As noted in another post, I'm looking at a 99 Tracker. I'd need to tow it, so I was looking for tow bar brackets and figured that like with jeeps and whatnot there'd be a bumper out there that integrated tow bars. But no love: both Calmini and Trail Tough said "you don't tow from bumpers" and that they didn't have that on theirs (dumb me: I woulda assumed if you pulled it with a winch, D-ring and recovery strap, or tow strap you'd have the same problem, but I guess it's different somehow  ). AlteredEgo could make one though.

I have the ends to a Harbor Freight on; they could bolt or weld onto about anything that attaches to the frame. The commercial Roadmaster or Blue Ox tow bars attach to the frame, but would most likely get in the way of any aftermarket bumper I've seen so far. And they're rather expensive, since they are often removable, etc. Seems like some stout 2" bar welded to thick plate with the same bolt holes, and then bolted to the HF tow bar ends would work, so I'm kinda surprised I have seen a bumper that integrated this, or at least made allowance for it, since these vehicles are fairly common dinghies.

Anyone know of someone who sells a bumper  and tow bar combo? I don't really need much in the bumper: just a winch mount, and either places to attach D rings or a 2" receiver (the latter with a tow bar would work since I could then use a winch in the receiver....and it would be stronger than winching on the bumper....)

Rob

Don't know of any venders selling them, off hand.  Next best thing would be to fabricate what you want if you can't find it.  A guy on the classified's is selling front and rear bumpers with a tow bar for a 1st gen truck for reasonable prices.   In fact he said if someone bought his front bumper he would throw in the tow bar.  If you have fabricating skills and can weld or know a good welder, there's an option for you to consider.

One thing that you can try is an RV site/forum.  These folks tow all the time.  Especially our lovely little TracKicks...



I hope that this helps!

Yeah, probably will fab something. Already got some ideas. I have a decent welder and can lay a decent bead, it's the engineering that stumps me. Just no substitute for experience. Found someone in San Leandro who posts a bunch on pirate4x4, and they've done small trucks but not these vehicles...kinda surprised him when I told him about it (BTW, I did buy the 99 I saw). Once you add in shipping, which is heinous, and factor in that the fabricator will usually do the install as well (lifting all that kills my back), not so bad.

I'll probably have him fab something that is essentially anchored on the front frame rails. They seem to be nicely accessible; the expensive tow bar attachments you get fasten there. But instead of that setup, I'll have them put on what is essentially like a class IV rear hitch: plates on the side and over the rails, bolted and/or welded. Cross tube will have 2" receiver, shackles, and the tow bar attachments. The question is how high these will be; they attach to a vehicle with a higher clearance, so I can probably go pretty high and by removing all that crappy plastic get a bit more attack angle than I already have. That plastic really seems to lower the front; I haven't ripped it out yet so I don't know if it's hiding something important. Then maybe a winch on top of that But since I'm using a small winch (ATV with syn rope) even if we can't find a way to mount it there I'll just use it as a hitch-mounted winch. I usually don't like that, but I can make a bracket/receiver mount that will accommodate side loading.

And then maybe just a slab of metal over the sub bumper, with all the plastic off. We'll see.

ZOR is adding tow bracket tabs for our road master tow bar for their dominator bumper, call Myron he will let you know what will work.

One design you may want to consider ...

Ditch the stock tinfoil bumber
Fab some plates that attach to the frame with the necessary tow bar attachments for the front.
Tie a winch mount between these plates.
Add tube to the corners and between the plates to complete the "look".

On mine the winch plate actually tied into the frame rails and was recessed as far back as possible. Plates bolted to the outside of the frame rails. Top tube was bent/run end-end and welded into a notch of the plates. 2 bottom tubes from plates bent to meet top tube at corners. D-ring points (double as attachment for the towbar) were welded to the top tube (it would be best though to have these be integral to a one piece plate.

I sold the rig this was made for, but still have the bumber stored away if you want pics.

A few pictures would be GREATLY appreciated; thanks!

What you describe is exactly what I'm looking for. Vehicle-specific tow bar brackets are designed to avoid the Tracker's bumpers, which are just plastic junk anyway. And they pitch the brackets lower than I'd need, or want.

Attaching at least the receiver, tow bars, and winch to the frame makes sense to me. That's what I have on my other 4x4. It looks like if you strip the plastic you have something attached to the frame, and it leaves the brackets below the radiator rather exposed, even with the plastic. Ideally the bumper would act as a bumper, and maybe integrate with a skidplate that goes back at an angle from the bumper, just below the radiator brackets and to the crossmember. Have to make sure there's room for the suspension downtravel.

I hear what you're saying about the tinfoil bumper, but I might leave it and have the beefier metal over it, since it acts like a crush zone. Unless you needed to remove it to gain clearance?

Rob

We've got a Roadmaster 5000 setup off a 2000 GV that we'd sell cheap.  It bolts to the underside of the frame under the engine and tows with a 2" ball hitch.  I wouldn't think it would interfere much with an aftermarket bumper unless that bumper notably reduced the front approach angle - what those sellers, I'd think, wouldn't want to do with their products.  PM me if interested...

Thanks, but it turns out the tow bar attachments are the easy part. We're just welding them on with the front hitch. Mounted to the frame. It's the bumper that's giving me fits now. All I want is a clean bar across the rear, either tube or plate, sorta like the numerous jeep variations. But I can't find one wide enough.

Anyone have the Calmini rear single tube? I can't find many pictures of it. What I've seen lead me to believe it sticks out too far, but it's probably not difficult to chop it down. And does anyone know if it would fit on the front?? Again I don't care much about the bracketry, I just want the tubing itself.

Rob

Still working on this, although I've sort of given up on finding a bumper. I intend at this point to concentrate on getting the front and rear hitches installed. I'd like to keep them as high as possible. This seems feasible on the front (with plastic removed, and some cutting and raising of the metal sub bumper).

The issue is in the rear: aftermarket custom hitches install in bolt holes at the bottom of the frame rails, two of 'em. The hitches hang down several inches, as they're designed to avoid all the factory practice. They don't look very strong and they wreck the angle of departure. I'd like to essentially make a beefier receiver, with bolts below and on the side of the frame rails, and even a bend over the top as well so there's three points of contact. The question is what to do about the structure beneath the metal sub bumper which spans across the frame rails, and is welded to them. It seems I'd have to wrap the hitch supports along the outside of this, and maybe punch a hole in the middle through part of it to accommodate the receiver tube itself. I could, I suppose, re-mount the metal bumper with a hole in it as well and the receiver tube would be almost flush with it. The plastic isn't coming back.

See the picture. The other alternative is to just cut the horizontal metal structure you see and replace with thick walled receiver tubing welded in the same place with some reinforcing along the side of the frame rails. Anyone chop any of this out?

Rob
1999 2 door tracker

Anything like what these guys have?

http://www.alteredegomotorsports.com/vitaratracker-armour.html

There are a couple of things I like about their bumper. First, it looks nice. Second, it's modular. Things I don't like: looks heavy (hard to tell); unclear if it works without a body lift (the one in picture looks like it's on a Sidekick with a lift); and it's Canadian (which is fine if you're north of the border, but freight and customs is a bit of a killer to get stuff south). I talked to them about it, and they specifically will add tow mounts (in the picture it appears the tow mounts are actually below the bumper, so I can't tell what they're attached to). Calmini wouldn't even do tow mounts, and couldn't even say if their bumper could work around them; all in all not helpful. And I can't tell how it mounts. Pretty critical to have that info.

I find it rather lame that it's virtually impossible to figure out what's going on with the bumpers sold online. If we had jeeps we could look at stuff in a local shop, but we're stuck with a few vendors and mail order. Given that, you'd think somebody would post drawings and/or specs. I don't mind some cutting, drilling and even welding, but a 2x2 snapshot isn't gonna get me to open my wallet for $500+.

There are a couple of things I like about their bumper. First, it looks nice. Second, it's modular. Things I don't like: looks heavy (hard to tell); unclear if it works without a body lift (the one in picture looks like it's on a Sidekick with a lift); and it's Canadian (which is fine if you're north of the border, but freight and customs is a bit of a killer to get stuff south). I talked to them about it, and they specifically will add tow mounts (in the picture it appears the tow mounts are actually below the bumper, so I can't tell what they're attached to). Calmini wouldn't even do tow mounts, and couldn't even say if their bumper could work around them; all in all not helpful. And I can't tell how it mounts. Pretty critical to have that info.

I find it rather lame that it's virtually impossible to figure out what's going on with the bumpers sold online. If we had jeeps we could look at stuff in a local shop, but we're stuck with a few vendors and mail order. Given that, you'd think somebody would post drawings and/or specs. I don't mind some cutting, drilling and even welding, but a 2x2 snapshot isn't gonna get me to open my wallet for $500+.

Well put!

But a small correction regarding the bolt-on trailer hitches: for what it's worth, if you get a Reese it does not affect departure angles because it mounts well above the gas tank skid plate...i've seen the one size fits all type and I agree they hang too low..also i believe it's 4 bolts that the hitch installs to. I upgraded mine to stronger bolts since I was already at the fastener store getting the right tapping bit to clear the threads of all that rust.

Heres a link to some pics of my truck so you can see what I'm talking about. Obviously a bush bumper with hitch is better but this works for now.
http://s1155.photobucket.com/albums/p546/EvilMetalGod/

Well great minds and all that...just got back from hardware store and looking for something to clean those same threads out with....you recall what the size/threading is so I don't have to go back underneath? 

Of course, here in sunny CA-the-state we don't get that brownish-red stuff you guys in upper CA-the-country get. So even after 100k miles I can probably clean 'em with a pipe cleaner.

I'll check out that Reese. And thanks for the pix.

Rob