Topic: Warn Rock Crawler Rear Bumper

[Owachi13]

Does anyone currently have one of these bumpers? I am about 90% certain this is the bumper that I want to replace my tubular bumper I currently have. The only thing I am uncertain about is using it to pull a utility trailer. Has anyone ever pulled a trailer with this bumper/hitch? I will probably never have more than 1000 lbs. on my trailer, and the tongue weight will probably never exceed 200 lbs. due to the fact that I keep the trailer pretty well balanced. Warn does not "tow rate" their bumpers, however their customer service told that they do "pull rate" them and it is "pull rated" for well over 10,000 lbs. I just want to make sure this is an adequate bumper for off-road use and light towing. Any input is appreciated!

[SMC4WD]

I've spoke to Warn about this and this is what they told me.  Their bumper is not rated for towing...   The costs to make it tow worthy is too expensive (maybe that's not the reason) but the didn't want to go through all the R&D and reinforcements to make it so.

You'll notice that there are no safety chain hook ups on the 2" receiver tube.  Nor is there an additional weld around the opening of the 2" receiver.  Warn won't recommend towing with it.

There are alot of other companies that you could look into if your looking for towing capabilities...   I personally like Garvin Industries (Wilderness racks), and I read in a magazine that Hansen Enterprise makes a beautiful unit.

[Jeffy]

Yeah, I douby they will say it's tow rated.  Too much liability with that.  BUT, people do tow with them.

Hanson makes really nice bumpers but they are $$$$.

Now only if I could get one of ARB's new rear tire carrier bumpers for a realistic price.... :wink:

[Jesse-James]

Another option would be to go with one of the "fabricators" off Ebay, nice prices and you get exactly what you want. I got my front one from Thrillercustoms for 125.00 and is very solid. It is also sealed to be used as the tank for my OBA setup that is currently in process. I know his rear one has the reinforced tube and safety chains for towing for about 100.00 and is made out of 3/16" thick tube.

[callenst]

I have one in my garage.   The one without the tire carrier.   I used to put my dirtbike on a rack off of it.   It held up fine.   I also pulled a trailer with it.   No safety chain hookups.   Just weld them on yourself if you need or live dangerously with out them.   I just zipped tied them to the trailer.   Its a good bumper.  

TC

[SMC4WD]

Now only if I could get one of ARB's new rear tire carrier bumpers for a realistic price.... :wink:

Ya, I don't know about those ARB guys...  They've been advertising that rear bumper for almost a year now...  Rumor has it by summer it'll be out.  They've finally released a part number and Qtec has been advertising them for a while.  



But with both the Warn and the ARB, I've begged and pleaded with them to add 'at least' a hi-lift jack mount.  Every 4wheeler out there has a hi-lift...  It's as important as a CB, or recovery equipment...   Why these guys never added that feature, is beyond me.  (Although with that ARB still in the production stage, you never know )

Hi-lift provisions, towing capabilities, ability to add on additional parts and pieces...  This are reasons to choose Garvin, or Hanson...

[Owachi13]

Well, went ahead and got the bumper, and its actually much heavier and thicker than I had been expecting. I really don't think there will be much of an issue with the light towing I plan to be doing with it. Installation was a b*tch though, and I was unable to get one of the 10 bolts installed because I did not want to go through dropping the gas tank to get to it, plus my gas tank was FULL OF GAS...however, I am going to weld the two bottom tabs to the frame just to make sure at some point in the near future. Also, had to do so homemade fabrication on the reciever hitch, the reciever tube that is intergrated into the warn bumper is capped on the back side, so a regular reciever hitch is too long. I cut it off after a quick measurement and then drilled a new hole. Its all nice and snug and from what I can tell I think it will be fine. Only time will tell. I will give an update after I pull with it a few times. Thanks for all that replied with their input!

[Ken]

I have this bumper and although it isn't rated for towing, I havent had any problems. I tow Jeeps home all the time with a dolly from u-haul and have pulled many f fullsize trucks from the mudholes pictured on this boards front page with it. I highly recommend it. I agree wih Jeffy on the Hanson Bumpers. They look awesome.

[Owachi13]

Thanks for the input...That does make me feel better about it. I have been pulling a 5X8 utility trailer behind my jeep a few times with it. Hauled mostly gear so far and have been a little nervous about it. I have been upping the weight a little at a time to see if I see any ill effects, and I haven't pulled my 4-wheeler yet with it. I would hate to see that thing bouncing down the side of the freeway in my rear view. I think I will go ahead and try it this weekend with the 4-wheeler and see how it goes. So far it has stood up well, like I said, I just don't want to endanger anyone, so I was taking it easy until I had confidence that it could take a heavier load weight without failing.

[SMC4WD]

So an update on that ARB rear bumper...

The design has been slightly changed and to my joy and happiness...  It accepts a high lift jack and tow hitch.

 http://www.arbusa.com/New_Product_Advices/jeep_wrangler_rear_protection_bar.pdf

It's still a real lotta money...  but is the very best worth it...   We'll see.  

**  It does not work on a YJ (yet).  I'm pleading to see if the engineering dept. would allow me to try, but I hear that it'll never happen.  It's like telling the designing team that it isn't made correctly and I'm going to change their design to suit my needs...  That doesn't go over well in the corporate world  :(

[SMC4WD]

[jcsanders79]

I Just installed one on my TJ and the way it is bolted up it super strong.  It comes with frame strengthening brackets.  The bumer is much more stout than the one I was replacing; a smittybilt tube bumper and it was tow rated (class I).  You have probable aready made your decision but it might help you relax when towing.