My first project - front hitch in stock bumper

[pugsly]

Hi Guys,

Having bought an XJ a few months back, and having some evil friends take me out wheeling, I've caught the bug.

First cab of the rank for me is to get winching abilities. I don't like the idea of spending $1300 of hard earned on a winch bar, and second hand bars seem as rare as hens teeth. I also like the idea of winching from back or front so a bar with an integrated hitch receiver would be ideal.

I'm not that worried about aesthetics for now. Just something functional and legal.

I was thinking about using a similar idea to what gojeep did with one of his integrated bars. I hope it's ok to link this image gojeep.



That is take a nice strong towbar, attach it to some nice chunky brackets and then somehow get the stock bumper (with old brackets removed of course) back on.

Has anyone tried this? Is there any reason it wouldn't work or I shouldn't try it?

[carvesdodo]

Originally Posted by pugsly

Has anyone tried this? Is there any reason it wouldn't work or I shouldn't try it?

It will work fine.

Just make sure you pick up plenty of mounting points on the body. Rolling the barmounts ( or welding some solid tabs ) under to incorporate the swaybar mounts wouldnt hurt either. Have a look at how some of the better "factory" winch bars are mounted for ideas.

Hardest part will be measuring where to weld on some brackets to remount the stock bar.

Out of interest .... are you making up a towhitch or modifying a spare one from somewhere .??

[pugsly]

Originally Posted by carvesdodo

Just make sure you pick up plenty of mounting points on the body.

The brackets that gojeep has made up look the business. From what I've seen from other forum posts and some recovery hook kits, it looks like the holes match up with where the bumper mount goes and one further back. If I could get that template it would help things along

Originally Posted by carvesdodo

Hardest part will be measuring where to weld on some brackets to remount the stock bar.

If that's the hardest bit I'll be happy.

Originally Posted by carvesdodo

Out of interest .... are you making up a towhitch or modifying a spare one from somewhere .??

I plan to modify a second hand one. Based on what I hear here, I'll grab something off ebay probably.

[Gojeep]

There is also a couple of extra brackets that bolt to the front of the crossmember to reinforce two of the bolts of the bumper mounts. You see it on one of my bumper build ups.
Also do a search for Hidden Hitch in the USA for a XJ as they have a front mounted one as well that will give you some ideas.

[pugsly]

Thanks Gojeep. I found the hidden hitch ones in my searches. They're almost what I want except they mount under the bumper which reduces clearance, and also is at a level where the mud is likely to be when wanting a recovery/winch and I'd rather minimise the torsional stresses on the brackets as I want to winch/recover from it - something your design does very nicely.

I don't suppose you would have a template for those brackets you made up at all? Also how did you cut the steel? It looks rather thick.

[Steve F]

Also have a look at detours 'backbone' system for some ideas using the stock bumper.

http://www.detoursusa.com/xjbackbone.php

Cheers
Steve

[cj4a nz]

the hitch i built for mine is out of 65 x 65 box to take a 50 x 50 box tow bar with a 20.5mm hole 110 mm from the end look up my rebuild its there
hope it helps