Tow bar question
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Dubai
Tow bar question
Hi guys,
I've got a question about a tow bar for the JK's.
I've got an 09 with a Jeep steel rear bumper and tire carrier but I'm thinking about buying a boat for wakeboarding. A 19 ft. thing and the trailer has a ball hitch on it. Only thing is, I am also selling my JK and upgrading to the new 2012 with the Pentastar engine so I'd like one that will work on both the 09 and 12. Havent towed anything before so wondering about connections and how they work with bumpers.
Do the tow bars connect to your rear bumper or to the subframe underneath it? As in do you need a rear bumper with a tow hitch built in or with the space for a ball you get separately?
Any help appreciated
I've got a question about a tow bar for the JK's.
I've got an 09 with a Jeep steel rear bumper and tire carrier but I'm thinking about buying a boat for wakeboarding. A 19 ft. thing and the trailer has a ball hitch on it. Only thing is, I am also selling my JK and upgrading to the new 2012 with the Pentastar engine so I'd like one that will work on both the 09 and 12. Havent towed anything before so wondering about connections and how they work with bumpers.
Do the tow bars connect to your rear bumper or to the subframe underneath it? As in do you need a rear bumper with a tow hitch built in or with the space for a ball you get separately?
Any help appreciated
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
Something you may want to consider if you are thinking of buying a new JK anyway. The Tow Package on the 2012 includes Sway Control, on the 2013's Sway Control is standard on all Wranglers. So, if you can hold off for a 2013, you can buy the JK Hitch Receiver sold by QuadraTec and other vendors for between $59.99 to $89.99 depending on whether you get it with ot without the wiring harness. It will bolt to the square bar behind the bumper (and I'm guess this is part of the frame). The wire harness is plug-n-play, you just disconnect one connector and plug it in-line, then routh the trailer wiring to the holder on the hitch. This set-up is essentially the same as what comes in the Tow Package from the factory. What I don't understand is why Chrysler is still charging $295 for the Tow Package if Sway Control is standard on all models for the 2013 model year?
One other think to consider, if your getting a 2 door, towing capacity jumps from 1000 lbs to 2000 lbs when you add the 3.73 gears, so if you are considering a 2 door Wrangler, be sure to get the 3.73 gears!
One other think to consider, if your getting a 2 door, towing capacity jumps from 1000 lbs to 2000 lbs when you add the 3.73 gears, so if you are considering a 2 door Wrangler, be sure to get the 3.73 gears!
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
...and the 4dr jumps from 1000 lbs. to 3500 lbs with the same gears.
