It looks very similar to the one I have been using for several years, and several thousand miles. I had it on a Datsun diesel pickup, a CJ5, a Wrangler, my son's Wrangler Rubicon, and now it is going on another Wrangler Rubicon. I have had zero problems with it. I used 1 1/2 X 3 X 1/4 steel reinforcing plates behind the stock bumpers. Never had any noticeable bending or pulling of the bolt holes. I use standard Grade 5 bolts to attach the brackets.
I know nothing about the Wireless Lights that JCW are including with the towbar, but the set I looked at a while back were over $200 (special show price), and I paid, I think, $145 just for my towbar, so perhaps it is a good deal. Then again, a similar towbar, rated at 5000 lb. capacity, is available from Harbor Freight for about $50. Most towbar manufacturers have a similar low-priced adjustable towbar in their line for $150 to $200. I know Reese does, as does Valley.
Good luck.
CM1, USN (RET)
'94 Dodge 3500 4X2 CTD, Std. cab, LB, 5 speed, 4.10 LS diff., Jacobs Rambrake, 273,000 Miles
'99 Monaco McKenzie 32' triple slide
'95 Tioga 29H Ford-based Class C
Daily driver: '06 Jeep Liberty CRD
Towed: '06 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited
mowermech wrote: It looks very similar to the one I have been using for several years, and several thousand miles. I had it on a Datsun diesel pickup, a CJ5, a Wrangler, my son's Wrangler Rubicon, and now it is going on another Wrangler Rubicon. I have had zero problems with it. I used 1 1/2 X 3 X 1/4 steel reinforcing plates behind the stock bumpers. Never had any noticeable bending or pulling of the bolt holes. I use standard Grade 5 bolts to attach the brackets.
I know nothing about the Wireless Lights that JCW are including with the towbar, but the set I looked at a while back were over $200 (special show price), and I paid, I think, $145 just for my towbar, so perhaps it is a good deal. Then again, a similar towbar, rated at 5000 lb. capacity, is available from Harbor Freight for about $50. Most towbar manufacturers have a similar low-priced adjustable towbar in their line for $150 to $200. I know Reese does, as does Valley.
Good luck.
Thanks for the post. I just got a bar from Harbor Freight. Do you happend to have a picture on how it is mounted in your bumper?
mowermech wrote: It looks very similar to the one I have been using for several years, and several thousand miles. I had it on a Datsun diesel pickup, a CJ5, a Wrangler, my son's Wrangler Rubicon, and now it is going on another Wrangler Rubicon. I have had zero problems with it. I used 1 1/2 X 3 X 1/4 steel reinforcing plates behind the stock bumpers. Never had any noticeable bending or pulling of the bolt holes. I use standard Grade 5 bolts to attach the brackets.
I know nothing about the Wireless Lights that JCW are including with the towbar, but the set I looked at a while back were over $200 (special show price), and I paid, I think, $145 just for my towbar, so perhaps it is a good deal. Then again, a similar towbar, rated at 5000 lb. capacity, is available from Harbor Freight for about $50. Most towbar manufacturers have a similar low-priced adjustable towbar in their line for $150 to $200. I know Reese does, as does Valley.
Good luck.
Thanks for the post. I just got a bar from Harbor Freight. Do you happend to have a picture on how it is mounted in your bumper?
Sorry, no, I don't have any pictures, and I'm not much for computer literacy when it comes to putting up pictures. I am not using the stock bumper on the current installation, but the mounting is the same. I have the brackets centered on the flat portion of the bumper, centered at the frame rails. In other words, the brackets are centered horizontally on the bumper right where the bumper mounting bolts are, and centered vertically on the flat portion of the bumper. On one of the Jeeps, I had to grind a little of the frame ends off for clearance of the reinforcing plates. If your bumper fits snug against the end of the frame rails, this might be something you will have to do. I don't remember if the plates I used came with the towbar, or if we bought them. If the reinforcements you get with the towbar don't look good to you, just go get some 1 1/2 or 2 inch wide 1/4 or 3/16 inch thick flat steel bar, and make your own. Some people replace the Grade 5 fasteners with Grade 8, but I don't think that is necessary. So far, the Grade 5 bolts have done the job just fine for me. I do, however, recommend Grade 5 or better all-metal self locking nuts on the mounting bolts.
You will have to remove the bumper, install the brackets, and reinstall the bumper. I have never been able to figure out how to do the job with the bumper on the Jeep.
Good luck.
map40 wrote: Is this universal tow bar any good for my wrangler? Anybody has any experience with it?
I don't have any experience with it, but I do find it kind of scary that there are no weight ratings on it. Or did I miss them somewhere? I'm also not real thrilled with the thought of bolting it onto a bumper rather than the frame, there are some cars out there with pretty wimpy bumpers.
2007 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40PDQ 400 ISL Cummins/Allison
2002 Chevy Avalanche toad
Inside: Him, Her, and a pack of little furballs...
map40 wrote: Is this universal tow bar any good for my wrangler? Anybody has any experience with it?
I don't have any experience with it, but I do find it kind of scary that there are no weight ratings on it. Or did I miss them somewhere? I'm also not real thrilled with the thought of bolting it onto a bumper rather than the frame, there are some cars out there with pretty wimpy bumpers.
Thanks for the post. It has a 5K# rating. I will be bolted to the bumper of my jeep, it should be sturdy enough.
What year model Jeep bumper are you bolting it to? The TJ bumpers are not the same thinkness as the YJ and older bumpers. I believe the TJ's are 3/16 think and the YJ's are 5/16 thick.
I would just make sure if you have a TJ, that you put a good support plate on the back side of the bumper and center the brackets where the bumper bolts up to the frame. That should ensure you don't have bending or flexing of your bumper.
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