Thread: D2 Front Bumper Tow Point

Yes, that is the factory recovery point, personally I would fit something stronger just to be sure and 2 points so you can equalise the force.

Baz.

There are a few pics getting around of some beefier items, though they do recieve some flak due to the length of them and a shearing force applied to the bottom bolt whilst the top bolt is a pivot for the shearing force (engineering types can word this better). I'm going to cut some out on my cnc plasma and will post some pics for your viewing pleasure.

Not sure how they go with the factory bumper but...

Done some pretty tough snatches off the standard recovery point on mine & never had any problems.
If you are gonna do a lot of recoveries you would probably be better off with a couple of aftermarket points as said
You do have to watch out what type of bar is fitted as some types make the standard recovery point useless
I cant work out why there are no standard recovery points fitted to Defenders

Originally Posted by scarry

Done some pretty tough snatches off the standard recovery point on mine & never had any problems.
If you are gonna do a lot of recoveries you would probably be better off with a couple of aftermarket points as said
You do have to watch out what type of bar is fitted as some types make the standard recovery point useless
I cant work out why there are no standard recovery points fitted to Defenders

Scarry, yours was a D2?

I was in a bit of a panic about the recovery points as last trip I had to get pulled out but from the rear as I was unaware of the front point (thinking that there was not one anyway based on posts I had read)

I was looking at aftermarket ones and removal of the front bar and putting on a bull bar all based on the fact that I needed the recovery points fitted which would then render the front bumper useless because it literally be ripped off in a recovery.
Now I have found this I may bide my time a bit longer before I go down that route, being that the factory one pictured can handle a standard recovery with a shackle attached?

Originally Posted by nealo

There are a few pics getting around of some beefier items, though they do recieve some flak due to the length of them and a shearing force applied to the bottom bolt whilst the top bolt is a pivot for the shearing force (engineering types can word this better). I'm going to cut some out on my cnc plasma and will post some pics for your viewing pleasure.

Not sure how they go with the factory bumper but...

Nealo, down the track I am looking a putting in better points, just wanted to understand whether the factory one was capable of the job at hand until then.

Like you after looking at different recovery points on the market, I see allot of flaws in what is on offer, for allot of money.

I was going to have to put on a bull bar at the same time as the recovey points based on accessability, so it was something I had to factor in from a cash perspective.

Would be interested in what you come up with.

Why do so many people say that there are no factory points on these, or have posts indicating that you must buy aftermarket points as there are none factory?

Cheers

D2 it is

This is an example of what i have done to it...
Stressed it on a recovery,stuck in black clay,sitting on its belly,and was fully loaded,pulled uphill by a Tojo that was on bitumen.The recovery point took it all...no probs

But as said if your gonna do it often go aftermarket,do a search,theres a few threads around about the after market ones.

This is not a snatch point - it is best used only for recovery where there is a straight tow as opposed to the massive forces used for snatch work particularly with deep bogging...you might get away with it in the short term for light boggings as I did but eventually it will be a projectile. It is better than the D1 point but not by much. I use the 4X4 intelligence recovery points on my 02 that weigh over 1 kg each! and have high tensile bolts. I use one each side attached to the chassis (with a bull bar there is sufficient clearance for them) and spread the load.

If you search "recovery point" you will see heaps of threads about these standard D2 ones.

Don't want to get into an argument about whether the factory points fitted to the D2 are "tow points" or "recovery points" - that has been done before. But when reading all the arguments / stories for and against, people need to be aware there are factory D2 "recovery points" and then there are factory D2 "recovery points".

The so called factory "recovery point" on the later D2a is a much heavier job than the factory "recovery point" on the earlier D2. I guess even LR thought the so called "recovery point" on the D2 wasn't much chop.

So when people relate their good or bad experiences with the factory "recovery point" they may not necessarily be talking about the one fitted to your particular vehicle.

That said, Redback has given the best advice " fit something stronger just to be sure and 2 points so you can equalise the force."