ARB bar from the horses mouth!

**TD50WA** · 15th January 2013, 11:39 AM

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.
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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.
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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.
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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

ARB Head Office
42-44 Garden Street,
Kilsyth, VIC 3137
Australia

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**FenianEel** · 15th January 2013, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by bigkevg

The front points on the Discovery bar are for towing or light winching purposes, not snatch recovery purposes.
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This has been ARB's position for several years, the guy you spoke to at the show has no idea.

**TD50WA** · 15th January 2013, 01:08 PM

Yeah, I sent a reply to ARB suggesting a bit of staff education before someone gets hurt.

Cheers
Kev

**ozscott** · 15th January 2013, 08:56 PM

Good stuff mate. I don't know if 4x4 Intelligence still do them but I got their massive recovery plates and high tensile bolts. Each was very heavy and they bolt in 3 places to the chassis rail. I am confident that the strap is the weakest point if this arrangement... They look the bees knees too..

Cheers

**driftwagon** · 15th January 2013, 09:14 PM

hi guys i am new to the 4wd game and in my experience with bolts in a speed way car is the high tensile it will shear off and not bend. at least with a standard bolt made of the same construction as the plates i would like to trial this at some stage.

**isuzurover** · 15th January 2013, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by driftwagon

hi guys i am new to the 4wd game and in my experience with bolts in a speed way car is the high tensile it will shear off and not bend. at least with a standard bolt made of the same construction as the plates i would like to trial this at some stage.

There is a lot of great info on here about bolts and bolted joints if you search. Most of it posted by Bush65.

In short though, a higher class/grade bolt - e.g. class 8.8 or 12.9 - (what you are referring to as high tensile) will fail at a much higher load than a "standard" - e.g. class 4.6 - bolt of the same diameter.

**joe.woods** · 15th January 2013, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by driftwagon

hi guys i am new to the 4wd game and in my experience with bolts in a speed way car is the high tensile it will shear off and not bend. at least with a standard bolt made of the same construction as the plates i would like to trial this at some stage.

A high tensile bolt not torqued to the correct torque setting for the application is as good/useless as a mild steel bolt; a correctly torqued bolt has a far greater shear than a mild steel bolt not torqued, there are many different grade bolts so before just sticking any old bolt in check the shear and stretch of application you require and pick the right size and grade; it is also very important in the application of the bolt especially in shear to have the correct size hole, as this will effect the shear loading. Biggest is not always best consider application, load and damage that may be caused if loading of surrounding/connected components are not matched. That is it's no good having 20 tonne shear; pulling 10 tonne when the frame work will give at 5 tonne, build in a safety factor; hence correct bolt selection.

**justinc** · 15th January 2013, 11:13 PM

this may be a useful insight for anyone wondering how the relavent size/ type of fixings are designed/ arrived at for any situation involving lifting, cranes, winches etc, most importantly where persons are involved/ in close proximity, ie vehicle hoists and recovery winching/ lifting practices.
http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tabl...y_Factors.html and this; [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factor_of_safety"]Factor of safety - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

there are aust standards also, set out in the crane code etc.

jc

**Chops** · 15th January 2013, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by ozscott

Good stuff mate. I don't know if 4x4 Intelligence still do them but I got their massive recovery plates and high tensile bolts. Each was very heavy and they bolt in 3 places to the chassis rail. I am confident that the strap is the weakest point if this arrangement... They look the bees knees too..

Cheers

G'day Oz, would you happen to have pics/info on this setup?

**alpick** · 16th January 2013, 09:56 AM

4x4 intelligence is defunct.

Try the parent Company

http://www.4x4de.com.au/

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