Tow bar

[rwbow1969]

I have a tow bar that mounts on the front end of my m38, I am wondering if you take the bumper off and mount it or the brackets slip over the bumper. It is an original and has a good heavy lunnete. The guy I got it from said it was used to hook two jeeps together to pull heavy artillery. Thanks Rob

[Boze]

It is my understanding that the bumper comes off and the tow bar (also called the tandem hitch or tandem something) gets installed in its place. And the seller is right - the bar was originally designed for Jeeps in tandem to tow artillery bigger than a 37mm. It still was not a good idea in practice, so they were not used too much as such. It comes in handy, though, if you or a buddy has to get push started. Happened to me last year and it worked like a charm.

Wes can show drawings of the bar and mounting hardware when he gets time. Piece of cake.

[Kendall]

On the M38 the front bumper does not come off to mount the tow bar. On the WWII jeeps, the bumper does come off.
Kendall

[wesk]

Rob,

Look at the top of this page. You'll see a link entitled "Downloads" . there are a ton of manuals there for your free download. The tow bar manual is one of them.

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... tit&lid=57

[wesk]

The shortfall of that GI towbar is it's length. It is too short. It is what we called a "Buddy Bar" in the service. It was a very short link between two trucks to enable the pushing or pulling of a heavier load then the truck was designed for. They are great for slow speeds and straight line work but not a very good over the road tow bar. If you want a decent towbar for highway and light off road use then get a commercially available Universal Towbar which will be at least 1 1/2 times longer and will handle very well on the road.
Then fabricate an attachment link that can slip right into your front lifting shackles. Now you have a quality road bar and a jeep that is still completely stock. .

[rwbow1969]

Wes, Thank you again.