The Currie tow shackles and...
The Currie tow shackles and towbar allow us to flat-tow this '87 Jeep Wrangler YJ to the trail and back home again.
Until just a few years ago, I had never tackled a trail where I didn't drive to the trailhead and back home again. Though I suffered a handful of breaks from time to time, I was almost always able to limp my 4x4 home without the assistance of a tow rig. These days, however, I've become accustomed to pulling my 4x4 on a flatbed car hauler to alleviate any worry of not being able to make it home due to broken parts. Since the expense of owning and storing a flatbed trailer isn't in the cards for most, the ability to flat-tow a vehicle behind a pickup or RV using a removable towbar is an excellent alternative.
Currie Enterprises offers a universal, collapsible towbar to fit many Jeep models, including CJ, YJ, and TJ. The company also recently introduced a towbar kit for the all-new Jeep Wrangler JK. The TJ setup mounts directly to the stock or aftermarket bumper, while the CJ and YJ kits utilize special towbar front shackles that incorporate a quick-release pin for the towbar. The new JK towbar setup uses a special subframe that secures to the front framehorns and doesn't interfere with the factory bumpers. The Currie towbar will not fit properly with some aftermarket bumpers.
Currie tow shackles are manufactured using 1/4-inch-thick steel side plates finished with corrosion-proof gold zinc. Energy Suspension urethane bushings and bolt-in center braces are preinstalled and are secured using Grade 8 hardware with integrated zerk fittings. The Currie towbar includes a safety-chain kit and quick-release brackets that are easily installed on the shackles. When not in use, the towbar can be folded up and easily stowed.