Rear Towing bumper Info

[JR74CJ5]

Hey all,

Not sure where to put this, and not sure if already has a thread somewhere...

Need a rear bumper with receiver hitch (square hole) for towing my boat.

Everywhere i look they all say fits 76 and higher CJ... So I'm thinking of making it.

I like this one: Procomp Rock Crawler Rear Bumper w/ D-Ring Shackles (Black)*66167 by the Jeep Specialists | Morris 4x4 Center

But again it says only for 76 and higher... That means it probably wouldn't fit right? Would it be best to buy this and customize it???

Wondering if anyone has some photo's and guidance they're willing to share to help me figure out exactly what i need to buy and the best ways to attach it... (extra braces or just weld to frame...) Etc...

Or even a "buy and fly" model i haven't been able to find yet...



~ JR

 

[Sasquach]

How heavy is your boat? The bumper you mentioned is really stout but they only bolt onto the end of the frame rails and are not going to be good for carrying much weight. A true receiver hitch would want to have more of a triangular attachment to the frame and with the fuel tank in the way of that scenario, sounds like a custom build of some sort?

 

[JR74CJ5]

The boat is actually pretty light... Here's a few pics too... Not really sure exact weight...

Yeah I'm thinking little more custom...

I would like to bolt and weld some l channel to the bumper and bumper to the frame, and then (somehow without going too much lower) weld in a few custom hook-ups to somewhere...

So wondering what others have done... I want to tow the boat up to Ice house for couple days of loon lake fishing / boating, then few days on Rubicon trail etc. Otherwise 20 Miles to lakes and rivers around me all flat ground etc.

I'm sure there are others that like to use their jeeps to tow. I don't want to loose the rear tank even though i have the smaller under drivers-seat tank too...

Thanks all,
~ JR

 

[Busted Knuckles]

So wondering what others have done... I want to tow the boat up to Ice house for couple days of loon lake fishing / boating, then few days on Rubicon trail etc. Otherwise 20 Miles to lakes and rivers around me all flat ground etc.


Thanks all,
~ JR

Jr....

First off, a big "you suck",...boating at Ice House and Loon Lake... as I look at the window at a sea of farm land with no trees, no hills and no bodies of waters. Ive camped at Ice House, and Spider Lake, guessing you know where that is... (yes I hate it here and Im jealous!) I had my kayak with me too when I was there.

Secondly, make sure youre back brakes are 100% functioning. My pickup was loaned out one day, and my buddy says to me, "lets go boating" I reluctantly agreed, so he comes over with his 79 CJ5 . We get to the boat ramp, I jump in the boat, he starts backing down the ramp to the river. Next thing I know we are picking up speed and I can hear 33"s "All Terrains" howling, all the way down the ramp until the boat "floated" in the water.

His back brakes where not "operational". The front brakes along with the weight of the jeep could not hold the boat "back". I hope your boat is light, Cjs are not real adept at trailering anything, this isnt tiny or light, the math is just bad. Not saying dont do it, but....

Good luck, enjoy your time up there, I did.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Jr....

First off, a big "you suck"

Not at you, but with you lol

Secondly, make sure youre back brakes are 100% functioning. My pickup was loaned out one day, and my buddy says to me, "lets go boating" I reluctantly agreed, so he comes over with his 79 CJ5 . We get to the boat ramp, I jump in the boat, he starts backing down the ramp to the river. Next thing I know we are picking up speed and I can hear 33"s "All Terrains" howling, all the way down the ramp until the boat "floated" in the water.

His back brakes where not "operational". The front brakes along with the weight of the jeep could not hold the boat "back". I hope your boat is light, Cjs are not real adept at trailering anything, this isnt tiny or light, the math is just bad. Not saying dont do it, but....

Definitely. Actually planning for front, and maybe rear disc brake conversion before much towing... I will also need to ensure parking brake is operational and able to hold better than now... Mostley since the PO did something to break the welds on the cross member that the emergency brake cable attaches to... Still haven't figured out that one yet...

Good luck, enjoy your time up there, I did.

:drool: (now I'm jealous...)

I've never been across it yet... (Rubicon Trail) been to the start a few times, and messed around with my full size ford at the wentwroth springs (not sure the spelling there...) entrance... Camped airport flats mere minutes away for 10+ years now... But never yet have i had the pleasure of the full trail ride. That's the main reason i bought a jeep... Grew up listening to grandfather speak and tell stories of the trail and his time with jeep club there... Now his son (my Uncle) and I are planning to re-start up the old club, with new faces, and start making our own stories...
And thanks man , Will do...
~ JR

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Not at you, but with you lol



Definitely. Actually planning for front, and maybe rear disc brake conversion before much towing... I will also need to ensure parking brake is operational and able to hold better than now... Mostley since the PO did something to break the welds on the cross member that the emergency brake cable attaches to... Still haven't figured out that one yet...



:drool: (now I'm jealous...)

I've never been across it yet... (Rubicon Trail) been to the start a few times, and messed around with my full size ford at the wentwroth springs (not sure the spelling there...) entrance... Camped airport flats mere minutes away for 10+ years now... But never yet have i had the pleasure of the full trail ride. That's the main reason i bought a jeep... Grew up listening to grandfather speak and tell stories of the trail and his time with jeep club there... Now his son (my Uncle) and I are planning to re-start up the old club, with new faces, and start making our own stories...
And thanks man , Will do...
~ JR

Plan on it be a slow go, as in "traffic", also plan on some damage. More lift the better. Its hard on jeeps, and near impossible with full size trucks, but Im sure you are well aware of that. I was with a guy who lost an axle shaft, and had to leave the jeep up there. Paid a mechanic to go up with him and replace the shaft, coulndt believe the jeep wasnt parted out overnight, but it was in late November.

Speaking of old men, and the rubicon, Ive run that with the "Mountian Goats ?", a club out of SAC. I think we called them the "Old Goats". I used to be employed by a contractor out of Placerville, working primarly in the midwest, but they had too much work on the west coast, so I found my self working the bay and SAC area regularly, and would go wheeling on the weekends. I kept a 2dr Cherokee out there, for something to do.

Have you been to Malakof Diggins Mine, or that old mining town, I cant remember the name, its on the service raods, might be north of the Rubicon, something like "xxxxfield" ? The attached pic is from that little town, its abandon town the forset service keeps up ?

After the sky fell, and I lost my job, I flew out ond day and drove the jeep back, it now hides in barn. Its a rarity around here, a 2dr XJ, and its Rust Free, thats something you just dont see.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Never been there... Grandpa used to talk about a old hotel on or around the trail, but i think it was in wentworth springs... Not sure

Mostly we've driven around the area... Being a ECV Clamper, I've been into Georgetown, seen the bell in the old bar that is tied to a string through the ceiling and attached to the springs of honeymoon suite bed springs

Funny story i was told a few times, new husband and wife there, bell starts ringing, everyone laughing except one guy who orders a double shot... After a min, people start wondering why he's being so sour... Well he was the husband and stepped out for a few drinks leaving his wife in room above... New meaning to bell-hop lol

Been to loon, spider, union valey, and girle creek lakes up there and a few other little bar's mostly, Rob's resort, Ice house store, another small one on road between ice house rd and georgetown... Can't remember the name...

But i plan on seeing anything i can around there... If by chance you do remember the name or something let me know, i think it would be awesome to see an old site like that... We (my family) love to see old towns... I've always been a fan of the older days...

 

[JR74CJ5]

Did a quick google search of that mine...

This looks like the same as your pic right?

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

They should have a map... going to read up more in min... Still at work

North Bloomfield!! That sound right?
~ JR

 

[Busted Knuckles]

One of the "Old Goats" Rob, god rest his soul, used to take us on history tours of the eldo and tahoe forests, he was a CA history buff as a hobby, and liked wheeling.

Anyhow, I just dropped a call to one of the guys that was with me on one of those trips. I also found what was claimed to be the oldest "bar" in CA that was still in business, but that was almost 6 years ago, I dont remember what town that was in, but it was tiny, cool old bar. Basically untouched since it had opened.

That old mining town seemed to be near the Malakof Diggins Mine. Thats a cool place to check out, but research if first, so you understand what your looking at.

Ok, I just figured it out, its "North Bloomfield, CA", google maps that,....

I was right, its north of Ice House / Rubicon, its way north (other side of I80) you drive to Neveda City, and there abouts you hit forest service roads, anyhow, the Malakoff mine and N. Bloomfield are only about a mile apart, its a good day trip youd enjoy, nice scenery, not challanging off roading though.

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Did a quick google search of that mine...

This looks like the same as your pic right?

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

They should have a map... going to read up more in min... Still at work

North Bloomfield!! That sound right?
~ JR

Yes, I was tpying while you posted that, you found it...

 

[Busted Knuckles]

If you make it up there, take some pics and post them. I have more, but not on this pc... I took some really cool pics on those trips...

 

[JR74CJ5]

Sweet! I'll check that out one of these days... No worries its not challenging off road, we like going to those old places like that...

Sounds kind of corny, but i always imagine myself with a six shooter and cowboy boot when walking through those older towns...

lol

Thanks again though Busted... I appreciate the info on a great idea for a trip! If when we go, I'll be sure to shoot some pictures your way if you're interested...

You know, just got an idea... Would be a cool thread to start a great jeeping / historical destinations list compiled from all the users here.

 

[JR74CJ5]

If you make it up there, take some pics and post them. I have more, but not on this pc... I took some really cool pics on those trips...

This time i was writing while you posted lol

~ JR

 

[Busted Knuckles]

...

Sounds kind of corny, but i always imagine myself with a six shooter and cowboy boot when walking through those older towns...

You know, just got an idea... Would be a cool thread to start a great jeeping / historical destinations list compiled from all the users here.

Im always pack heat when wheeling, especially in CA, you dont know what meth lab your going to run into while out running the service roads (not so much on the Rubicon),....so the 6-shooter is highly recommended.

Yes, it would be a cool thread,...Ive done other wheeling like that in Oregon and in Montana as well... I like combining both myself.

 

[JR74CJ5]

Where do you think CJ would want that kind of thread? Here in Misc, or other non cj related or??

CJ i know you're out there man... lol

Where should that "cool jeepin' destinations" thread be started or is there one?

Also, not that i minded the side track at all, cool info...

Back to the towing... Anyone??

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Back to the towing... Anyone??

Your probably looking at buying a 2" reciever hitch and cutting it down and fabbing to fit, either that or keep your eyes on ebay, and google. Im in the middle of moving, and my parts books are boxed up somewhere (Id get you the part OE number), but in the back of the factory parts manual are all the factory accessories, if you had the number and you started googling the part number you might get lucky and find one NOS. Youd be surprised how much of that stuff is still around.

There are yo-yo's like me that are still sitting on piles of NOS AMC Jeep Parts. I bought out "Mepco's" OEM NOS parts, in SLC, youre too young to remember them, they started selling NOS/Surplus jeep parts back in the 60s, they would buy out failed Jeep dealers inventories all over the country and re-sell, the founder recently retired and his son decided he only wanted to play with the new stuff, and I was lucky enough to asborb all their Pre-YJ parts all the way back to Willys. They changed their name, and now sell high end axle and lift parts.

I dont have the only stash, there are several of us out around, Ive met a couple...

The aftermarket did make 2" recievers, I have bought at least one Cj that had one, or at least it looked "factory" made. You might find one of those as well.

Have you checked that "all jeep" yard In SAC, all I remember is its by the train depot. To see if they have any used units ?

 

[JR74CJ5]

Yeah j& w wreckers but they don't seem very helpful like they want my business... Seemed a little tweekish last time too... But they had a lot of stuff... I bought some heater cables and the housing for one of my many small tasks... Just the flat bumper from them was pretty expensive...

My uncles 72 has the tow package setup so I have his to go off already when ready to fab mine... Just was wanting some design Input before going to town on it...

 

[JR74CJ5]

So, I plan on doing a full write up on this later...

But here is Uncles that was my idea "inspiration" for this...

(sorry, some of the pics are rotated kinda funny...)

 

[JR74CJ5]

And so far here's what i did this weekend...

And the reason why I didn't get more done... 7" grinder & loose wire (another project) almost took 2 fingers off

What do you guys think so far huh?

~ JR

By the way, what you are looking at (bumper i fab'ed) is 2x6 rectangle steel 1/4" thick hollow center. Planning on cutting hole out for receiver in center bottom... I'll show / type full plans and finished product when my fingers work typing again...

 

[Busted Knuckles]

Looks great, Id think about some corner "L" brackets where the back of the bumper and the side of the frame meet, unless youre really confident on the penetration of your welds. It would also increase youre over all surface area. Dig the embedded receiver to come, should look good, 1/4" is overkill, so you should be good to go.