Ok well, I wanted some tow points on the front of my XJ.. this is what I ended up doing.
So sorry for the lousy pics. Its a 5 mega pix cam, but takes pics like a camera phone sometimes.
I cut down a old receiver hitch off a truck and mod it to fit between the frame rails of the XJ and to fit behind the stock bumper.
I use 3/16" steel plate for the new mounting brackets on the reciver hitch. I bolted it on the frame rails using 1/2" bolts, also held on by the steering box 7/16" bolts and then a 3/8" bolt that the stock bumper bracket uses.
As you can see, I put 3/16" steel on both sides of each frame rails.. I did this for strength and because I thought 3/16" on the outside only would not be good enough. For the inner bracket, I cut a square hole and glided the receiver hitch though it, and welded it up that way. Remember that ford truck commercial where they hung the truck by the receiver hitch.. will this pass that test ?
I cut off most of the stock front cross member to make room for this receiver hitch, and so I could put plate on the inside of the frame rails. I may add some bandiron on the bottom of the frame rail and weld it to the outside plate. I dont know if I need it.
Stock bumper here.. it is kind of rough.. but If I find a nice one, I could cut a neater hole in the middle and mount it.
I dont have any future plans to make a custom bumper.. I also am thinking a receiver hitch mounted winch would work good here. If I ever get a winch.
For now.. where can I get a good stinger ? Or.. how can I make a good stinger ? Solid stinger or tube stinger ?
So sorry for the lousy pics. Its a 5 mega pix cam, but takes pics like a camera phone sometimes.
I cut down a old receiver hitch off a truck and mod it to fit between the frame rails of the XJ and to fit behind the stock bumper.
I use 3/16" steel plate for the new mounting brackets on the reciver hitch. I bolted it on the frame rails using 1/2" bolts, also held on by the steering box 7/16" bolts and then a 3/8" bolt that the stock bumper bracket uses.
As you can see, I put 3/16" steel on both sides of each frame rails.. I did this for strength and because I thought 3/16" on the outside only would not be good enough. For the inner bracket, I cut a square hole and glided the receiver hitch though it, and welded it up that way. Remember that ford truck commercial where they hung the truck by the receiver hitch.. will this pass that test ?
I cut off most of the stock front cross member to make room for this receiver hitch, and so I could put plate on the inside of the frame rails. I may add some bandiron on the bottom of the frame rail and weld it to the outside plate. I dont know if I need it.
Stock bumper here.. it is kind of rough.. but If I find a nice one, I could cut a neater hole in the middle and mount it.
I dont have any future plans to make a custom bumper.. I also am thinking a receiver hitch mounted winch would work good here. If I ever get a winch.
For now.. where can I get a good stinger ? Or.. how can I make a good stinger ? Solid stinger or tube stinger ?