Tow bar question...

I have a 3.5" x 2." rectangular tube steel bumper bolted to the frame horns of my civilianized M-38. In the middle of the bumper span (between the frame horns) is a hitch receiver. Basically, it is exactly what you would see on a custom rear bumper, except there is also a receiver on the front.

The plan was to simply install a 2" x 2" square tube coming out of the reciever, put a heavy hinge in it so it could swing up and town and then a 2" ball hitch coupler and hitch it to the ball hitch on the truck. Here is the issue: with a single tow bar coming out from the center of the bumper, if I turn left or right, am I going to bend something before I get enough torque input left or right to cause the front wheels to turn. Normally, with a tow bar, you have two attachment/hinge points on the left and right side of your bumper, maybe 24" apart. I am concerned that with a single tow bar and no bracing left or right, I might bend something. Or am I sturdy eough with a 2" x 2" square tow bar?


Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks,


Jordan

 

Way too much force on a two inch section during turns. Yes, it will bend. Or the hinge will break.

 

Absolutely, that is too much force on a single point mount for a Jeep tow bar. You want the mounting points as close to the frame horns as possible. The last tow bar I made was made of ¼ angle iron with 1 ½ inch dom tube for the extensions. I drilled the mounting holes to match a CJ3A frame, that pattern also matched everything from a CJ3A, CJ3B, CJ5’s up to 71 and Jeepster Commando’s up to 1971, as I have towed at least one of those vehicles in the last 15 years. Best tow bar I ever made, as I could un-bolt it to use on anything I wanted to tow, as I was buying stuff all the time to drag home. You will appreciate a good tow bar the first time you get a blow out on the front tire of the vehicle being towed!!!