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.
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.
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