Tow ball recovery point... whats your thoughts??

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Bigbunny2007

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Made this up at work and just wondered what your thoughts are?
It will replace tow ball hitches for an easy bolt on bolt off recovery point, good for the winter months if your involved in recovery's on a road going motor or a full on pay an play/lanning motor.
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I like it but if you have a rounded type bar you can just attach the strap to that without anything else or if you want to be quicker just a shackle. removes one or more potential things out of the mix to go wrong.
 
Self aligning, so both M16 bolts will share the load.:thumb2
Looks good.
What SWL is the shackle?
 
Better than using a tow ball and would give less experienced peoples a good recovery point.. You made a good point though fez.
 
Rustic.. Its not a rated shackle its the only one I had that was about the right size for the prototype. I would need to source a rated shackle then maybe get them tested??
 
Yes I agree, Looks well made.

I think the shackle is beefy enough, The pin with the hole in it would probably fail before the shackle
 
Made this up at work and just wondered what your thoughts are?
It will replace tow ball hitches for an easy bolt on bolt off recovery point, good for the winter months if your involved in recovery's on a road going motor or a full on pay an play/lanning motor.
View attachment 6437

How is the pin that the shackle bolt goes through fitted to the plate? Rick
 
Looks well made, and it would be useful if you don't plan on towing anything.
Otherwise a pin and jaw hitch might be less hassle, albeit with a little more overhang.
 
Wondered when someone would ask... The plate has a 45mm diameter recess 10mm deep in the back so the pin is like a top hat bush. This allows the pin to swivel but is trpped in by the plate and tow bar flange. This is a prototype at the moment so dimensions can be changed, the pin is 28mm thick at the moment stepped upto 45mm I'm going to make it 45 down to 35 and mill flats on the pin to allow the shackle to still fit, this beefing up the pin. Doubt it needs it though as the shackle pin is only 16mm.
 
Pin and jaw are great but can be tricky getting pin out and are costly for a decent one! This can sit under a tow ball if you have a plate on your tow bar that allows different fitting positions.
 
Pin and jaw are great but can be tricky getting pin out and are costly for a decent one! This can sit under a tow ball if you have a plate on your tow bar that allows different fitting positions.

While your on a design roll, it might be worth also considering a front mounted version too?
 
It's nice and all BUT why not just take the tow bar off and use the existing recovery points on the chassis ? No tow bar to catch offroad then either ;)
Very very cheap too :augie
 
By going up to 35 mm be careful you do not weaken the plate, personally I would like to see that a bit wider/beffyer, but nice bit of kit, at the pay and play sites I have regularly anchored to a marshals front mounted ball with an 8 tonne block designed for the purpose, but only ever for steady winching and with dyneema, Rick
 
While your on a design roll, it might be worth also considering a front mounted version too?

Had a think about this already, was looking at using the mounting holes on the chassis and replacing the standard recovery hook with a bar and shackle, ill try make a sample up this week and post a few picks :thumb2
 
It's nice and all BUT why not just take the tow bar off and use the existing recovery points on the chassis ? No tow bar to catch offroad then either ;)
Very very cheap too :augie

Valid point mate but its something I'm looking at for peoples that have no idea where recovery points are on their 4x4 for members of 4x4 rescue groups etc etc. Easy to fit and easy and safe to use, you can get to it without having to roll about under the truck and most 4x4s have tow bars.
 

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