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Posted to rec.autos.makers.jeep+willys,rec.crafts.metalworking
Richard J Kinch
 
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Default Bumper-mounted trailer hitch bracket for Jeep Wrangler TJ

Grumman-581 writes:

Perhaps his next project should be to design a real bumper for his TJ ...


Bad idea. Bumpers are weaker than the frame so they absorb impact energy
instead of bending the frame. You put a heavy bumper (or a frame hitch for
that matter) on the back of your car, and many collisions are going to
result in frame damage that would have just been a simple bolt-on swap of a
new bumper.

On a previous rear-ended TJ I was able to replace a crunched back bumper
with a $25 OEM item from eBay (surplus to somebody's aftermarket upgrade)
with hand tools. The other guy had $1000s in damage.

I wonder if people buying all those macho aftermarket bumpers understand
that they've *given up* a lot of their crash protection?