Budget front recovery points?

[jakesmog]

I’m planning a little mild wheeling trip with my friends in a few weeks, and I’ll be taking my 2wd Eliminator out with a friend that has a 4x4 Pathfinder. I will inevitably get stuck in some shallow mud holes or a ditch. I have a D-Ring hitch in the back, but I’m not sure how to get good recovery from the front without a whole bumper. I’d like to eventually build a bumper or weld one of those DIY kits together, but my garage workshop area is likely not going to be situated in time to fabricate everything.
 

Basically, I’m looking for a way to get a non-lethal recovery point for my front that doesn’t require welding. I can cut up some steel and get bolts but my welder is not operational right now.

[GonzoTheGreat]

I had good luck with a harbor freight 2-bolt tow hook on my ‘88. I made a small backing plate and attached it directly to the bottom of the “frame” under the bumper. I used one breather hole, and drilled a second. It dragged me out of several messes no problem. It was a little tricky getting nuts on the bolts inside the frame, but it was doable, and it cost me like $5.

 

[coheed]

You could also get a set of these bumper brackets and add on tow hooks. If you can only find the brackets the harbor freight ones fit just fine. That's what I have on mine currently.

 

 

[eaglescout526]

8 minutes ago, GonzoTheGreat said:

I had good luck with a harbor freight 2-bolt tow hook on my ‘88. I made a small backing plate and attached it directly to the bottom of the “frame” under the bumper. I used one breather hole, and drilled a second. It dragged me out of several messes no problem. It was a little tricky getting nuts on the bolts inside the frame, but it was doable, and it cost me like $5.

 

I feel like getting those aftermarket brackets would’ve been simpler but this works too. Haha. 

[gogmorgo]

How much are you willing to spend? 

These work great: https://www.quadratec.com/products/12007_800_07.htm for a no-drill install that I trust a little more than the two bolt hooks directly to the frame. But they're not great for side pulls, and they interfere with your front air dam so that either needs removed or trimmed to accommodate. I've seen that style for sale from a few different brands, also generically unbranded on eBay. I've had some on my longbed for ten years now.

Ideally you want the frame horns tied together for the most strength. Like this: https://www.ironrockoffroad.com/product/xj-tow-hook-mount.html This particular one has the advantage of hooks that open sideways instead of downwards so your rope or strap is much more likely to stay in the hook without tension on it.

You can also get a front hitch, which not only ties the frame horns together also allows you to reuse all the recovery equipment you'd use in the rear. Maybe find a winch cradle to go in it. Lets you put other hitch-mount accessories up front.
My 2wd shortbed has an A-frame tow bar setup on the front for flat towing it (behind an RV, etc) that I've used for a solo recovery point, just hooked it to the back end of my ZJ and dragged it out into the street and parked both units without needing another person to sit in the MJ to steer or stop. I see them come up used in the usual places from time to time, or at junkyards.

But at any rate the front end is exactly the same as an XJ Cherokee, so any front recovery mounts for an XJ will fit an MJ too. And there's lots of options out there for the XJ, including lots of relatively easy DIY stuff.