runner6 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 My son and I restored a 91 XJ for his first vehicle two years ago, and he continues to drive it. We recently purchased an 87 MJ 4.0L 4WD SWB with 5-speed manual for (slow) restoration. I am trying to make some decisions on the towing capacity. As you can see from the pictures, it has a stock rear bumper that I think I can salvage. The bumper has a little rust and some sort of strange upward tilt. The boat we have is a 17-foot center console, and weighs less than 2000 pounds (including trailer), even when fully loaded with gear. Will the stock bumper handle this boat and trailer? Would a Fey bumper have more towing capacity? Should I invest in a receiver hitch (if I can find one)? Thanks for any information. Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camjeep3 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 nice truck! and nice boat! what kind of fishing u do? most people here are a little weary when it comes to pulling with the stock bumper. you are most likely best off getting a reciever hitch. but I'm sure some others who pull with their bumper will chime in soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 A receiver hitch is actually still available. You can pick one up at your local u-haul. And they aren't even that expensive. IIRC, there is a thread on them in the DIY section... Yep here it is: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18297 I wouldn't advise towing much, if anything on the stock bumper. Once you get it down, and take a good look at it, its a pretty cheap piece of junk. Rob L. :cheers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project88mj Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 i pulled my brothers 1986 grand wagoneer (fsj) with the stock bumper ... when i got home it was V shaped but the jeep had the power for it just not the bumper. that is when i put on the custom one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 The stock MJ bumper is rated 2,000lbs gross, 200lbs tongue wt.Your boat is within those ratings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Ive Towed 2 Quads with my FEY bumper numerous times, I'm sure its a bit more beefy and i have the mounts welded 2 the truck as well as bolted. Id snatch up a reciever in a heartbeat though if I still continued to tow with my MJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 Ive Towed 2 Quads with my FEY bumper numerous times, I'm sure its a bit more beefy and i have the mounts welded 2 the truck as well as bolted. Id snatch up a reciever in a heartbeat though if I still continued to tow with my MJ There is no way the Fey bumper is beefier than the factory bumper. I have three of them, I should know. And the Fey brackets are fine for holding a bumper off the ground, but nowhere near as strong as the factory brackets. Nonetheless, I would get a receiver hitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakjeep93 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 the stock bumper suck i havnt towed with one but i pulled an mj out of a crack in the ice with a tractor ince and broke the bumper off albiet it was pretty rusty but id get the reciever hicth myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
streetjeep2.5 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 I wouldn't advise towing much, if anything on the stock bumper. Once you get it down, and take a good look at it, its a pretty cheap piece of junk. Rob L. :cheers: My rear bumper ends were bent in at the brackets and a bit twisted when I bought the truck. Fixed it with a sledgehammer quite easily to where you can hardly notice the bends. Taught me its pretty thin material, and probably not the best for towing anything more than 500 pounds, and maybe nothing once weakened by being bent. 'Course, it's what's between the brackets that matters, and it seems to be made stronger than what is left and right of the brackets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Automan2164 Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 My rear bumper had bends in it at the brackets when I bought the truck. Fixed it with a sledgehammer quite easily to where you can hardly notice the bends. Taught me its pretty thin material, and probably not the best for towing anything more than 500 pounds, and maybe nothing once weakened by being bent. The bumper has a little rust and some sort of strange upward tilt. Exactly. And you even said the bumper you wanted to tow with had a weird upward thing. Its already been bent. Best to just spend the $200 and get the hitch. Then if the need ever arises to tow something bigger, you can do so without kicking yourself for not getting the hitch in the first place. Rob L. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComancheKid45 Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Idk my FEY is pretty stout.....Ive never had an OEM MJ bumper to compare to though so i can't say much more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakjeep93 Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 what an FEY?? :hmm: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 FEY is a company that makes bumpers and other things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glundblad Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 I hate to disagree with Eagle for fear that he will come to my house at night and kick my butt or publicly humiliate me. Regardless I had an OEM bumper and now I have a fey. To me, there is no comparison. The OEM will fold if you look at it wrong and the Fey will last forever. I should qualify that by stating I use the OEM bumper brackets. Perhaps that has something to do with it. I have been looking for an OEM bumper for a long time but the Indiana salt is hard on them. My fey may be visible on my link below. They don't look bad IMO, but OEM looks much better (but I am a little picky) Your bumper looks to be in too good of shape to hitch anything to it. Keep in mind, if you damage it, you may not be able to find another one. I ran into trouble on my OEM because the tongue of the trailer didnt clear the bumper during sharp turns either. So each side of the ball had dents in it from turns. I believe that was a common problem since I see that on many old OEM bumpers at JY too. I imagine the same would happen to the Fey so I bought a hitch. I would get a hitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 IMO a bumper mounted hitch should not be used to tow anything heavier than a wheel barrow. They can be used to tow a cement mixer or log splitter and stuff like that. To tow an actual trailer, even if just a 2000 pound loaded boat trailer, a receiver mount is the only way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 The stock MJ bumper wasrated 2,000lbs gross, 200lbs tongue wt.Your boat is within those ratings. fixed it for you... a little bit of rust and those factory bumpers are good for nothing but looking at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runner6 Posted December 1, 2009 Author Share Posted December 1, 2009 Thanks to all for the feedback. I had searched on the topic, but this certainly helps confirm it. Looks like I'll be buying a receiver hitch. Once again, thanks to all. This is an informative and much-needed forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimoshel Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 I wouldn't know. I don't have any rusty bumpers to contend with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Thanks to all for the feedback. I had searched on the topic, but this certainly helps confirm it. Looks like I'll be buying a receiver hitch. Once again, thanks to all. This is an informative and much-needed forum. Good luck. Make sure your chassis is ok as well where the hitch attaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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