Receiver Skid?

[Lyle]

I stumbled across the item pictured below when doing a search for a receiver skid for my front receiver (Tomken front bumper with built in receiver). This looked interesting, and I thought something like that might be good if I could get one made with the upright piece vertical and larger across the top for mounting a front license plate (actually, club plate). But, I was curious about the part (in the text below the picture) where they describe using it for a strapping point. What do you guys think about such an item being strong enough to use as a strapping point?



"This skid plate will do a great job of protecting that expensive hitch when 4-wheeling, but it has a variety of other uses as well. A tow strap can be placed in the corner of the skid plate (the pocket right at the bend) before it is slid into the hitch so that the tow strap will not come out. "

[jpnut]

Lyle,

If I understand this correctly, the 2" receiver "tube" is what you put through the loop on the strap. I guess as long as the weld holds. My main thought would be how the receiver hitch itself is rated as far as a side load would be. I guess we always hope to be pulled straight on but sometimes it is from the side or at an angle. I would think that in your case, it would depend on how well the bumper is attached to the frame. At least they don't tell you to slip it over the top or under the bottom of the skid. That I could see as an issue. I guess I would see it as an approach angle issue if on the front and a departure issue on the back where it would drag or even catch.

[Lyle]

Hi Jonathan,

Yeah, the strength of the weld issue is what I was wondering about too. Don't want a big chunk of metal hurtling through the air. I was just curious after reading that. All I started out looking for was something to cover / protect the receiver on the front. Hidden Hitch makes a receiver skid that just does just that, but this got me wondering about "killing more than one bird" with one mod.

[toynrnd]

I would be afraid of the strap cutting on that 1/4" plate if you pulled real hard. Those edges scare me.

[bensredyj]

HEY Lyle, How low does your front reciever sit above the ground in comparison to say a rear reciever. I think they are just trying to sell a product. YOU would be amazed at what those hitchs can take Trust me, mines tried and tested . and its a hidden hitch. its about the lowest thing on the tail end of the YJ. At Wva, I had the reciever packed full of red clay to the gas skid, tht was fun to clean, can you cay soil sample I don't think you should be worrying that much. You'll probably get hung up more with that PLOW than with out it, but then you may just need more lift, thats what people tell me

[jpnut]

I think that it would be really good at stopping forward progress by how it would protrude. And just think of the jokes you would get about it. I won't share any here but use your imagination.

Do you have any sort of problems now that you are looking for a receiver hitch? I think Ben is right, it will really cut down on your approach angle. On the back, you would end up dragging it a lot I think since the rear bumper is lower than the front. I hadn't thought about it tearing a strap like Chris pointed out.

[Lyle]

Thanks guys. I see your points. The more I look at it, I think Ben is right in that I'm probably worrying about nothing. The front receiver is high (integral with the bumper... see pic below), so I think it would be unusual for it to hang on or hit anything, unless I really tried. To be honest, when I saw that picture above, my first thought was that a welded on piece of steel could become a missle if the weld let go. I wasn't even thinking about what the edges might do to the strap. ** Yikes! **

Jonathan - the Tomken is now on the Jeep, replacing the factory tin. I was just looking for something stronger than the factory bumper and came across a deal. The receiver may be handy for trailer spotting or for a more centered tow point (with proper shackle and d-ring), but that wasn't my reason for getting the bumper. It doesn't hang down below the bumper like a frame hitch, but is integral to the bumper (much like the Olympic I have out back).

Tomken Front Bumper w/ receiver:

[bensredyj]

SO were talking about a rear reciever bumper, not a front? either way, I haven't seen thosereciever skids work that well. their angles never work and it get hung up too easily. Sounds like you got a deal. Well if this is a rear bumper, I figure its not any lower than the kilby so your good to go See ya Sat morning. BEN

[Lyle]

vateamyj said:

SO were talking about a rear reciever bumper, not a front?

Hi Ben,

No, it's a front.

[jpnut]

HAHAHAHA! ;D You're listening to Ben. HAHAHA! Of course he's not worried, he's not driving it. He tells me all the time not to worry about me breaking parts. J/K
I hadn't realized that you had changed the front bumper. With it being built into the bumper, I don't think that it will be a problem, you probably won't hit it anymore than your steering skid. I think that the receiver skid would kill your approach by sticking out so far. I think that you will find the front hitch very useful in parking your trailer. Much easier to see what you are doing.

[EricT]

It would make for a good knee catcher too. I hate when I forget my drop hitch is in and I walk around the back and hit it. OUCH! ;D

[toynrnd]

Worried about people laughing at you when you plow up stuff? I would get a set of Truck Nutz and mount them to a receiver. Put it in the bumper when you go wheeling. When you approach an obstacle, the Nutz will smack against it, causing everyone to wince and turn away. That way, no one will see you plow up anything. Problem solved.

[EricT]

nothing worst than a smack set of nuts

[Lyle]

Still looking to find a home for those things, Chris? ;D Another good reason to keep a lock in your receiver, guys when Chris is around! Hmmmm... if they were on the front, wouldn't that be confusing as to which way I was going??

[bensredyj]

Hmm so I am corrected, so are you thinking of a removable mount for the winch then? Well I figure its probably up higher than my shackles are so your ok