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You can take the brackets off. Yes replace the bolts, they hold the rear bumper on too.
There is a bracket that has been removed that located the exhaust. I remember that mine is somehwere in the garage.
That looks like either a genuine Scoob bar, or a Brinks.
I cut the end off mine and put it back on for the exhaust. Leaves you with a ruined tow bar bracket that you are unable to sell on mind, I wasn't too bothered, just wanted the thing off my car.