Peo's JK

[Peo]

Hi all, new to the club and wanted your opinion on rear recovery points for the JK. Currently I have nothing on the back and was tossing up whether to install a tow hitch or replace the rear bar.
With either option can you also recommend a type/brand and best place to pick it up from?
Thanks

Vehicle
2015 JK Rubicon shorty
2' OME lift
Mopar front bar
Stock almost everything else

[Paul-JK]

Hi Peo.....welcome to the club.

Fitting a tow hitch is going to be load cheaper than a new rear bar.
If you just want the tow which for recoveries then there are a load of aftermarket hitches that you can use..........a search on somewhere like Quadratec will show you some and all of the local Jeep accessories suppliers will have some.
If you actually want to tow with it then I'd recommend you look for one that is ADR approved. MOPAR I know is ADR approved (through Murchison Products or through a dealer if you you can find one that doesn't try to rob you), or Hyamen Reece will no doubt do one as will others. If you get one (particularly MOPAR) make sure it has an Aus wiring loom not a US wiring loom. Fitting it is easy enough to do you yourself, particularly if you have the plug and play loom rather than making your own.
You could go the new rear bar route with integrated tow hitch but most will not be ADR approved for towing. More than capable of being used for recoveries though but I'd suspect most won't come with wiring looms for trailers. Or you just get a new rear bar with recovery hooks an forget about the tow bar.

Let the spending begin......and once it starts it never stops!

[Peo]

Thanks Paul.

Looking at the rear I assume I would have to also get a plate relocation kit as the tow hitch would need to punch directly through the plates current location or I would need a tow hitch that dropped lower than the current rear bar, which defeats the purpose of the lift.

I thought when I bought the Jeep I would be able to resist the urge to add bits, at least for a while, so far I've found something to change every month. The financial controler is not happy.

[Paul-JK]

When you fit a tow hitch you need to move the number plate and cut off the the lower section of the plastic bumper.
The MOPAR tow hitch comes with a number plate relocation kit (metal support plate, fixing screws, number plate lights and possibly an extended wiring loom) to move the number plate higher on the bumper. I didn't like this as I thought I'd keep banging my knees on it so I put mine on the spare wheel. Granted I was getting a Teraflex hinged tyre carrier at the time which comes with the spare wheel number plate support plate so was an easy decision. I just combined the lights from the MOPAR kit with support plate from the Terfalex kit. There are other spare wheel number plate relation kits available though (I think Dave @ Uneek does one but others will as well).

Something tells me the financial controller isn't going to be happy for a good while to come.
Just remember, it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission!
I used to get everything delivered to my work address which made things a lot easier........doesn't work anymore as I now work from home.

[LeighP]

DBOR tow hitch is also "approved"...it comes with a decal stating approval. They can also supply a harness/plug if needed.
If you just want recovery points and don't want to change your rear bar, try Blackjack Welding's rear recovery points. They bolt to the ends of the chassis and you cut slots in the plastic bar for them to poke through. Very heavy duty.
I'd rather pull off an equalising sling attached to both chassis rails, than from the centre where you're pulling on the middle of he rear crossmember - without the benefit of a steel bumper adding to the crossmember's strength.

[Peo]

Thanks all for the advice. I've gone with a Haymen Reece as it looked the better out of all the setups and I dont need to move the plate. Picking it up this weekend, if it's arrived in store and will install myself.

[Peo]

Got the new racks put on. Very happy with it except now I need to be careful in the car parks.

List as is now:
2015 Rubicon 2dr
Mopar heat reduction bonnet
Mopar premium winch front bar
Safari snorkel
Frontrunner slimline roof rack with rails
2" OME lift
Mopar roof lining
Leather seats
Smittybilt grab handles
Reversing camera
Wind deflector
730n entertainment system.

When I can figure out how to add images I will.

[Steve F]

When I can figure out how to add images I will.

Upload your images to photobucket and link from there, we don't host images here anymore as it's not reliable and we have lost them in the past.

to link an image once it's uploaded to photobucket go to the image and click on the highlighted link. Then just paste that link in the thread :)

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc200/steveff/Capture_zpsscgsbeea.jpg (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/steveff/media/Capture_zpsscgsbeea.jpg.html)

And you'll get your image shown as below.

http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc200/steveff/JK/20160409_152010_zpsxzvr8k2j.jpg (http://s218.photobucket.com/user/steveff/media/JK/20160409_152010_zpsxzvr8k2j.jpg.html)

Cheers
Steve

[Peo]

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj569/magpe0318/20160429_075509_zpsto6h1r6q.jpg (http://s1268.photobucket.com/user/magpe0318/media/20160429_075509_zpsto6h1r6q.jpg.html)

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj569/magpe0318/20160429_075441_zpsymyh9tag.jpg (http://s1268.photobucket.com/user/magpe0318/media/20160429_075441_zpsymyh9tag.jpg.html)

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj569/magpe0318/20160429_075412_zpsjfal7bon.jpg (http://s1268.photobucket.com/user/magpe0318/media/20160429_075412_zpsjfal7bon.jpg.html)

[1rocky]

with your heat reduction bonnet was that part of the car when you bought it. or did you buy separate, interested in getting one for my 16 rubi thanks

[Peo]

with your heat reduction bonnet was that part of the car when you bought it. or did you buy separate, interested in getting one for my 16 rubi thanks

Like everything else it was an optional extra. If you are doing it for performance improvement reasons then I wouldn't bother. If however you are doing it for aesthetic reasons then well worth it.
:eagerness:

[1rocky]

Thanks Peo. Where did you buy the hood from and if possible cost thanks

[Peo]

Thanks Peo. Where did you buy the hood from and if possible cost thanks

I bought it direct from Jeep when I ordered the car so I paid double what you would normally. All up including paint it cost around $2,600.

Just remember that whatever hood you buy you will need to include the cost of painting it unless you have your own spray booth.

[1rocky]

thanks peo. i have a great spraypainter here and will be getting jeep r us in coffs to put al the bits and pieces on it..

[Peo]

Installed new grill so the radiator isn't as exposed.

http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj569/magpe0318/Mobile%20Uploads/20160623_153340_zps6zpnyz0f.jpg (http://s1268.photobucket.com/user/magpe0318/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160623_153340_zps6zpnyz0f.jpg.html)

Â*http://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj569/magpe0318/Mobile%20Uploads/20160623_153356_zpsqtnhbldz.jpg (http://s1268.photobucket.com/user/magpe0318/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160623_153356_zpsqtnhbldz.jpg.html)