Has anyone ever done this?
I had removed my hitch because it hung so low but then I was left without any tow points on the rear end. I'm not a serious trail runner but I still didn't feel comfortable without any attachment points in the back so I started looking at bumpers. I really didn't want to alter the looks as much as all the aftermarket ones that I had seen so I started thinking.
Here is what I came up with. I removed the center section of the bumper made a template and had a local shop cut out the curved pieces. Then I started fitting it to existing bumper ends and bolted to the frame where the hitch had been, welded in a two inch reciever and some reinforcement plates, painted it to match. The bumper cover fits right back on and most people would think it is stock, but now I have something to pull and lift on if I need to.
I had removed my hitch because it hung so low but then I was left without any tow points on the rear end. I'm not a serious trail runner but I still didn't feel comfortable without any attachment points in the back so I started looking at bumpers. I really didn't want to alter the looks as much as all the aftermarket ones that I had seen so I started thinking.
Here is what I came up with. I removed the center section of the bumper made a template and had a local shop cut out the curved pieces. Then I started fitting it to existing bumper ends and bolted to the frame where the hitch had been, welded in a two inch reciever and some reinforcement plates, painted it to match. The bumper cover fits right back on and most people would think it is stock, but now I have something to pull and lift on if I need to.