We are renting an RV for the 4 day trip.  After reading several popular 4x4 sites about the event, it was apparent that I was going to need a trail rig there to see all of the good action.

I contemplated several options:

1. Have the wife drive the RV or Jeep
2. Buy a tow dolly used on craigslist
3. Rent a tow dolly from U-haul ($300 *cough)
4. Buy a tow bar and flat tow

After a lot of research on the Internet and pondering the consequences of each, I had originally decided to go with option 3, rent a tow dolly..... Why?  Because of one huge problem:  I don't have a front bumper.  Like most of you I have probably removed and cut off more parts of my jeep than I've added on.  All I have up front is the winch plate with a small brush guard attached to it as you will see in the pics below.  It seemed that all the tow bars I looked at needed to have some kind of flat bumper surface to mount the hardware to.  Now, with a TJ, they don't recommend dollys because the front and rear drive shafts are supposed to be turning to properly lubricate the transfer case and such.  I figured I would just disconnect the rear drive shaft for this one trip.

After further contemplation and hating the thought of giving U-haul $300 for 4 days, I found something that Currie Enterprises makes.  It's a tow bar "system" that is basically an adapter kit + tow bar that allows the tow bar to be attached to the underside of the frame.  Their website states that it will work with a factory bumper, Currie, or other aftermarket bumpers.  Would it work without any bumper at all?  I couldn't find a straight answer online, but when I checked the PDF instruction manual available on Quadratec's website it seemed possible that the adapter could just be flush mounted to the frame.

Five days later, my parts show up.  The adapters that mount to the frame are from Currie, the tow bar....is made by someone else.  So, it seems that you could use any tow bar with the Currie kit. 

   Tow Bar included with order

     Parts included in Currie adapter kit

     Tools Required:

     13/16 box wrench

     13/16 socket

     1/2 drill bit

     Torque wrench 

I have a steering box skid plate that is not compatible.

It needs to be removed before we begin.      

Bolt the adapters to your frame...there are 3 holes.  In  this case I had to use the last two holes because of the steering box mount.

Now you can use the second hole as a guide for drilling the 1/2" hole through the frame and circular cross member.

After installing bolts on both sides (torqued to 80 ft/lbs),  you can install the brackets that attach to the tow bar using the cotter pin supplied.

Now you need to prep the tow bar itself...

You will need to remove the parts that would normally attach to the flat part of a bumper, shown at the bottom of the picture.

Here are the parts separated on one end

Using the same hardware supplied with the tow bar, attach the bars to the brackets.

Don't over tighten.

Attached on both sides

Grease and tighten the adjustable nuts.

Attaching the 4 chains is easy.  Unfortunately, there are no quick attach clips/links for easy hook-up to the tow hitch and the towed vehicle's frame, so you'll have to buy some.

Well, 5 degrees up or down is the max.  Going to need an adjustable hitch!

The RV hitch is about 5 inches higher than the Tahoe's, so I suspect that it will be within range.  We'll have to wait until I pick up the RV to find out!

Here is the tow bar in a stored, upright position.  I just use the the winch to cinch the bar against the brush guard.

I took it for a spin around the block behind the Tahoe.   It works great!  This will certainly beat renting the tow dolly. The cost is about the same, only I can keep reusing the tow bar as needed.