Topic: Tow Bars

[Jeffy]

Yet another thing I've been waiting to put on the Jeep.  Is there any difference between them?  I mean the basic ones that are around $100.  Reese, Hidden Hitch, Draw Hitch, etc...

[Mozman68]

For those, I would just go with whichever one is the easiest to mount and/or the cleanest profile.

[Jeffy]

For those, I would just go with whichever one is the easiest to mount and/or the cleanest profile.

They all seem to look alike.  Mounting is simple since I've got the stock bumper.  I'd just need to drill some holes and that's it.  I'll probably get the hidden hitch harness which just plugs into the rear lights so I won't have to splice diodes into everything else.

[az_zoner]

They all really do look a like. I purchased a Curt for around 120 bucks. I drilled the holes so they split the area where the frame mounts to the bumper. I've got maybe 1500 or so pulling it behind our motohome with no problems. Main thing is to set the drop hitch so the tow bar is level If it up or down with to much of an angle it will launch the jeep into to back of your tow vehicle or force it down where the bars will actually bend. I also use the coiled safty cables instead of chains. keeps it clean looking.

One of the other jeeps forum has and article on adding an extra light socket to the standard jeep tail light. I did that and ran the wires up to the front of the jeep where we plug it into the motohome for brake, signal and runnign lights. It worked out pretty cool too. here is the link. http://www.wranglerforum.com/f5/setting-up-my-tj-to-flat-tow-136535.html

CB

[jwalls4x4]

I got the tow bar without the hardware at a local auction for $12.     ...but, that caused me to pay $90 for front tow shackles.     So, I'm $102 in.  I think mine is a Reese brand, idk.

[Jeffy]

They all really do look a like. I purchased a Curt for around 120 bucks. I drilled the holes so they split the area where the frame mounts to the bumper. I've got maybe 1500 or so pulling it behind our motohome with no problems. Main thing is to set the drop hitch so the tow bar is level If it up or down with to much of an angle it will launch the jeep into to back of your tow vehicle or force it down where the bars will actually bend. I also use the coiled safty cables instead of chains. keeps it clean looking.

One of the other jeeps forum has and article on adding an extra light socket to the standard jeep tail light. I did that and ran the wires up to the front of the jeep where we plug it into the motohome for brake, signal and runnign lights. It worked out pretty cool too. here is the link. http://www.wranglerforum.com/f5/setting-up-my-tj-to-flat-tow-136535.html

CB

I don't need any extra lights since I'm running LED's.  I was looking at this harness, http://www.quadratec.com/products/92015_03.htm.  Seems it's plug and play.  I don't plan on towing my Jeep BUT  it makes life a lot easier if the Jeep breaks down.  It's more of a plan B.

[Bounty Hunter]

You want the tow bar level or slightly down toward the tow rig so it pushes downward slightly during braking.  This requires me to run a huge drop hitch upside down to be close to level with the YJ's bumper.  I run some simple generic towbar with 2 brackets permanently mounted to the stock YJ bumper.

[Jeffy]

You want the tow bar level or slightly down toward the tow rig so it pushes downward slightly during braking.  This requires me to run a huge drop hitch upside down to be close to level with the YJ's bumper.  I run some simple generic towbar with 2 brackets permanently mounted to the stock YJ bumper.

I think my bumper lines up ok to a full-size 4x4 truck. Would be high for a 2x4 and even more so on a smaller 4x4 like an S10.  Might be better to get some tow-shackles.

[aka-justin]

I don't need any extra lights since I'm running LED's.  I was looking at this harness, http://www.quadratec.com/products/92015_03.htm.  Seems it's plug and play.  I don't plan on towing my Jeep BUT  it makes life a lot easier if the Jeep breaks down.  It's more of a plan B.

Going to hook up to your brake lights, you should run some diodes. I wired mine up pretty easy - used a set of diodes for left and right, a trailer wiring kit, and made a quick disconnect. You can get some heavy duty ones from radio shack, they have some 6a 50v ones for a few bucks, or by the "RV" ones. I had used the roadmaster 790s from my local rv store. LED or not, it's best to isolate the vehicles turn and brake. The running lights wiring is simpler and not as necessary to isolate - alarms output 12v all the time to that circuit to blink your lights when the alarm is triggered or car is locked/unlocked without inline diodes.
or

Super easy to wire.

I initially didn't make the quick disconnect wire, but drove over the trailer 4 pin flat connector forcing me to fix it some how.

[Jeffy]

Going to hook up to your brake lights, you should run some diodes. I wired mine up pretty easy - used a set of diodes for left and right, a trailer wiring kit, and made a quick disconnect. You can get some heavy duty ones from radio shack, they have some 6a 50v ones for a few bucks, or by the "RV" ones. I had used the roadmaster 790s from my local rv store. LED or not, it's best to isolate the vehicles turn and brake. The running lights wiring is simpler and not as necessary to isolate - alarms output 12v all the time to that circuit to blink your lights when the alarm is triggered or car is locked/unlocked without inline diodes.

Super easy to wire.

I initially didn't make the quick disconnect wire, but drove over the trailer 4 pin flat connector forcing me to fix it some how.

The harness I posted earlier bypasses the need to so that though.  The harness plugs directly into the rear lights.  Like I said before I'm not planning on flat towing my Jeep around.  I want to do this so I've got a way of towing it if something breaks.