I am looking for a new rear bumper for my TJ. I want somthing with the clevis or D ring points but I also want the reciever for a hitch. I don't plan on going biger than 32's And I belive those will fit on the factory spare tire mount so I don't need the swing out tire carrier.  The reson for the hitch is for towing a small trailer nothing as big a a four wheeler of jet ski just some camping gear. The trailer is built to go off road within some reaon but I wasn't sure if the bumpers with the built in hitch were for recovery only. If any body knows of bumper that would work I would apriciate it.

I was also wondering if there was a way to find out what type of axles gears and transfer case I am running. I have an 05 TJ rocky mountain eddition with the six speed manual tranny.

Thanks for all of your help

Jeff S.

jscheb, anything can be welded on well enough to haul a small trailer, but it's how the bumper attached to the chassis that matters. If it just uses the same bolts and holes as the OE one, then that's as strong as it gets. I took mine to a shop, got them to weld on a hitch and strengthen up the attachment area. I got the hitch put in the middle, not at the bottom, to maintain departure angle. I also just took off the plastic ends - looks much better. Lastly I got a bit cut out at the driver side end, on top and rear side. I then just slid my 4ft Hi-lift jack straight into the bumper, with the jaw sticking up at the end. Doesn't get in the way of anything - jaw sits just below the taillight - and two bolts hold it in place, without rattling. Completely out of the way, and the whole operation gave me a better looking bumper, a tow hitch that doesn't ride low, and a jack storage area that doesn't raise the center of gravity of the vehicle as roof mounts do, doesn't take up any room, cost virtually nothing, and is easy to get to. Whole job cost about $70 all up, including the hitch. Like you, I'm not hauling heavy trailers, just the odd lightweight one from the store, but the receiver is really useful for other stuff.

Off-road you should consider a slider eye, rather than a standard cup on the trailer.