What does rear bumper mount to?

I am going to see a second local fabricator today about a new rear bumper..

Should I bolt it to the frame??

or

There is a 4inch tall beam that connect to both sides of the frame, it and runs across the back of the jeep. found a pic from a google image seach, this is not my jeep http://www.boyink.com/images/jeep/RearBumper3.jpg
mine has 4 holes in it on the inside of the shackles on eash side. Did the stock bumper boltin there? Can I weld to that beam?

 

The beam across the back is the rear crossmember. It connects the two frame rails and provides outboard support for the corners of the body (on rubber bushings). The only stock bumper was a chrome bumper that was optional 72-75 (and maybe later) and also came as part of the Tux Park package. That bumper was like the chrome front bumper you can see in one of the banner pictures of an orange CJ. I think it mounted with a pair of U or Z brakets to the rear cross member.

There was also a "draw bar" which people sometimes called a rear bumper. Doesn't really look like a bumper though.

You're kind of on your own if you want something else. I recall that you could buy step bumpers for the CJ that bolted to the sides of the frame in the same manner that step bumpers for pickups mount to the frame.

The Cross bumper gets good reviews here - pretty sure Mike Boyink has one, but I didn't see any appropriate pictures of it on his site.

 

Some of this era Jeeps came with "Bumperettes" . . . Two steel ovals that bolted to the four holes on either side of the cross member. Here are some in ODG!

 

I am almost finished building my bumper. I am gonna bolt it right to the frame, at the back of the frame rails. The rails are bent over at the factory and have holes in them, that can be accessed from behind. I removed the fuel tank to get to them. I also am gonna add bolts to the cross member as well.

 

Heh. I guess that's right - not sure what part of Mike would have a bumper... :tea:

 

Thanks for letting me use the pic. R)

 

I got them bumperettes too.