tomken tow bar or drawtite front hitch?

looking at 2 setups for my 1992 XJ. need to tow it to colorado from virginia and also would like to get some recovery points on it at the same time. I am looking at the Tomken Tow Plate with reciever and also a Drawtite front hitch. hooking up either one to my tow rig with the tomken universal tow bar

option 1)
Tomken Tow Plate with reciever
http://www.tomken.com/detail.php?id=147

requires the XJ Tow Hook Brackets
http://www.tomken.com/detail.php?id=143


option2)
Drawtite Front Hitch class III
http://www.etrailer.com/products.asp?model=Cherokee&category=fmr&year=1992&make=Jeep&t1=&h=e

Tomken Universal Tow Brackets
http://www.tomken.com/detail.php?id=142


Is either one of these setups stronger than the other? which one would you recommend?

my tow rig is a 98 Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 standard cab with a gas 360, 4speed auto tranny, 4.10 dana 60s front/rear


thanks for any input

well if chosing between the tomken bracket and the drawtite hitch for strength, the drawtite will be alot stronger. i have never been a fan of the tow hook brackets. at least not the small cheesy ones that tomken makes. i have the drawtite on my XJ and it tucks up behind the valance/trim panel that runs below the bumper and you have to cut a square out of that for the reciver to stick thru. the universal brackets you showed look like they are bumper mounting. the reciver is only as wide as the framerails. how far apart do the brackets need to be for the tow bar to work? the tomken plate would work for towing only i'm sure, but would be sceptical of its integrity as a recovery point. but from the looks of it you wouldnt be able to use both parts at the same time. FYI the drawtite mounts to the underside of the frame rails between the swaybar mount brackets and the frame itself. and you drill 2 big holes in the frame as well.

and if the option comes about, chose the drawtite over the hiddenhitch receiver that is sold thru quadratec.

19cherokee92 said:

looking at 2 setups for my 1992 XJ. need to tow it to colorado from virginia and also would like to get some recovery points on it at the same time. I am looking at the Tomken Tow Plate with reciever and also a Drawtite front hitch. hooking up either one to my tow rig with the tomken universal tow bar
thanks for any input

Click to expand...

I went with the drawtite front hitch for the XJ. I use my 03 Liberty 4x4 to tow it all over the place. Much stronger than tow hook mounts, and as you said its a great recovery point. I drilled the hitch to accept the tow bar bumper brackets. They are out of the way and easily accessable. I can get a pic if you want.

thanks for the responses

saki669 - when you mounted the tow bar bumper brackets to the hitch, did you drill thru the front of the hitch and use the bolts that came with the brackets or did you drill thru both sides of the hitch and use longer bolts to mount the brackets?

a pic would be great if its not much trouble

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