In am trying to figure out the best way to attach a tow bar to my AEV bumper on a 2014 JKU. I am planning to replace the crush cans with bolt-on D-Ring mounts. They would attach directly to the end of the frame, not to just the bumper. That’s probably the best possible location for towing.
Has anyone done this? If so, how did it work? Do you see any issues?

Thanks

 

I towed like that for several years, but not with that bumper. no issues in general with the proper tow bar adapter to hook to the d-rings. I welded in a couple of anchor points on the frame rail to secure safety cables.

 

I assume you are talking about flat towing behind a motor home, right? If so, then I agree - replacing the crush cans with direct mount is not a problem. I replaced my front bumper years ago with a Shrokworks front bumper (no longer in business) and towed thousands of miles with the tow hooks attached to the D-ring mounts. The only problem I had was with a tow bar that broke. It was in downtown Denver in rush hour so very, VERY exciting to have the JKU weaving back and forth on the freeway with only one attachment to the tow bar! But I digress.

The crush cans are there to supposedly provide a moment of delay in setting off the airbags. Mine have been gone since I put on the bumper in 2008. I've bashed the front bumper many times in tight off-road situations and have flat-towed many thousands of miles without issue. Direct frame mount is the right way to go!

 

Scary! I've had a trailer come off a truck and that was fun enough. I was shocked one day to see dumb ass Smittybilt tire carrier swinging out from behind the jeep way back in the day. OOF that was a shocker to see in a motorhome mirror going around a corner!! I guess with 1 tobar attached you still had tiny bit of control.....at least to the extent the bar was locked and the jeep couldn't just plow into the back of the rig like a trailer that is only attached by safety chains does.

 

Something like this?



Happened in front of my Cherokee in January 2025.