Anybody know what this is?

[Mytwojeeps2020]

This is on the rear of my CJ5. This small round bar “thingy” above the drawbar looks like it was deliberately incorporated into the drawbar mount. The PO who had it for the last twenty years did’t know what was either.

[oldtime]

It’s the hinge for a tailgate mounted spare carrier that swings down.

[Mytwojeeps2020]

Well, I’ll be danged. I’d never though of that since the CJ came with a spare tire side body mount. Thanks!

[Rus Curtis]

It’s the hinge for a tailgate mounted spare carrier that swings down.

Well, I’ll be danged. I’d never though of that since the CJ came with a spare tire side body mount. Thanks!

I had to dig around in my saved jeeps photos to find these from an early CJ-5.  Not sure where I found it but look closely at the hinge - looks similar to what you posted. 

Also:
https://cj3b.info/Owners/Ogletree/TireCarrier.html

[1955CJ-5]

Several years ago, ( probably about 50) after we ripped the side mount spare off on a tree, the fellow who helped my dad with equipment maintenance on the ranch came up with a similar solution for the spare. I have since replaced the side mount, but left this on "just in case"

The other section has the center part of the hinge along with the wheel mount bracket and the upper part was bolted through the tailgate. You could swing it down if you wanted to open the tailgate.