Tow Bar

I have a 1980 cj5 and am towing it 4 down( I dont want to start the towing discussion) I just want to know what tow bars people out there use for their jeeps. I bought a cheap one this weekend and sheareed the bolts off just driving down the street... now I must get a good one ...




Thanks

Michael

 

What grade bolts were they? For a mounted tow-bar, i always run grade 8 bolts.....haven't sheared any of them yet R)

 

I have this style towbar:

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/m...ore_Code=E&Product_Code=2480&Category_Code=TB

I have flat-towed my Early Bronco with it behind my Excursion with no problems. I agree on the Grade 8 bolts and make sure the bolts are a tight fit in the holes so there is no play in the brackets.

 

I'd recommend getting grade 8 bolts too, but get some that have enough of an unthreaded portion for a bearing surface for the towbar arms. You'll probably have to saw them off to make them short enough, but I personally wouldn't want the tow bar pulling against the threads, but rather on the unthreaded shaft of the bolt. This is called the "grip length" of the bolt, IIRC from my Vo-Tech days. Put a little grease there too.

 

The bolts were crap.. but I assumed they were sturdy, since they came from the factory.. but after inspection they were from China and stamped 48?? after they broke I fabricated a grade 8 bolt mount and it worked to get home.. but the wife wont trust it now..

 

Thanks for the idea about the unthreaded shank...

 

I purchased one of these on eBay last September:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...ewItemQQcategoryZ40022QQitemZ4629367751QQrdZ1

I paid about $65.00 to a different seller - used the bar to tow a '76DJ from Camden, NJ to the lower eastern shore of VA. Towed it behind my '87MJ and it was so smooth I actually forgot I was towing it several times. Used the bolts and chains that came with it but upgrading both would probably be a good idea.