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Author Topic: Drawbar identification  (Read 1102 times)

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Offline 48willys

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Drawbar identification
« on: November 16, 2025, 09:31:07 AM »
Just a little stumped by this Drawbar. All the ID plates were missing off this jeep but the title says its a 1952, and I'm pretty sure its a cj3a frame.
I've never seen one with only 6 holes and bolt on braces. Any thoughts on if its the correct one for a cj3a?

Offline Rus Curtis

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Re: Drawbar identification
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2025, 11:46:05 AM »
Could it be a "retro fit" from another jeep model?  I say that because my '54 3B had a noticeable bend in its drawbar.  Signs of a much rougher life before I got it.  A long search and a chance encounter at one of the earlier Fall Reunions in Jefferson City, MO, I found a replacement.  It was from an earlier jeep (not sure of which) as the support arms were bent up and attached on the back of the drawbar.  But for me the short attachment arms, straight down from the rear crossmember, were straight - and so was the drawbar itself.  Those support arms were fixed to match being attached on the bottom.  So, my jeep no longer has the "original" drawbar but a donor.

For me, the first thing I'd do is see how those arms were possibly attached before the bolts (there may be some old welding remnants):  Bent up and attached on the back or attached on the bottom.  There was a writeup from Oldtime about the frame progression that pointed out the thickness of the frames being one distinction between the 2As and the later 3As/3Bs. 

The drawbar I have now has 10 holes in it and from appearance, they look to be a bit bigger than those 6 holes in your image.   Sadly, I have just the one jeep.  I can't compare all the different CJ models through the years like others.  You know.  The lucky ones who have 6 or more jeeps.

I will say this is the first I've seen bolted to the support arms though.
'54 CJ-3B "Green Gruntt"
Bantam T3-C

Offline 48willys

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Re: Drawbar identification
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2025, 12:14:59 PM »
Starting to think maybe it’s after market or a dealer replacement from the AMC time. It shares some features of the cj5 hitch, no PTO box cutout, bolt on braces, and a small piece of angle welded to the center .
The lack of 10 holes is still a little odd.

Offline Rus Curtis

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Re: Drawbar identification
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2025, 12:50:42 PM »
Starting to think maybe it’s after market or a dealer replacement from the AMC time. It shares some features of the cj5 hitch, no PTO box cutout, bolt on braces, and a small piece of angle welded to the center .
The lack of 10 holes is still a little odd.


Very little experience with CJ-5s.  I tried a google image search and its AI came back with a "it is a farm plow" response.  I added the text (to help narrow searching) that it's a drawbar on the frame of a jeep.  AI said it is not a drawbar on the frame of a jeep. 

I closed google.

'54 CJ-3B "Green Gruntt"
Bantam T3-C