Any thoughts on the pintle hook

[78RRman]

Hi all just chancing some info on the pintle hook or the the nato hitch. Is anyone still running them as a recovery point. Do they fit on the puma and is the rear cross member strong enough with a backing plate or there more to it than I'm thinking of?

[Mick_Marsh]

Hi all just chancing some info on the pintle hook or the the nato hitch. Is anyone still running them as a recovery point. Do they fit on the puma and is the rear cross member strong enough with a backing plate or there more to it than I'm thinking of?

I know nothing, but, I probably wouldn't use it as a recovery point.
They can tow 2 to 8 tonnes (maybe more depending on which one you have) but, like a towball, they're not designed for the stresses of a recovery.
Put properly rated recovery points on it. Might be cheaper in the end.

[Wallaby Ted]

I took the one I installed on my County and mounted it on an adapter similar to Hayman Reese (look for the Pintle Hook adapter except I paid just over half of that fleabay) on the back of my Puma with a Hayman Reese hitch.

I never used it as a recovery point on the county, only for towing the trailer and I also had another recovery point.

I did find when you mount it on the rear crossmember that you cannot open it without rotating it as it will foul on the spare tyre, with the attachment that isn't an issue anymore.


Richard

[Bush65]

...
Put properly rated recovery points on ...

I always get a kick out of the many statements I read like that.

No offense meant to Mick, for it is repeated over and over on forums, etc.

Who honestly believes the many recovery points people buy are actually rated properly? If so to what standard and method? And by what approved testing laboratory?

Just like other recovery options, there are different pintle hooks. There are some poor versions, but I would rate the one I have, greater than many other recovery points I've seen.

And to the OP, yeas the rear cross member should be strengthened to suit the pintle hook.

[Xtreme]

I always get a kick out of the many statements I read like that.

No offense meant to Mick, for it is repeated over and over on forums, etc.

Who honestly believes the many recovery points people buy are actually rated properly? If so to what standard and method? And by what approved testing laboratory?

Just like other recovery options, there are different pintle hooks. There are some poor versions, but I would rate the one I have, greater than many other recovery points I've seen.

And to the OP, yeas the rear cross member should be strengthened to suit the pintle hook.

x 2 ^^

[78RRman]

Thanks for your input guys just tossing up some options. They look stronger than a jate ring. Yeah I can't work out how they rate recovery points, there is a lot of strain in recovery and I suppose it depends on how stuck you are with a combination of how much power/ traction the recoverer has. Should only need one on the rear to pull my mates 73 series out haven't got a tow bar yet still researching that. I need the rear step and would hate to impair the departure angle, IMHO they should have just retained the strength in the cross member of previous models so the holes in it are useful

[Loubrey]

The problem basically comes in with the inability to brace the cross member back to the chassis. The Puma tank is shaped in such a way that only bespoke tow bars fit through the gaps and they run parallel to the chassis.

300Tdi's used to have optional diagonal braces back to the chassis to allow towing arrangements like NATO hitches to be fitted to the threaded holes in the cross member.

The Puma hasn't lost much, if any strength in its cross member, just the ability to brace...

Cheers,

Lou

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Put properly rated recovery points on it. Might be cheaper in the end.

I always get a kick out of the many statements I read like that. ...

x 2 ^^

Engage brain before putting mouth in gear!

Have any of you looked at the way the Army puts their pintle/NATO couplings on?

"I always get a kick when people jump on other members when they post about rated recovery points."

Just because the NATO coupling has potentially an 8Tonne rating (IIRC the Land Rover ones only have a 5Ton rating) if you look at the size of the bolts securing mounting plate you may want to reconsider abusing Mick for his comment.

If a recovery point is rated, the rating must also apply to the whole attachment right back to and including the chassis.

[thedrover]

There is also a fair variation in quality and design of the pintle hooks. (I assume) the cheaper ones are Chinese. Pay a heap more and you could get a 'NATO spec' (term used loosely) rotating pintle. If you tow trailers with a fixed ring, get this. Occasionally an olive green one pops up on the bay (for a fairly good price) .

When you mount it, use the high tensile bolts >8.

There are threads on other forums with people that have done/use them for serious recovery. If you aren't going to use it for towing, I wouldn't bother fitting one. It would be cheaper to pay someone for their 'fully rated, fully inflated price' recovery points.


I have both a pintle hook and a Hayman Reese towbar mounted (non LR vehicle) at the same time. The hayman Reese gets recovery duties every time (with a recovery tongue) it has at least 8 bolts widely spread mounting it to the chassis. I view the hayman Reese hitch 'pin' as a safety device.

[chook73]

I view the hayman Reese hitch 'pin' as a safety device.

Interesting, if this safety device fails it launches the recovery hitch towards the other vehicle......

I would have thought if you were going to put a safety device in the recovery it would be a soft sling with a blanket which if failed did not launch a metal object.

I would not suggest putting safety devices into any recovery, know the rating of the recovery equipment you are using and make sure it is all matched and inspected before every recovery. If the owner of the vehicle you are recovering doesn't know the rating of their recovery points then seriously consider the recovery and always err on the side of caution.