Hi, all! This is my first post, but I have a kung-fu challenge that I'm hoping you all can help me with.

I would like for my 2014 JK 4dr to have a Front Hitch (for coolers and fishing rods) as well as a tow-bar hookup (to get pulled by RV). Ideally, I want to keep my stock bumper. I have found separate products for both requirements, but they both seem to bolt to the exact same spot. Has anyone had success with this? If you have both capabilities with an after-market bumper, I'd also like to know what you used...incase there are no stock bumper solutions.

Thanks!!
Jason

 

Yes. I had this. Worked great for rack full of rods and a cooler. Had to get rid of it when I got new bumper. Love new bumper. Miss hitch.

 

I have exactly what you want in two different forms. On my liberty I bought a set of warrior tow brackets meant for a cj and drilled into the front receiver hitch on each end to attach them. Had father in law weld them for extra strength, I have only used it twice over short distances so I cannot say how it would do long term. For my jku I put on a front receiver hitch and then I took the front bumper off and cut the crush cans off. I ordered a generic tow bar that came with tow brackets to attach to any metal bumper. Where the crush cans are there are four bolts that attach both the bumper and tow hooks to the frame (figure good enough for tow hooks good enough for this). Again father in law had to do a little welding but I found later a bracket that would work just as well. I have pulled jku across US (Florida to California) twice with no issues. You will lose tow hooks and will have to either cut or remove plastic bumper for use.

I will see if I can find the brackets and tow bar I used. You are correct that they both attach to the same points.

 

These are the brackets I would get now:
http://www.allthingsjeep.com/d-ring-...hd-bumper.html

Here is the tow bar I used:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...4171_200514171

I also found this as an option:
http://www.smittybilt.com/product/index/168.htm

 

JDaPP, thanks for the response! That does seem to fit the requirements, but a little more modified than I'm capable of. I'm going to reach out to the various front-hitch manufacturers and see if one is willing to modify their product (Curt, Hidden-Hitch, Draw-Tite). Seems like this would be a small mod for them!

 

Here's mine with a 2" front hitch for my fishing rod holder, it's an Olympic 4x4 front 'Rock' bumper with front hitch. I've now had it 7years ! It holds up very well to fender benders and through the NY winters with salted roads --- great value for money at less than $300. When looking the only two choices were Olympic and Nates 4x4 with an integrated 2" receiver.



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No problem. If they tell you no, the rugged ridge brackets should be pretty easy to pull off as the only thing you would have to do is cut the crush cans off. You can get a cut off wheel for a drill from Lowes to take them off, only side affect is your airbags may go off earlier in an accident (we are probably talking microseconds). If you screw it up getting a factory bumper would be free to ~$50. Front bumper is easy to take off, there are 2 bolts per side for the plastic (they are behind the bumper) and 4 bolts at the frame mounts for the metal part. can all be taken apart with socket and ratchet.

 

Just have VKS fab make you one.