TD50WA
15th January 2013, 12:39 PM
There has been endless debate about recovery points and ARB bars. I recently attended the Perth 4wd show where an ARB rep told me the built in recovery points on the bar were safe for snatching as long as a bridle was used.
I posted this and obviously there were many conflicting replies.
So I emailed ARB head office to sort my dilemma out as the aim of it all is safe recovery.
I have learnt from this always go to head office or the manufacturer, do NOT ask salesmen.....
This is the reply:
Hi Kevin,
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Thank you for your recent email regarding the front points on your Discovery bar. Recovery points and their rating open a can of worms when it comes to what is and isn’t suitable. There are no specific standards or regulations as to the actual recovery point. As you rightly point out these are classified as a towpoint rather than a recovery point. These points also allow the fitment of an adaptor to enable the use of a hi lift jack on the front of the vehicle.
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The use of snatch straps and recovery points is potentially a dangerous situation and winching often is the safer option. The front points on the Discovery bar are for towing or light winching purposes, not snatch recovery purposes.
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Winch recovery using either single line or double line pull methods exert considerable forces on both the mounting of the bar and the recovery point, snatch strap loads are significantly higher.
*
With any sort or recovery there are weak points within the so called “recovery train”. The challenge is to ensure that the recovery strap is always the weakest link in that train. Due to recent deaths due to straps and recovery points failing there is now nationwide regulation covering recovery straps.
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The recovery point aspect is not, however, regulated. Whilst shackles are rated, their rating system is based on lifting gear standards which is one fifth of the failure point. To apply this rule to recovery points for even the lightest snatch strap, we would need a recovery point that’ll survive a 40 tonne load.
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ARB have started with a range of correctly engineered, tested and rated recovery points. These points are vehicle specific. Unfortunately at this stage we have not gone back to the Discovery for development work.
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Whilst a bridle will help to spread the load between the two points and hence the chassis, ARB have not tested the loads on these points.
*
As with any recovery, the use of recovery equipment will vary from situation to situation. Sometimes all that is required is a gentle snatch, sometimes the winch is required, sometimes all that is needed is a long handled shovel to clear away a bit of dirt, mud or sand. No two recoveries are the same and we’d suggest that you evaluate each situation as a stand alone situation.
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The major thing with snatch strap recovery is to use the right size snatch strap for the Discovery rather than step up to the next size – bigger isn’t always better.
*
For forward recoveries we’d recommend winch recovery rather than snatch straps unless you are able to find a rated recovery point and mount.
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Regards,
Stephen Sampson
Product Manager
Ph +61 3 9761 6622
Fax +61 3 9761 6807
ssampson@arb.com.au
ARB 4x4 Accessories (http://www.arb.com.au/)
ARB Head Office
42-44 Garden Street,
Kilsyth, VIC 3137
Australia
This email, its contents and any attachments (message) are intended only for the person it is addressed to. If you have received this message in error, please let the sender know and then delete it. This message may contain confidential information, errors or viruses. You use and disclose this message at your own risk.
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I posted this and obviously there were many conflicting replies.
So I emailed ARB head office to sort my dilemma out as the aim of it all is safe recovery.
I have learnt from this always go to head office or the manufacturer, do NOT ask salesmen.....
This is the reply:
Hi Kevin,
*
Thank you for your recent email regarding the front points on your Discovery bar. Recovery points and their rating open a can of worms when it comes to what is and isn’t suitable. There are no specific standards or regulations as to the actual recovery point. As you rightly point out these are classified as a towpoint rather than a recovery point. These points also allow the fitment of an adaptor to enable the use of a hi lift jack on the front of the vehicle.
*
The use of snatch straps and recovery points is potentially a dangerous situation and winching often is the safer option. The front points on the Discovery bar are for towing or light winching purposes, not snatch recovery purposes.
*
Winch recovery using either single line or double line pull methods exert considerable forces on both the mounting of the bar and the recovery point, snatch strap loads are significantly higher.
*
With any sort or recovery there are weak points within the so called “recovery train”. The challenge is to ensure that the recovery strap is always the weakest link in that train. Due to recent deaths due to straps and recovery points failing there is now nationwide regulation covering recovery straps.
*
The recovery point aspect is not, however, regulated. Whilst shackles are rated, their rating system is based on lifting gear standards which is one fifth of the failure point. To apply this rule to recovery points for even the lightest snatch strap, we would need a recovery point that’ll survive a 40 tonne load.
*
ARB have started with a range of correctly engineered, tested and rated recovery points. These points are vehicle specific. Unfortunately at this stage we have not gone back to the Discovery for development work.
*
Whilst a bridle will help to spread the load between the two points and hence the chassis, ARB have not tested the loads on these points.
*
As with any recovery, the use of recovery equipment will vary from situation to situation. Sometimes all that is required is a gentle snatch, sometimes the winch is required, sometimes all that is needed is a long handled shovel to clear away a bit of dirt, mud or sand. No two recoveries are the same and we’d suggest that you evaluate each situation as a stand alone situation.
*
The major thing with snatch strap recovery is to use the right size snatch strap for the Discovery rather than step up to the next size – bigger isn’t always better.
*
For forward recoveries we’d recommend winch recovery rather than snatch straps unless you are able to find a rated recovery point and mount.
*
Regards,
Stephen Sampson
Product Manager
Ph +61 3 9761 6622
Fax +61 3 9761 6807
ssampson@arb.com.au
ARB 4x4 Accessories (http://www.arb.com.au/)
ARB Head Office
42-44 Garden Street,
Kilsyth, VIC 3137
Australia
This email, its contents and any attachments (message) are intended only for the person it is addressed to. If you have received this message in error, please let the sender know and then delete it. This message may contain confidential information, errors or viruses. You use and disclose this message at your own risk.
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