where or how to hook trailer chains when using bumper-mounted trailer ball

[saxon]

Model: '91 4WD EB, 207k miles.

According to my owner's manual the stock rear bumper is rated at 3,000 lbs. I need to tow a trailer with a max. gross weight of 1,000 lbs., so the bumper seems more than adequate.

I looked below the bumper last night and noticed that there are no eyelets to hook the trailer chains to.

What's the accepted strategy on this? Have someone weld some D-shaped loops to the bottom of the bumper or drill through the flat part of the bumper next to the trailer ball and install some large eyelets upside down? That seems like a whole lot of drilling but I think that welding to the bottom of the bumper would ruin the paint on the top side.

Other suggestions?

 

[Blee1099]

Look on the underside of the bumper.. There are some eye lets there are some holes for chains.

 

[LBarr2002]

I drilled two holes in the plate on either side of the hitch ball and put some small shackles through them.

 

[saxon]

Look on the underside of the bumper.. There are some eye lets there are some holes for chains.

I saw those on a later model X yesterday; that's what got me thinking about that. Maybe they only came on Gen. 1s that had the towing package? (mine does not have the tow package). At any rate, there's nothing like that on mine. Rear bumper looks stock, too.

 

[Maniak]

From the back of the truck, look under the bumper.. now look slightly forward on the truck.. there is a kinda twisted cross brace that goes between the frame rails.. There is a hole on both sides of this cross brace..

That is where I hook my chain to on our '92 when I tow.

Let me know if you need a pic..

~Mark

 

[saxon]

where to hook trailer chains

From the back of the truck, look under the bumper.. now look slightly forward on the truck.. there is a kinda twisted cross brace that goes between the frame rails.. There is a hole on both sides of this cross brace..

That is where I hook my chain to on our '92 when I tow.

Let me know if you need a pic..

~Mark

I didn't work on the X last night (my one evening off that project for this week) but I think I remember seeing those holes. Are they something like 3' apart and fairly large? I thought that trailer chains were supposed to be near the trailer ball but I'm not sure why I think that. Is there a risk of 'chain bind' when the trailer is at an angle to the X (e.g., when you're parking) by hooking them so far away from the ball? I guess that would be the risk. Longer chains?

 

[Maniak]

Yes, idealy(sp?) it should be closer to the hitch, but you can't always do that..

I haven't had it bind.. and I've actually jackknifed the trailer (on purpose, when I'm trying to fit into 3 parking spaces in a parking lot)..

They are just there to keep the trailer from disconnecting from the truck.. And IF you can criscross them under the tongue it will usually catch the tongue of the trailer so it doesn't hit the ground..

~Mark

 

[N7XME]

I also use those same holes on the crossmember. It's just above the rear of the spare. I am able to cross my safety chains and haven't bound them up at all. Of course you have to make sure the chains are long enough anyway. I have use a trailer with a chain to short to use on any hitch. I haven't had any problems, but I will be putting on an actual hitch bar in the near future.

 

[Crankcase]

Look on the underside of the bumper.. There are some eye lets there are some holes for chains.

They added the holes next to the ball hole after 92