Offroad-Express

I have no recovery hooks on my truck (86 surf) at present and before I get too stuck thought I'd better consider it. Don't know much about the rated hooks etc...

Found this in the shed


but figured it might be more useful here



if its a suitable hook. I suspect it will have come off a Hiace when it had a set of bars fitted to the front.

Any advice appreciated, including the hook's useful- or useless-ness and recommended mounting.

Is tow bar satisfactory for rear in most cases? I'm not talking extreme stuff just ease of connection for extraction.

that hook i suspect is not rated so it is not safe (safe for towing on the road) not safe for snatching with a few tonnes of force on it, if your not going hard out 4x4ing a tow bar will be ok for the rear for the front you need to go to a 4x4 specialist or somebody who is capable of safely fitting a tow hook to the front of your vehicle it needs to be bolted to the chassie hope this is of some help

James

mroffroader wrote:that hook i suspect is not rated so it is not safe (safe for towing on the road) not safe for snatching with a few tonnes of force on it,

I suspect your suspicions may be correct

quite a nice looking hook though

are 'factory' tow hooks considered as 'rated'????

brianr70 wrote:are 'factory' tow hooks considered as 'rated'????

nope becuase they do have a rating stamped on the side there not "recovery hooks" the "tow hooks" the only hook that is suitable is one with a sensible rating on the side eg. 10000LBS

You know that there were one or two tow hooks already made before they started putting ratings on the side

I guess if you do fit an unrated hook you have to be prepared to have a fellow offroad driver refuse to attach to it!

In the long run it's the only way to be sure, I for one will not risk my life on the chance that a hook that doesn’t have a rating on it won’t try to join me in the cab.

JMHO

To aid the naive questioner... What's the pros and cons of either.

Is a rated hook rated to its capacity (breaking strength)?
Apart from being rated, how is the hook different? steel type?
What's gonna happen to a non rated hook in worst case? just break? how likely?
Is a std tow hook going to be better than nothing, or worse than nothing?
Where is a good source of a rated hook?

A rated hook is designed to bend open, to release the roap should it become overloaded.
This is safer than using an unrated hook, which may snap off, sending a potentially lethal object hurtling through the air.

Fully Equipped, Peter Munro, or Delta 4wd parts will stock them, as well as Repco, and Supercheap

Don’t forget the site sponsors:!:

I got mine from 4WDbits, quick and painless

How they are mounted is important as well...is anyone near fweddy that can advise a suitable mounting method and help him.....

where abouts in north canty are you fweddy

Any one with a surf that can show how they have mounted them would be cool. Save me taking the time to find a good spot and then find out its not the most workable place.

I can soon work from there, I have a workshop with most gear I should need, although I work outside because my tractor project takes up the inside space at the moment. I've also rebuilt a classic ute and when I get exhausted for ideas I call on my father who was a mechanic and engineer.

So mount photos and info appreciated, the only difference to factory mine has in that area is the nudge bar.

I'm in Ashley.

Still keen on any mount photos...

Was in Repco today for a taillight bulb and checked out the hooks, only one (made by bushranger or bush... something) Was $26.95 or so, was a recovery hook but not rated. Next was in Supercheap. They had exactly the same hook for $40. Asked if they had rated stuff and he said that they only get them in on demand and last time they supplied was to forestry guys. Said they stock hooks (the unrated one) for average offroaders and mud guys but get the rated in for commercial purposes.

comments?

what's this about recovery hooks but not rated? Do they do the same job (uncoil on demand) but just are not guaranteed at a set rating?

a rated hook has 10,000 lbs stamped on the side

coxsy wrote:a rated hook has 10,000 lbs stamped on the side

and so?

sorry - just pushing the boundaries

http://www.4wdbits.co.nz/ProductDetails ... oductID=85

Get 2 of these ordered, these will be ok and have the 10000lb rating stamped on the side.....

Do you have a rated recovery strop and tree trunk protector, may be good to get these at the same time, 4wd bits is an ORE supporter, otherwise is there a Cookes branch nearby? their ones are ok.

Don't touch the supercheap etc ones

Considering that all towing shackles are now supposed to be rated also (according to directive from OSH about 6mths ago to our company) yet you still see Ripco and Suckercheap selling unrated ones it holds no astonishment that theyre dishin out bullshit advise about unrated ones being ok for your "average offroader".........

Makes ya wonder dont it???

Maybe repco are trying to kill us off

I brought 2 hooks the other day from Supercheap....they were rated 4500Kg..so they do sell rated ones.
Also if they arent mounted to the factory place on the chasis they should be certified.

Its more of a knowlledge issue and these places only stocking 1 thing....its like going into harvey norman etc and paying $$$ for a piece of c##p computer when you can get better elsewhere.....

tallsam66 wrote:I brought 2 hooks the other day from Supercheap....they were rated 4500Kg..so they do sell rated ones.
Also if they arent mounted to the factory place on the chasis they should be certified.

I think each branch is a different outfit.

Are the factory mounts where the nudge bar is fitted on my photo on the first post? On the right side the panel is shaped as though it is for a hook there.

Thats where ive fitted mine....when you mount them make sure you use grade 8.8 (High Tensile) bolts.

trying to figure a way to retain the nudge bar when fitting to those mounts

how does one know if you have a 'rated recovery strop??? do the brand add value? ie Black Rat???

tallsam66 wrote:Also if they arent mounted to the factory place on the chasis they should be certified.

!!! First I have heard of this....Do you mean they should be certified if being used for work (so covered by OSH), or Jo Blow Weekender should have them done too? LVV doc doesn't menton this (that I saw).

Im having to remount my bullbars to be able to mouint my hooks.....either that or buy one of those ARB bumper with intergrated winch

I would think its an OSH thing....

tallsam66 wrote:I brought 2 hooks the other day from Supercheap....they were rated 4500Kg..so they do sell rated ones.
Also if they arent mounted to the factory place on the chasis they should be certified.

Never said they didnt sell rated ones......... I said they are selling unrated ones.......