Offroad-Express

Has anyone fitted rated tow points to an ARB winch bar? I currently have 2 rated tow points bolted to the end of the chassis rails, but the hooks face down meaning the rope / strop may slip off when slack - and effect the approach angle. A seasoned 4wd veteran suggested I have them relocated to the winch bar - perhaps with some additional plates being welded to the winch bar around the connection points for strength. Relocate the hooks and bolt on using the usual rated bolts. Has anyone done this before? For an 80 Series Landcruiser if that makes a difference.

plenty of people have done it here
just be awere that the top of the bar is generally about 3" higher then the chassis and when placed on top will generate a twisting motion/ reaction onto the bar mounts on real heavy recoverys the bars will twist forward addind hugh extra stresses to the bar mounting bolts

mudlva wrote:plenty of people have done it here
just be awere that the top of the bar is generally about 3" higher then the chassis and when placed on top will generate a twisting motion/ reaction onto the bar mounts on real heavy recoverys the bars will twist forward addind hugh extra stresses to the bar mounting bolts

Yep like he said

I had my ARB bar plated and put some side mounted hooks where the recovery eyes are underneath the bar and do heavier recoveries on them and I had the top of my bar plated and gusseted and have some hooks on the top which are the right way up so strops dont fall off and I do lighter recoveries, towing etc on them

ARB might be an industry standard in bars, but the one that came on my Disco the towing eyes were extremely weak. I am surprised they have not had the sense to make the tow points a lot stronger and better located on the bar along with necessary plating.

I ditched my ARB bar for a custom made winch bar which has very solid 16mm towing eyes. The eyes are in a position where they will not twist the bar and plated back along the chassis with 4 x 8.8 14mm ht bolts on each side. It will rip the chassis long before the bar or tow eyes pull out.

25 years on Trucks and Earth moving machinery I have seen my share of breakages on towing equipment. Decent eyes are superior to Hooks and the eyes used in combination with rated shackles.

. Decent eyes are superior to Hooks and the eyes used in combination with rated shackles.[/quote]
HERE HER second that thought
pity some people have closed minds to the fact that hooks arnt the be all and end all

ive got a hook off a cement truck fastened with 2X HT m18 bolts and had some wolly say that the hook was no good because it didnt have a 10,000kg rating on it the hook is 3X the size so i advice him of a partictular trip he should engage him self on

still think eyes are a lot me user friendly thou

the towing eyes on ARB bars are exactly that towing although you can also winch from them as they are designed for constant load not a shock load. this is esp paramount if it is an SRS bar as these are NOT desgined to be snatched off.

as for larger hooks, most would agree that a 10000 hook is the best as they are designed to let go (ie deform) in the event of over stress??

Sadam has the right idea with extra plates for towhooks on his ARB bar... at the end of the day if the 4x4 is too stuck winching is the best option.

mudlva wrote:. Decent eyes are superior to Hooks and the eyes used in combination with rated shackles.

HERE HER second that thought
pity some people have closed minds to the fact that hooks arnt the be all and end all

ive got a hook off a cement truck fastened with 2X HT m18 bolts and had some wolly say that the hook was no good because it didnt have a 10,000kg rating on it the hook is 3X the size so i advice him of a partictular trip he should engage him self on

still think eyes are a lot me user friendly thou

The whole point of requiring a rating stamped onto the hook, bolt etc is about it being easy for the un-educated to know it is safe. You great big hook is probably perfectly OK or it might not but if you can't prove it with documentation then in this world of blame you don't meet virtually every club / organisations requirements.
Hard, but it is the same reason most factory tow hooks aren't allowed. We aren't allowed to be practical anymore as if I was checking your truck it is a simple, show me the rating.
No rating, then no pass, simple unfortunately.

The aussies don't use hooks at all, they use shackles through those eyes. They also don't use the poly ropes we use, they use snatch straps. ARB designed their stuff primarlily for australian conditions. I have seen many recoveries in australia and although they may look as "stuck" as we do, I would argue that their recovery methods do not load the recovery points as much as we do. I would much prefer a snatch strap to a rope but many in NZ don't know how to use them properly. They will winch alot earleir then we do as well. A hook is just more convientant in my opinion and we always atke the easy route.
Al

Also in Australia, if you modify your ARB bar, your insurance is null and void and it will not pass a roadworthy. ARB will not back it.
Al

albundy wrote:The aussies don't use hooks at all, they use shackles through those eyes. They also don't use the poly ropes we use, they use snatch straps. ARB designed their stuff primarlily for australian conditions. I have seen many recoveries in australia and although they may look as "stuck" as we do, I would argue that their recovery methods do not load the recovery points as much as we do. I would much prefer a snatch strap to a rope but many in NZ don't know how to use them properly. They will winch alot earleir then we do as well. A hook is just more convientant in my opinion and we always atke the easy route.
Al

Dead right there Al...I saw a hook get ripped off one time when the snatching vehicle was using a poly rope about 25mm OD.

Later on on the same trip I went to use my same spec rope to snatch a truck and he said "NO WAY". I said it's how it's used and I showed him it could be done safely without ripping a truck apart.