Thread: Snatch recoveries using ARB bullbar tow points?

Originally Posted by chook73

So how do they withstand the forces of winching?

Winching is centred and the forces are lower than an angry snatch.

Thanks for the input so far all!

I hear you re not snatching when bogged to the chassis. When out and about I carry two shovels: one for the driver (usually me) and one for the first smarty pants who laughs when I pull out the first shovel

For Jate rings to work with the bar they would have to be quite a bit wider than the standard chassis to span the bar bracket on the outside and the steering guard on the inside.

Per Dougal's point, the bar attachment is complicated but I reckon stacks up.

Chassis to bracket: the 4 factory bolts in the factory holes (with crush tubes), and 4 additional M10 bolts (2 in the steering guard holes with crush tubes, 2 in new holes without crush tubes). All these are in shear.

Bracket to bar: 4 M12 bolts and 2 x M10 bolts. All these are in tension with thick SS washers on both sides.

Hi guys,

To answer FeatherWeightDriver’s question specifically, no, the tow points built into our bars are not suitable for snatch recovery. These are specifically made for static towing, where forces are significantly less. Bull bar mounted tow points are not designed, engineered or rated to withstand the stresses imparted by snatching, particularly in regard to side loads, which are evident to varying degrees during a lot of snatch strap recoveries. Besides the obvious safety risk, it places significant shock loads on the bull bar and chassis mounts in ways they were not designed; the result being possible vehicle damage.

As such, we do not recommend using the tow points for any purpose other than their intended function.

A true recovery point needs to be designed and rated in conjunction with the mounting location on the vehicle, not just the point itself. The strength of a recovery point is largely irrelevant if the mounting system is insufficient.

Hopefully that clears things up.


Cheers,
David