get the towbar level.

Pretty squirelly if the towbar is anything but level.

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: oldjeep on July 12, 2008, 08:20:02 AM

Looks funny going down the road, but the YJ towed nice.  Only took it up to 55 mph, but it tracked well and wasn't flakey to stop.   I wouldn't go crosscountry like this, but for occasional recovery use or short trips it feels fine.


Before anyone asks, even though it looks small the Kia outweighs the jeep by 1300lbs.  The jeep is also at least 800lbs lighter than the boat we normally tow.

(http://www.oldjeep.com/images/YJ/July2008/P7120001.JPG)

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: aw12345 on July 12, 2008, 03:34:04 PM

Since you love to tinker you could try to fabricate a hydraulic brake setup like on a tandem axle boat trailer would alleviate the pushing when you try to do an emergency stop should not be that terribly complicated to built and would make towing a lot more managable

Title: Re: Tow bar drop
Post by: oldjeep on July 12, 2008, 06:54:03 PM

140 miles on the tow bar today with no problems, and I didn't break anything wheeling ;)    As far as brakes go, if it were an issue there are a lot of electro hydraulic brake actuators on the market.  The Sorrento brakes are big enough to stop everything in a hurry.