tow hitch heigth for toad January 17, 2019, 11:00:15 pm good evening all. I have a question about the height of a tow bar that is different to me than usual.We have towed several vehicles with different motorhomes even lazy daze of days past. All have been easy to set up with the level of the tow bar where they belong, level or a slight lower toad. Were starting to put together a new toad, a 1999 jeep Cherokee xj (small Cherokee) an this will have a lift on it which is the problem causing the question.We will be close to 10 inches off on level with the taller toad. Roadmaster says that it is acceptable as long as you do not exceed the 10 inches to use a hi low hitch adapter. My questions are have any had experience with this tall a adapter on a LD ?? are there any issues with the thing being up so high causing any flex in system that is noticed. When I have used the offset hitches before I have had to use a additional clamp on that to take out slop , wiggle and rattle. not sure it was necessary but dont like either. Im thinking adding some weld/bolt on braces to the motorhome hitch to brace the adapter heigth.Thanks for any input. Grumpy
Re: tow hitch heigth for toad Reply #1 – January 18, 2019, 03:43:13 am Quote from: Esther Spradlin - January 17, 2019, 11:00:15 pmWere starting to put together a new toad, a 1999 jeep Cherokee xj (small Cherokee) an this will have a lift on it which is the problem causing the question.We will be close to 10 inches off on level with the taller toad. Roadmaster says that it is acceptable as long as you do not exceed the 10 inches to use a hi low hitch adapter. I'm thinking adding some weld/bolt on braces to the motorhome hitch to brace the adapter height.We own two towable Cherokees, a near stock 1997 and a 2001 that is 7-8" higher than stock.On both, I use a conventional tow bar that stays on the toad and uses a 2" drop ball hitch that can be flipped over, so it works with both Jeeps.With a tow bar that stays on the LD, you will need to use an off-set adaptor to get the tow bar within 4" of level. I own both types of tow bars and find the conventional style is easier to use.YMMVWe had friends, that towed a Jeep Wrangler, whose LD's rear bumper started breaking up after using an off-set adaptor for a lot of miles. The off-set adaptor's added leverage can stress the bumper in ways it wasn't designed for, when towing a heavy vehicle . A good hitch shop should be able to reinforce your bumper and hitch, to eliminate potential problems.Too bad Cherokees are not built anymore, they were one of the most practical and capable toads ever. Stock Cherokees are lighter than comparable Wranglers but they still can get heavy quick, once you start modifying them.I suggest upgrading all the bumper and hitch hardware to grade-8 and tack welding the receiver to the bumper.Hitch receiver upgrade | FlickrRear bumper mounting repair | FlickrLarry 1 Likes
Re: tow hitch heigth for toad Reply #2 – January 18, 2019, 11:28:16 am thanks larry; I think I will run some more braces and maybe some frame help too. time to get out the welder and fabricate a few things. I really love the xj also but by putting a winch bumper on it the hitch height is already way off so a little lift is gonna make close to 10 inch diff and I prefer lower if possible. I guess I prefer a little better hitch than the ld system so if you don't like what you got fix it right. :-) . thanks grumpy
Re: tow hitch heigth for toad Reply #3 – January 20, 2019, 12:38:33 am I ended up getting Roadmaster Tacoma mounts flipped upside-down for my XJ with 5 inches of lift for cheap. The bracket when installed sits right below the XJ bumber keeping the bar level with the 15000 lbs tow bar that is welded in.
Re: tow hitch heigth for toad Reply #4 – January 20, 2019, 02:49:13 am Quote from: Craig P - January 20, 2019, 12:38:33 amI ended up getting Roadmaster Tacoma mounts flipped upside-down for my XJ with 5 inches of lift for cheap. The bracket when installed sits right below the XJ bumber keeping the bar level with the 15000 lbs tow bar that is welded in.That's a good tip. Roadmaster's baseplate for the older Cherokees can also be flipped, allowing the same plates to be used on a stock or lifted Jeep.Roadmaster Crossbar-Style Baseplate | Jeep Cherokee | HitchSource.com - By...If flipped, the baseplate's inserts have tabs, used for locks, that would need to be cut off and replaced with new tabs, welded to the opposite side, if you desire to lock the inserts to the baseplate. I would recommend locking everything, someone in Colorado pulled the Jeep's hitch-pin lock-clips, which lead to an interesting experience of having the Jeep try to pass us on the right, when one of the hitch pins fell out. Now, everything that can be locked is locked.Larry 1 Likes
Re: tow hitch heigth for toad Reply #5 – January 20, 2019, 10:56:04 pm thanks for a lot of good information; our problem has been we have a smitybilt front bumper that throws the point of hitch high and then the lift on the xj . we have found the brackets now used that I think can be flat face bolted onto the smity bumper low and then only require a two or three inch riser. Seems we are always trying to make things more fun and causing ourselves more issues. Thanks Grumpy
Re: tow hitch additional quiz Reply #6 – January 24, 2019, 11:39:56 am Well we continue our journey to getting the jeep with aftermarket bumper and lift towable.I found a plate with adapter is made for the roadmaster or the blue ox . the adapter flat bolts to the front bumper and the towbar inserts as it would on the baseplate set up.Now my question for you engineers out there is when we have these plates fastened where they will with enough bumper bracing and such the width of the hookup is a wee wider than stock hook ups and at an angle. The end results is a good level towbar but wider spread. Can anyone tell me if this is a bad situation or not. ??Thanks Grumpy
Re: tow hitch additional quiz Reply #7 – January 24, 2019, 12:12:10 pm Quote from: Esther Spradlin - January 24, 2019, 11:39:56 amWell we continue our journey to getting the jeep with aftermarket bumper and lift towable.I found a plate with adapter is made for the roadmaster or the blue ox . the adapter flat bolts to the front bumper and the towbar inserts as it would on the baseplate set up.Now my question for you engineers out there is when we have these plates fastened where they will with enough bumper bracing and such the width of the hookup is a wee wider than stock hook ups and at an angle. The end results is a good level towbar but wider spread. Can anyone tell me if this is a bad situation or not. ??If the Smittybilt bumper has welded through shackle mounts, you could use Roadmsaster's 035 or 035-1 adaptors.Roadmaster® 035-1 - 1" Thick Adapter D-Ring Bumper Mounts to Tow BarsRoadmater's XJ's winch bumper has shackle mounts, so you may be good to go if this is the bumper you are using.XRC Front Bumpers Cherokee - Smittybilt I couldn't find a bolt-on adaptor, for an aftermarket bumper, in Roadmaster's catalog.A slight increase in the tow bar spread should probably work fine, if it doesn't cause binding, when unhitching. We have never been asked this question, so you will be the first to let us know. Once installed, verify that there is adequate clearance, between the Jeep and the rear bumper, when making very tight turns to the left and right.Larry
Re: tow hitch heigth for toad Reply #8 – January 24, 2019, 11:53:24 pm thanks larry; We got it done I think; we fabricated a flat mount bracket on each side under the big lug that are on each side of the smittybilt . I can not tell you who made the original but I seen two or three places selling these flat mounting brackets for aftermarket bumpers, they are a flat piece of steel with bracket welded on to it and bolted on to bumper with either two or four bolts depending on makers. We found the best looking design and beefed it up an fabricated our own then strategically placed them where the smitty was reinforced internally as well as to the frame. Will let you know how they work. Thanks Grumpy
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