Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Front recovery points - OEM or aftermarket

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Front recovery points - OEM or aftermarket

    I have recently joined the Toyota Landcruiser club (Sydney) and during my basic 4WD training in February was told that the OEM towing points on the front of my 2009 120 series Prado are no good as recovery points. My instructor told me that TLCC have experienced broken tow points on Prados in the past. Over the past few weeks I have consulted with 4WD shop operators, scoured the internet and checked out the owners manual of my car. The guy at Mannell Motors told me that they no longer sell recorvery points for my vehicle because the guy who used to make them has stopped doing them. I note that similar ones are still available for sale on the internet. I'm a bit worried about buying safety devices from unknown suppliers on the internet though. Also, I have a Sovereign bullbar fitted to my car and one of the 2 holes in the chassis that is supposed to be used for these aftermarket recovery points is used as a mounting point for the bullbar.

    During my research, I found out that the tow points on earlier Prados are significantly weaker than the ones on later models (like mine) which are the same as the ones on the new 150 series Prado. On my Prado, the tow points are a lot thicker and are drilled through a box section of the actual chassis and welded front and back (4 weld points). On the older Prados the U shaped tow point was welded to a thin plate that was in turn welded to the bottom of this box section. I work for an engineering company who manufacture heavy machinery for the mining and construction industries. I'm an electrical engineer (not mechanical), so I asked one of our mechanical engineers to give me his opinion as to which would be stronger, the OEM tow points or the aftermarket bolt on recovery points. In the opinion of this engineer, who is involved in the design of lifting points on very heavy equipment, the OEM points are the stronger option.

    The manual of my car also indicates that the tow points can be used for emergency towing if the vehicle is 'stuck in mud, sand or other condition from which the vehicle cannot be driven out under its own power' This seems to indicate that they are potentially suitable for vehicle recovery.

    I will continue to investigate this question but would appreciate it if anyone can share their own experience with late model 120 series front tow (recovery?) points. Also open to views from experienced forum members.

  • #2
    This would have to be one of the most talked about, debated and largely misunderstood topics of all time on this forum. This topic has been debated ad nauseam, there really is no right or wrong answer, but here is my 2 bobs worth.

    What recovery points you think are right wrong or otherwise is irrelevant, what your mate or me or anyone else thinks is also irrelevant. The only opinion that matters is that of the guy going to recover you or the person making the rules on whether you can attend an event or not. So in this case if the TLCC says you need bolt on recovery points then that's what you need.

    As recently as today I was having a discussion about the welds on the OE tow points, the fact that they are welded is only part of the issue, its the fact that no one has any evidence of any standard or ability of the welds or the weldor that did the job. I used to teach people to weld in a car factory and it was common for the first weld a person made in their life to be on a persons brand new car. How would you feel snatching of a hook that may have been welded by a person that had never even touched a welder before in their life? I don't know if that would be the case at Toyota or not, and that's the point, nobody knows.

    If you know the grade of steel the bolt on point is made from and the grade of the bolt, at least that is a known quantity and every set should be the same standard.

    It is extremely common to fit the bolt on points with the soverign bulbar, so no issues there.

    Here is some light reading for you, and there are loads of other equally long winded discussion on other models all going round and round in circles.

    http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...light=recovery
    http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...light=recovery
    http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...light=recovery
    http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...light=recovery


    Cheers Andrew
    [COLOR="#FF0000"]So Long and Thanks for all the Fish![/COLOR]

    [url=http://www.4wdadventurers.com/showthread.php?3840-AJ-s-120-Prado]MY PRADO AND DIY CAMPER TRAILER[/url]

    [url=http://www.4wdadventurers.com/showthread.php?3975-AJ-s-79-series-Cruiser-Ute]MY HZJ79 Landcrusier[/url]


    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

    Comment


    • #3
      Wheres that video of a vehicle being snatched while bogged in sand and the front sections of the chassis get pulled off?

      Kind of adds an interesting dimension to the whole "are these recovery points strong enough?" debate

      Comment


      • #4
        I don't think that video adds anything other than confusion. If we new the background, whether the chassis had been previously damaged or not, then it might be of use. As it is it really doesn't tell us anything other than its possible to rip the front of the chassis of if the circumstances are right.

        Cheers Andrew
        [COLOR="#FF0000"]So Long and Thanks for all the Fish![/COLOR]

        [url=http://www.4wdadventurers.com/showthread.php?3840-AJ-s-120-Prado]MY PRADO AND DIY CAMPER TRAILER[/url]

        [url=http://www.4wdadventurers.com/showthread.php?3975-AJ-s-79-series-Cruiser-Ute]MY HZJ79 Landcrusier[/url]


        [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

        Comment


        • #5
          I doubt anyone has ever torn off the factory points, there would be lots of pics and video out there if it was as common as some people say it is.
          My 150 build - http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread.php?27423-A-Random-approach-to-a-Bluestorm-150-GXL-D4D-automatic

          Comment


          • #6
            My car was skulled dragged in super soft sand with a briddle on the factory points, it was a two car pull with some hefty forces so for me factory points are solid enough.

            Hutch- Prado 150 with some TJM Kit.
            [b]Rob[/b]

            [b]2016 Toyota Hilux SR5 D4D Auto Company Cruiser... [/b].
            [url=http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread.php?23866-Hutch-s-2012-150-GXL-V6-petrol-Auto]Hutch's 2012 Build up[/url]
            [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

            Comment


            • #7
              Then theres this marvelous example of collective wisdom:

              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJA3J--g_yI

              Comment


              • #8
                How exiting another Prado tow point thread, luv it!

                It's my opinion that your engineer friend is on the right track.

                I will use the factory points of a Prado to recover you & any other Prado. Just like Hutch above plenty other examples of similar & no issues.
                The only evidence we found of weakness on the front of the Prado is indeed that video showing the 2mm thick steel of the chassis being torn off.
                So watever you have it seems most likely this damage would occur if you pulled it too hard like they did! Usually I'd expect to see a strap break before that.

                Yes you are correct many bullbars like mine do get in the way of mounting aftermarket points.
                Your other issue is, the aftermarket points for 120's are 2 bolt jobs, they don't have that 3rd bolt further up the chassis that might actually help if you were trying to rip the front off your vehicle.

                I find that bracket for the Bullbar actually strengthens the lower radiator panel to the chassis, as does my 4mm thick steel bashplate, which has no less than 4 bolts securing it to the centre supports & crossmember behind the sump.

                But that all just my opinion, & you know opinions are like assholes......... Everyone has one.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Here's one video of those useless tow points.

                  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MmrL...eature=related

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    ####, I don't have an ass.
                    My 150 build - http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread.php?27423-A-Random-approach-to-a-Bluestorm-150-GXL-D4D-automatic

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      This is the new way they did it on I think its late 04 prado upwards (when the 5 speed auto come out) [IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG] and the weld on the back [IMG][/IMG]
                      Face lift 150 Prado V6 auto. No mods yet

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        This was the old way [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG]
                        Face lift 150 Prado V6 auto. No mods yet

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          This one Beach http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...3-4a51bfa423a2
                          Face lift 150 Prado V6 auto. No mods yet

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            This subject has been done to death. The threads with past discussion have been listed by AJ.

                            As usual trolling and flaming are always expected in these type of threads. There is no need for discussion here. Take it to the old threads if you need to discuss further, but I imagine the info is already more than available in past listed threads.

                            So this thread is closed.

                            Comment

                            canli bahis siteleri bahis siteleri ecebet.net
                            mencisport.com
                            antalya escort
                            tsyd.org deneme bonusu veren siteler
                            deneme bonusu veren siteler
                            gaziantep escort
                            gaziantep escort
                            asyabahis maltcasino olabahis olabahis
                            erotik film izle Rus escort gaziantep rus escort
                            atasehir escort tuzla escort
                            sikis sex hatti
                            en iyi casino siteleri
                            deneme bonusu veren siteler
                            casibom
                            deneme bonusu veren siteler
                            deneme bonusu veren siteler
                            betticket istanbulbahis
                            Working...
                            X