Thread: Tow ball as a recovery point? The answer is NO !!!

Originally Posted by Greylandy

You got it Jim!

Has he??? Isnt he saying that removing the ball and putting a shackle thru the mounting hole for the ball is the go? Not removing the ENTIRE tow hitch and using the locking pin for the hitch.

Crump - I don't forsee any problems using either method.

The only trouble is that the ARB rear bars make it nearly impossible to get a strap all the way in to the retaining pin location.

Originally Posted by BigJon

.

I know what you mean regarding the difficulty in getting the strap down inside the receptacle. I have a RaRo with ARB front and rear bars as well. I intend to make my own recovery point that slides into the towbar point, just a matter of time and enthusiasm. I can't imagine that it would be too difficult to build.

Would an old tongue with a highly rated bow shackle be sufficient for this?

Take ball out of old tongue replace with big bow shackle pin of shackle going through tongue where ball used to be?
Surely this would put a lot of the load on the pin alone wouldn't it?

Originally Posted by BigJon

Crump - I don't forsee any problems using either method.

The only trouble is that the ARB rear bars make it nearly impossible to get a strap all the way in to the retaining pin location.

But arent you then just adding another possible breaking point and doubling up on missiles?? Not being argumentative, just never heard of that being done.

Originally Posted by crump

Has he??? Isnt he saying that removing the ball and putting a shackle thru the mounting hole for the ball is the go? Not removing the ENTIRE tow hitch and using the locking pin for the hitch.

Agree with BigJohn .. both will work fine. You are adding a shackle to the mix but with some straps you don't have a choice. I just cannot imagine a 3.2T shackle breaking before the strap gives way.

Surely one of the after market tow points that fit in place of the standard tow bar (as mentioned/shown earlier) do exactly that. Unless you are doing snatch recoveries flat knacker in 2nd high, using a massively strong strap or cable, I can't see you destroying a hitch, or the pin that holds it in place. You might bend something, but not break it.

Heres the pics,lucky I did it, reciever was jammed solid with some of Nth QLDs finest slop.


http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...6/RIMG0144.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/Weem6/RI


MG0142.jpg

Thanks Crump great pic's, so I surpose the worest that can happen is the pin bends and the strap gets stuck as long as common sense and care is taken in other words steady as she goes on each attempt.