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Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Sat, 09 Nov 2019 4:33 +0000
by TheGruffulo
So in my quest to put rated recovery points on my 16 Lux I tried the Road Safe RP-HIIL 15 ver 2. Pulled apart the appropriate bits of the car to find that they don't work with a OEM winch installed.

Yes, they will work with OEM bullbar as long as you don't want to put in an OEM winch. When road safe designed them they didn't have a vehicle with a winch to look at I guess. Sigh ...

The ARB ones are out, so I guess I am going to have to look at the Toyota ones. So damn expensive. Yes, TOY before you say it, OEM bullbars are shit if you want to put other gear on too.

Still my PHAT bash plates have been great.

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Sat, 09 Nov 2019 7:09 +0000
by Bushwalker8
Don't be too quick to throw them away, they could work with some modification.
I fitted them to my 2016 SR with the OEM alloy winch compatible bar & winch. My winch is a Runva11XP premium but it's pretty much the same footprint as the OEM Warn.

The issues I had to get around was cutting down the provided folded brackets on the inside to clear the winch cradle brackets, drilling out the internal threaded nut in the chassis & obtaining longer bolts and nut to go right through (rather than fitting the supplied bolt the wrong way around as instructed and pulling the nut backwards off the inside chassis wall!), minor bending to flatten the wing braces where they sit against recovery points and generally getting better quality bolts, nuts and particularly the washers which were rubbish and soft as cheese and were bending on the forward facing brackets.

Overall I'm happy with the end result and the points themselves are very strong but the package was poorly thought out as you discovered, instructions were incorrect in numerous areas, and the minor hardware poor quality.

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Sun, 10 Nov 2019 1:24 +0000
by TheGruffulo
I am really impressed Bushwalker. My son and I were really debating on the idea of modifying the plates. But I worried about changing the properties of the metal by cutting/heating etc. Not being an engineer I imagined the worse. You know. "We won't honour your claim something wasn't ADR compliant blah blah." So I went for the safe option and returned them.

There were two different sets on instructions on the website. (Now that it is an unhelpful website.) They sort of complimented each other but there were some glaring omissions. Thanks for your comprehensive reply, I really appreciate it.

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Sun, 10 Nov 2019 3:56 +0000
by Bushwalker8
TheGruffulo wrote:There were two different sets on instructions on the website. (Now that it is an unhelpful website.) They sort of complimented each other but there were some glaring omissions.


Exactly what I encountered and that's disappointing because back in March I sent them all the details inc photo's and edited instructions with corrections & suggestions.

Good luck with whichever way to go

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Mon, 11 Nov 2019 8:10 +0000
by mrt54
Hi,
I have a Rugged, which has two recovery points at the rear but none on the front, also have factory fitted winch which should be able to be used for recovery I would guess as it is supposed to cope with 9,000lb, but with the safety system radar there is pretty much nowhere to add anything in the way of lights. Might have to put a low profile light bar on top of the bull bar. Such a pity that Toyota put so much factory stuff on that interferes with other stuff you might want.

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 8:24 +0000
by TheGruffulo
I give in. RCA in Gosford laughed at me and said OEM bullbars are shit and why didn't I get a ARB one? They are owned by Brian Hilton Toyota! They won't retro fit a OEM recovery point. Not worth the effort and the money they said. I have learnt a lesson I can tell you. Never get an OEM bar again. ARB, Ironman etc all make recovery points but only for their own gear. If you have a OEM Premium Bullbar and winch your stuffed.

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 8:57 +0000
by Bushwalker8
Don't give in, it's not that hard to fit the road safe ones once you know the mods needed.
I used to think same that I'd been caught out and would never have either a winch or recovery points but now very happy with both.
Check your messages for my contact details I can give you the details.

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Tue, 03 Dec 2019 4:45 +0000
by Tony2
I love 4x4ing, I go quite often and the tougher the better.
I don't understand why you would want both? If you have a winch why do you want recovery points, for looks?
I enquired with Toyota and they said the tie down eyes on the 2015+ models are adequate for snatching (if used together). They are 12mm u-bolts with large flared backs that go right through the chassis to the other side. They are welded completely around on the front and back, you're not breaking these. I've used them for recovery and they're absolutely tough enough.

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Tue, 03 Dec 2019 6:25 +0000
by TheGruffulo
Hey, Tony2. I'd like to know who you talked with at Toyota. The people I have talked with say that they won't commit to the safety of snatching from the tie down points. Let me know. It will meant that Toyota is being inconsistent. I would really like them to commit to their tow points being tough enough to snatch from.

Snatching is a lot easier than winching on a beach with a fast incoming tide. Saying that, seeing I don't have an alternative I've just used a bridle. It seems to be OK.

I do wonder why Toyota put rated front recovery points on the "Rugged" instead of just using the tow points.

Re: Road Safe Towpoints HP-HIL15 or version 2- be warned

PostPosted: Wed, 04 Dec 2019 1:23 +0000
by Bushwalker8
Tony2 wrote:I don't understand why you would want both? If you have a winch why do you want recovery points, for looks? I enquired with Toyota and they said the tie down eyes on the 2015+ models are adequate for snatching (if used together)


Firstly there could be many situations where it would be difficult to anchor or the winch gives up, the latter situation is not exactly unheard of.

Secondly to double the winch capacity via looping through a snatch block the recovery points provide the return attachment so they work with the winch.

I don't plan to use either, but if I get stuck I want options. And BTW I personally don't like the looks and re-powder coated mine black so they are not chest beating & low key.

When you say you spoke to Toyota, do you have an official Toyota stance or a personal opinion of a dealership employee?

The RoadSafe points have a working load limit of 5,000kg each. For the OEM Toyota specify using only a snatch strap of 8,000kg breaking strength spread across both, so presumably their working load limit is 4,000kg each.

Both options are significantly stronger than the tie down points, and each has multiple 12mm + 10mm bolt attachment points.

If Toyota hasn't confirmed the working or breaking load KG of the tie down points and if you haven't tested and measured multiple samples to derive a minimum breaking strength I wouldn't be suggesting this to others and particularly as they will most likely have different vehicle weight & load considerations (slope, mud, trailer etc) and other recovery equipment specifications.

With no data to calculate an appropriate configuration it makes an inherently risky exercise much more so regardless of what may not have failed yet for you to date.

They are a potentially significant weak link in the chain, and you absolutely don't want that end - likely also with heavy bow shackles - letting go at extreme loads and stretching....back at the recovery vehicle.