rear recovery points

[97vapathy]

Is it safe to use the factory ones? I have no rear bumper so my hitch looks alittle funny. So i was going to take it off and just use the factory tow points. Is this safe or should i look for another opition

[Trainman]

I got rid of my factory ones and installed a 5,000 lb hitch, then got a heavy duty shackle and attached it to the receiver. Short of a custom set up, like a rear bumper, this is the only way to get a proper rear recovery point due to the uni-body construction.

 

The factory ones are just tie downs for shipping and can not withstand the forces of a recovery, especially one with any side pull.

[Trainman]

Look close at this picture and you can see what I have done:

 

[97vapathy]

i have that minus a bumper. My hitch just hangs to low without a bumper so i want to remove it

[NismoSkyZ]

I just use the stock hitch...it works fine for me, however, I only got stuck twice.

[89_trailboss]

you will have to find some other means of recovery points. I used the stock ones on my wd21 which unlike your guys' paths, it has something called a FRAME at anyrate, I bent mine up to fawk from side pulles. now it didnt do anything but bend up on my path, but on a caR50 it could do some serious damage IMO.

[Trainman]

you will have to find some other means of recovery points. I used the stock ones on my wd21 which unlike your guys' paths, it has something called a FRAME at anyrate, I bent mine up to fawk from side pulles. now it didnt do anything but bend up on my path, but on a caR50 it could do some serious damage IMO.

Looking at how they are mounted (had to take them off to mount the hitch) I think they would just bend but not cause too much damage on their own. It is the uneven distribution of forces that will cause the problem I think.

 

Best idea, keep your hitch and use it. get another bumper if it bothers you too bad or fill in the space with some diamond plate.

[89_trailboss]

actually, best idea would be to make a bumper that mounts where the stock bumper mounts and also mounts to where the stock hitch does. aka mounting it to as many possable locations.

 

trainman, I belive he wants to loose the hitch cause it KILLS departure angle. I could be wrong but thats what I take it as.

[97vapathy]

you are right. i am working on getting the bumper now but just checking for something else in the meantime

[Trainman]

actually, best idea would be to make a bumper that mounts where the stock bumper mounts and also mounts to where the stock hitch does. aka mounting it to as many possable locations.

 

trainman, I belive he wants to loose the hitch cause it KILLS departure angle. I could be wrong but thats what I take it as.

I just let it drag

 

But you are right, it does wonders for departure angles for sure.

 

And you idea of as many mounting points as possible is right on. And a custom bumper could have as many "points" as you wanted, not just one in the center.

Edited December 24, 2006 by Trainman