2004 recovery point options

[DavidSR52004]

Did a good thorough search of the forum and didn't find any good leads or definite answers.

What are the options available for pre2005 owners for strong recovery points.

From what I could gather it was either a new steel bull bar with built in recovery points or those cheep and possibly nasty non-recovery point hooks from auto stores.

Planning on some more sand trips and a gulf to cape trip next year so wanted reliable recovery points for snatch strap recoveries out of tough situations with possible camper trailer on the back.

Happy to go with engineered ones if anyone has attempted these before.

Dave

[pipert]

Before I had my ARB bullbar, I was using the factory recovery points on the front with one of those recovery point hooks. I have been recovered with it before and even towed, I had no issues with it.

Now I have the recovery point hook on my bullbar

[Kizzzaaa]

I put one of those recovery hooks on and used it a few times haha. Not sure what else you're meant to use.

[DavidSR52004]

The hooks are not meant for recoveries. Most state they are not rated for recoveries, only for towing. Also in respiration I have tried the hooks but the bolt holes don't line up with chassis holes. My next option is to find a bull bar with the rated recovery points built in. Looks like ARE are the only ones making them for this model.

[travo]

Are you sure the recovery hook didn't match up? It should fit the 1st two holes in the chassis (a bullbar bracket may already occupy the holes, just place the hook over it)

I put a couple of recovery hooks on from arb for about $20 each plus HT bolts as the ones it came with were crap. Rated for 5 ton or so, they seem to do the job fine.

I've heard the hooks straighten under excessive load - might ruin the hook, but at least there is no shackle flying through the air if they fail

[DavidSR52004]

Thanks Travo, might just be the brand I bought so will try a few others and even ARB.

[lefty75]

Mabe swap the bolts out for a higher grade like 10.9 grade we use them for lifting all sorts of stuff at work .

[DavidSR52004]

lefty, I had a similar thought so went to the specialist bolt shop to see what options i had. After talking to the guy for some time about bolt types and the use of higher strength bolts for recovery type applications, he was of the view that higher strength might not be the best way to go. His reasoning was the higher strength bolts are more brittle, that is they are stronger when holding two things together (e.g. lifting weights) but when exposed to shear forces like a hook in a recovery situation, they might fail more easily? What does everyone think. It seems all recovery and bullbar installations only use 8.8 bolts, is this because they have more give before they snap under shear forces?