Just a friendly reminder to any newbies to get your rig ready before setting out into the bush.
#1 - do you have at least one good recovery point?
Hooking to the bumper or the axle is just asking to break things. Looping a tow rope over a trailer ball on a stock bumper is a good way to kill someone. REAL tow hooks bolted on to a factory approved mounting location or a class III hitch are the only ways you can safely tow a rig. Some aftermaket bumpers have tow points built in. If using a trailer hitch you either slip the loop of the recovery strap into the reciever and put the pin though it or remove the trailer ball and put a shackle through the bolt hole.
#2 - do you have a recovery strap. Not a tow strap intended for rolling a honda down the road, not a chunk of old rope, not a piece of unidentified chain; a recovery strap designed for pulling rigs out of serious stucks. It should be rated for at least 3 times the weight of your rig. NO HOOKS!. Hooks make great projectiles if something slips.
#3 - does somebody know where you are going and can find you if you don't come back?
#4 - do you have enough food and water to spend a couple of days in the bush in an emergency.
#5 - Travel in groups. Two rookies are twice the potential for trouble. Try to link up with a club or other experienced wheelers in your area.
#6 - know when to say no. If you are worried your rig can't make it or you are not comfortable with the situation then stop. Your buddy who is egging you on isn't the one who has to fix your rig tomorrow.
#8 - Don't Drink and Drive. Not only is it every bit as illegal to drink and drive in the bush as it in on a public road, it's just plain stupid. Wheeling is a sport that requires planning, driving skill, and reflexes. Drinking takes all that away from you, and eventually will cause a stupid mistake and then a broken truck (and maybe even a death). Save the beer for after the trail. Ditto to pot and everything else.
#9 - use the buddy system......send your buddy first
this works, i went my first time (as a driver) on saturday and i went with people from the BSR, they halped me out and made me feel comfortable and safe. Best advice to give i would say.
Thats the only spot I have to hook up a strap. I see no problem in this, if your bumper is heavy duty, and can take the weight. Mine is 1/2 steel that gets bolted to the frame and then goes down to the ball, and trust me it isn't coming off, i tried . I see your point if someone has one of those nice shiney stock bumpers only for show. Great post though, I love #9, send them first, and see what they break:*******.:canadian
Thats the only spot I have to hook up a strap. I see no problem in this, if your bumper is heavy duty, and can take the weight. Mine is 1/2 steel that gets bolted to the frame and then goes down to the ball, and trust me it isn't coming off, i tried . I see your point if someone has one of those nice shiney stock bumpers only for show. Great post though, I love #9, send them first, and see what they break:*******.:canadian
Thing is that if a trailer ball does break you now have a nice heavy round cannon ball headed toward the other rig. Plus it's easy for the strap to slide off.
If your bumper is strong enough (not stock) unbolt the trailer ball and put a heavy duty shackle through the hole.
On a side note I also hate the stock tow hooks on the front of TJs. The opening is not big enough to hold a strap securely, and the end is pointed so if the strap does move out of position it will get punctured by the hook.
I've seen this happen... The tow trucks tail gate and rear 1/4 where totaly demolished!! It sheared the pin that holds it in the reciever. If it would have been a bit higher it would have come through the back window of the truck and probably killed a few guys!! After seeing it happen I would strongly recomend NOT to do this. Just sayin'
My ranger has no tow hooks. It will take a bit of work to be able to mount some on the front (there is a plastic thingy bolted to the front bumper that impedes access to the frame). I have a pretty solid bush bar bolted to the frame... would this do in a pinch? For the rear, what would I use? There will be a hitch there in the future, but it's off a Jeep and needs some modifications.... Still new to wheeling; learning and lovin' every minute!
I picked up a couple of 10,000lb tow hooks for the rear of my Samurai, on sale at Princess Autofor five bucks each. Bolt them to your frame with a couple of 1/2" grade 8 bolts. All together it will take about seven dollars and fifteen minutes per tow point.
My ranger has no tow hooks. It will take a bit of work to be able to mount some on the front (there is a plastic thingy bolted to the front bumper that impedes access to the frame). I have a pretty solid bush bar bolted to the frame... would this do in a pinch? For the rear, what would I use? There will be a hitch there in the future, but it's off a Jeep and needs some modifications.... Still new to wheeling; learning and lovin' every minute!
Probably, but not sure. Are the bolts at least grade 5, and does it have any spots for mounting hooks? Many high quality bush bars have holes on the sides for mouting hooks sideways.
For the rear you should have someplace to bolt a hook to.
Probably, but not sure. Are the bolts at least grade 5, and does it have any spots for mounting hooks? Many high quality bush bars have holes on the sides for mouting hooks sideways.
Everything my bf and I have put on ourselves is with grade 8. The bush bar, I believe was a warn, we bought it off a guy on the board, and had to modify it a little.
Should the tow hooks be mounted directly to the frame, or can they be mounted "indirectly", like to mount a couple tow hooks to the bush bar, and mount/weld a couple onto the hitch for the rear.... would that work? I used my rear bumper once in a pinch, and the pull bent it pretty good....good thing we were replacing it anyways. I don't want to bend up my nice shiny chrome bumper now though. Thanks for all the help.
Warn makes thene that go into your hitch. They work great and you can make on for fairly few $$. Just make sure the shackel is aproperly rated for weight..
ya i thought you were this guy that came up rolley loop with me and a few people he was alone in a new lifted cherokee. its was a very nice jeep. Must be someone else though:canadian
one thing that really pisses me off is people who do not have a spare tire it doesn't have to be brand new but it does have to hold air and you should have the tools to change it
i don't mind helping ppl but when i gotta lend out one of my 35's to a guy with a stock 4 runner with 31s thats just not good
I picked up a couple of the same hooks from princess auto
and just hacked up the plastic under the front bumper on my bronco2 it doesn't look to bad and it is cheap to replace
and if I get stuck it is the last thing I'll be worried about
I build a nice rear bumper out of 3 inch sch80 pipe 2 pieces and
cut the reciver into the middle of it with a 1/2 plat wled full round the reciver tube and then to the pipe and as much weld on the pipe to reciver as I could get but the 6x6 plate on the back of the reciver tube sure makes great for pulling and with welds up 3" from the base of the tube at 4 points
...
I picked up a couple of the same hooks from princess auto
and just hacked up the plastic under the front bumper on my bronco2 it doesn't look to bad and it is cheap to replace
and if I get stuck it is the last thing I'll be worried about
...
My ranger has no tow hooks. It will take a bit of work to be able to mount some on the front (there is a plastic thingy bolted to the front bumper that impedes access to the frame). I have a pretty solid bush bar bolted to the frame... would this do in a pinch? For the rear, what would I use? There will be a hitch there in the future, but it's off a Jeep and needs some modifications.... Still new to wheeling; learning and lovin' every minute!
Actually, I wouldn't recommend the princess auto 10,000 lb hooks. If you read on the package it says no not exceed 1/3 of capacity which is 3333 lbs. Not very much strength there. spend a few more bucks or get a factory chev set of hooks from a wrecker. There bigger and stronger and easier on your recovery strap.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
BC 4x4 Forums
597.9K posts
28.2K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to British Columbia’s 4x4 owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!