cheap recovery point

[corax]

I did this several years ago with 2 extra hooks like what came on the front of my 4runner. I bolted the 2 hooks together making sure the bolt holes were aligned. Then I turned the heat all the way up on the MIG and welded then together. Next was opening up the hole farthest from the hook with a 5/8" drill bit. I added some rubber to either side just to keep it from making noise over every bump.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/random%20projects/100_4372.jpg

they're nearly the perfect width for a 2" receiver - just a hair wider would be better, so the cross pin is completely in shear instead of a bit of bend, but I've never had any issue with the cross pin anyway

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk171/batardsalamano/random%20projects/100_4373.jpg

[Robinhood4x4]

My question is how did you put that big ol dent in the bumper?!?!

[4x4mike]

It may not be a dent but a spot put in there to access the spare tire winch dropper thingy.

I'm not sure about the hook thing. I'll search but there was a thread on Pirate a couple weeks ago about these hooks and what people do with them and how they fail. I'll try to find it. If it works for you more power to ya. I'd just use the pin and my strap.

[4x4mike]

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=802074

[slosurfer]

Yeah my first thought was the pirate thread, but that one was different and was using it to connect two straps or hooking onto a hole. The fact that these are welded together and then held in with the hitch pin, I don't see a problem with it. Also, you can put the strap around both hooks so it is pulling from the middle just not on one hook, so should work pretty good. At the most, those hooks will bend before anything breaks and that is in an extreme situation. Also, the toyota hooks seem to be stronger than those wimpy jeep ones that you see pics of them bent all the time.

[corax]

It may not be a dent but a spot put in there to access the spare tire winch dropper thingy.


:thumbup: - figured out that I couldn't drop the spare tire after the bumper was already built :headscratch:



Yeah my first thought was the pirate thread, but that one was different and was using it to connect two straps or hooking onto a hole.


that is a scary idea. If you look at the stresses induced by pulling on it like that, it guarantees that when it gives it will be a catastrophic failure



The fact that these are welded together and then held in with the hitch pin, I don't see a problem with it. Also, you can put the strap around both hooks so it is pulling from the middle just not on one hook, so should work pretty good.

Exactly, the 2 hooks keep the strap centered so it doesn't pull on the part of the hook where it necks down to thinner material (much less likely to bend)

[Erich_870]

That tow hook in the pirate thread is scary!! :tapedshut:

I think Corax's use is a better design then the "daisy chain" hooks on pirate. You'd just want to make sure you're not exceeding twice the hook ratings. They use something very similar on HUGE cranes.

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5928390/2/istockphoto_5928390-giant-construction-crane-hooks.jpg

The only difference I see between the real thing and Corax's is the extra material at the bottom between the two hooks. That could be gusseted and the max load would go up significantly.

Erich

[CJM]

Hooks like that are a bad thing waiting to happen, coraxs idea is much better and stronger overall.

Some words about TOWING and RECOVERY. They are 2 VERY different things, certain strap, chains and hooks ARE designed for TOWING but NOT FOR Recovery. This is based on a WLL aka working load limit they are rated to. People always say not to use chain, well a chain is actually quite strong and a decent recovery device if its rated 80 grade or better. Not a really good idea but they do work.

However unlike chain nylon straps arent static-they flex WHICH YOU WANT. But not all straps are rated for your loads. IE my strap is rated for 7000lbs WLL, most of the ones people buy are only for 5000lbs-which is NOT GOOD. You can get ones rated for over 10,000lbs.. HOWEVER you dont want to use ones that exceed specs as they will not snap like they are supposed to and what breaks is your rig.

Having recovered a few vehicles in my day I can tell ya the single worst thing people do is not attach the straps to something sturdy. Those tow hooks, on jeeps especially ARE CHEAP CRAP. Ours are 100x better but still. If your gonna pul something out its best to use a solid mounted object on the truck. The frame being one of them or failing that your hook or my fav your hitch. A simple ball and hitch with a strap works WONDERS.

Honestly when I finally get back in the saddle and build me a truck up I am gonna include expensive recovery grade straps that are double ply, shackles, snatch blocks and my favorite-80 grade tow hooks that can mount to axles and frame holes if need be. I atm have a few chain setups with hooks, chain is essential for recovery in many aspects more so than people think. Yes chain can break-CHEAP ARSE junk you buy at home depot thats grade 40, real chain is grade 70 (not for recovery but towing) or 80 or better (80+ is for recovery). HOWEVER chain is only for a steady pull, no yanking-thats what a straps for as it stretches and its not static.

Go to www.awdirect.com to read up on it, they sell and carry tons of towing equipment.

[4x4mike]

A simple ball and hitch with a strap works WONDERS.


I would not do this or get anywhere close to this. A ball is not made for recovery and can break. I only had a few minutes to search but there used to be pictures on offroad.com of a ball that broke off during a recovery from sand and went flying. The ball went through the grill and radiator of a full size truck, then through the seat and fit the rear of the cab. It would have gone through but the bed metal stopped it. Those things are missiles and only for towing.

[slosurfer]

Yeah, x's2 no ball, if anything, remove the hitch and hook the strap to the hitch pin. Trailer balls are only rated for steady pulls, not the kind of force that is used with a snatch strap.

[CJM]

What you do is you use the ball as a stop to wrap the strap over. Its hard to explain with no pics. You dont put the strap on the ball itself! I have never had any issues and I used mine extensively to pull out a huge ford bronco and many other trucks at the former paragon one time.


I did search for the incident, all I could find was some article about some guy who was trying to yank a forklift out with a chevy truck with the ball ont he bumper. I should clarify: only use the ball if its on a hitch, not your bumper Also, the hitch is held on by the pin, so again weakest point is the pin.

The hitch pin isnt rated any higher than the ball either. The ball if it broke would amaze me as they are subjected to plenty of yanks while towing something as is the pin as its not 100% tight. Then again mine is tightened down with an impact gun too, you cant get it off otherwise. Could the ball itself been loose? There supposed to torqued down to some insane number.. like int he hundreds or more iirc.

Overall there is no simple and easy answer, but in most common siutations you wont have to many issues if any at all. Our trucks-even all decked out just dont weigh enough and so long as you use good gear and play it safe you should be fine. Hell, if i can flip a car over using nothing more than a pressure treated 4x4, a 15klb winch on the tow truck and a 15k rated winch line. Whats the weakest thing there-the 4x4 and none have ever broke. I recovered a fullsize F350 dually in this manner with no issues...

[04 Rocko Taco]

I dont have a great rear recovery point, I have always just put the end of the strap in my hitch receiver, and put the cross pin in to hold the strap. :)

[CJM]

Wanted to add: I got a newer hitch with a different drop but no ball. So I figure hey I know the ball on my old hitch isnt on that tight. WRONG. I had a breaker ball, socket and 2ft pipe and I BROKE the breaker bar. Also tried with a pipe wrench and still no luck.

Took it to the shop, slapped an impact socket on and cranked up the 1/2 gun and bingo. Then I put the ball on the other hitch in the reverse of the above and just cranked it down.

You can lose a trailer or worse if the hitch ball isnt on there tightly.

[corax]

3 year update: 3 rallies being used to flat tow and pull cars back onto the road + a few tugs here & there at various OHV trails and it still shows no sign of damage or bending.

It also saved my rear bumper yesterday when I stopped and got rear ended by an F250 going about 20mph. The Ford's bumper was pushed back to within 1/2" of touching the tires and was shifted down 1"-2" - I scraped the paint off the hooks with my fingernail ;)