Thread: How Useless is the Front Tow Point on a D2?

I wonder if it's for a tow recovery & transport tie down only?

I don't think I would be doing a snatch recovery with it.


My D1 has a welded loop only & is a tie down point only, acc. to LRA.


Is there no mention in the handbook?

Well actually the D2 which you have there is alot better than the D1 or RR classic and Defender. They beefed them up on the D2 as everyone was useing the tie down points (for transporters ) as towing points so land rover beefed them up. But i would still not trust them for snatch recovery or any heavy recovery

flat tow, tie down yes. winching i personally wouldnt. Snatch definately not. It all comes down to kinetic energy

Don't even think about it. As said above kentic energy.

Quite a few years ago a child was killed on (Morton Island can't remember which one now)? I think that was the one, any way, when someone snatched from the tow ball, the ball became a missel. It might look strong but unless the load is spread across both sides of the chassis I would not risk it.

This was the first mod I made to my D2 before I went to Fraser last year.

Hi GB,
I have seen this snap twice..DONT use it..
I have some thicker plates on mine from a company called www.4x4intelligence.com.au
Its ok to use as a minor tow rope(if u have too), but with no force. Its just not worth it.

I actually sent an email to 4x4 4x4intelligence this afternoon and received a reply from Simon.

The recovery points are sold as a pair but i would need to cut a hole in the bumper to use the second one which im not intending to do.

But i will buy and install both just the same, the 2nd one would be there but not accessible

unless the new ones stick out substantially,,
on anything but a straight pull the skirt will still cop a flogging,,
but,, if the tides coming in---

I cringe at the thought of using those brackets. The top bolt becomes the pivot and the bottom bolt takes all the force multiplied by 2 due to the lever action. Sure the bracket looks and probably is very strong but with the mounting, is it really any better than the LR tow hook (which was strengthened on the D2a)? The top bolt would not be subjected to the same multiplied force after the bottom bolt sheared, but its still just 1 bolt again.

As I have a bar and winch I have been able to mount a recovery hook to each side of the winch cradle. They point down slightly so the angle of pull is not strictly horizontal with the bolts but I guess that I get about 95% of the load capacity of the bolts as a pair.

I'm much more comfortable with my setup, but its of not much use to others without the cradle for a mount site.