Rear recovery point

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Hi all

I was wondering if anybody has had first hand experience using one of those hitch receiver rear recovery points.
I have what is essentially a big block of steel with a rated bow shackle attached. This block of steel fits into the hitch receiver (the genuine Toyota tow bar) and the pin locks it in.
I wonder what Mr Toyota would think of using the tow bar's hitch receiver to snatch a bogged 4WD? Was it designed to accommodate this type of load?
The reason that I am asking is that the genuine Toyota hitch receiver is really a tiny thing made of cast iron and held onto the rear chassis member with 4 closely spaced bolts. It isn't your big heavy Hayman Reese style that is mounted with well spaced load points.
Any comments?

Cheers - John

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Rear recovery point

I have been using one of these for about three years now (I bought it from TJM for aound $60 from memory)

The Toyota tow point (Which is held on by 6 bolts btw and is cast steel not iron) is rated to 2500kg (and that rating is more about braking ability of the Prado and other mechanical aspects such as trans cooling, not strength of the tow point) and assuming the engineering rule of 3x was applied it would have a failure point of somewhere around 7500kg minimum.

The forces in a snatch recovery rarely exceed 1500kg even in an extreme case and in most cases would only be a few hundred kgs. If they do you are doing something wrong :!:

The fabricated style bars, such as the Hayman Reece one is rated no higher (Because it's limited by the Prado not it's construction).

I have no doubt the neither Toyota, Hayman Reece or any other manufacturer would recommend their product as a recovery point.

Arguing the merits of any tow bar brand over another is splitting hairs really... they are engineered on paper and that would be it... not tested to destruction, tested for cracks or X-rayed for porosity. (either in casting or welds).

Mick

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Rear recovery point

I've been using one I had custom done by a mob in Tas that deal with the Hayman Reece stuff there (and modify some of it).
I'd thought about this a bit & wondered what sort of load should be put on that pin. No idea what the shear strength would be.

I came to the same conclusion as John and decided not to worry too much but it'd be nice to know. Not concerned at all about the hitch or towbar itself.

[Golly Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Golly]

Re: Rear recovery point

Managed to get a nice quick release pin and split from Camec on Welshpool Rd in Perth the other day for $10.00. 5/8" I believe is the measurement for the exact fit of the Toyota bar bolt hole. Sweet!

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Re: Rear recovery point

Having the full hayman reece type towbar which is not only bolted to the rear cross-member but also to the side chassis rails as well means that the load is spread between the 3 members.

When I ordered my towbar I asked the dealer to check if the stock Toyota towbar was rated for snatching. Because they didn't really know he said "No."

I then order the full bar from Parkside towbars in Welshpool. Not only was it cheaper than the tojo part but it also came with the tongue and ball and had a bonus snatch recovery block and shackle supplied as well. The wiring harness was the proper tojo part though.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

Re: Rear recovery point

I have toyota genuene towbar in mine, and I've fitted it myself -it bolts with 6 high tensile bolts to the chasis, and it is quite secure.
I also have rear recovery hitch similar to the one in the link below and it has been used to recover my car
(with a quite a violent force on one occasion) without any issues...
http://www.bushranger.com.au/bulletins/ ... sting.html
As others said the towbar and recovery hithch have much higher load rating vs snatch strap so the snatch strap would give in first,
provided all the recovery equipment is properly load tested.

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Re: Rear recovery point

Hi all

Yeah, thanks guys. That's really what I wanted to hear. That I am not going to pull the rear off my car if snatching.
I have towed my 2500kg :wink: caravan around Australia with the genuine Toyota hitch receiver with absolutely no issues.
Additionally, it is good to know that there are 6 bolts as a cursory look only shows 4.

Cheers - John

[ABD Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ABD]

Re: Rear recovery point

Very new to recovery gear ... learning slowly.
Bought a rear recovery hitch and other gear at the Sydney caravan show yesterday.
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lh/photo ... directlink
Got it home and on closer inspection noticed that the inside of both holes was not as clean and smooth as I had expected.
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lh/photo ... directlink
Looks like it maybe a problem in the original casting
It is rated at 5000lb
Do I presume that a "feature" like this is just cosmetic and it should be virtually indestructible?
Have since checked other brands and some have the shackle hole at 90? to hitch pin hole.
Are there any advantages one way or the other?
All advice gratefully accepted.

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Rear recovery point

I have 2 hitch pin holes at 90 degrees to each other to allow the same thing. I guess the only thing is that your shackle wont flop around if you use it with the shackle hole horizontal and the shackle hanging down :?
Not sure about the cosmetic side of it, I'm not a welder or boily - someone like Samo might know better?

[Golly Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Golly]

Re: Rear recovery point



This is what I have, same as above except it came with a 4.75t shackle, throw one of them onto yours and leave it on there for when you need it.
I think the inside hole is a mistake from the manufacturer. Take it back and ask for another if your not sure about it. 8)