Offroad-Express

If you have a truck with factory hooks installed, I would be inclined to think that the hooks that are used would be sufficient to pull the truck out of any problems it might encounter... i'm sure that the manufacturer of the vehicle would take into consideration the weight class of the truck and 'rate' the hooks accordingly (therefore avoiding any nasty lawsuits).

Perhaps all of this is hogwash!, maybe it's best to just rip of those factory hooks and fit rated hooks instead.

Obviously if the vehicle is modified, you would not want to trust the hooks installed and then of course install rated hooks.

What's your opinion?

OH GOOD LORD.............. JEEERRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! COME QUICK :shock:

My 2c's, rip off the factory ones and put on one's that you KNOW are rated.

This has already been discussed in depth see
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=5470
or just ring Jerry and get him to give you his 12 hour lecture over the phone

15$ on a rated hook = peace of mind, knowing I won't get a tow hook in my head

People are responding to this tread quick I wonder why

DON'T GET JERRY STARTED, NO...................

Nothing to see here Jerry, look away

hehe, there's nothing like a towhook discussion to get people posting still no sign of Jerry though... perhaps he has come down ill or something and can't make it to the computer

Ok, before anyone 'freaks out' about having me on any trips with them, I'd like the chance to state that 'I don't have factory hooks!'

I did notice with Daisy's hooks that it was the mounting, or the way it was mounted, that caused it to fail...not the actual hook itself, would this be a fair assumption?

So my original statement/question stands!, Assuming that the factory hook is assumingly rated for that weight class of vehicle and is mounted appropriately to the chassis using suitable bolts and plates, can it be trusted?...

It brings up another issue of if you 'swap' your factory hook for a rated hook (using the same mounting) arn't you actually in a worse off position? the mounting would most likely fail before the rated hook!

I like the idea of having standards in place for ORE trips (well in fact any 4x4 experiences) but who is controlling this? who can you go to make sure that not ony the hooks you have are ok but also the mounting you have is also ok... as i'm sure you are all aware, not all trucks are created equal and there are subtle differences between how and where hooks are mounted.
3

PR wrote:This has already been discussed in depth see
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=5470

Ditto

The important thing you need to realise about rated recovery hooks is they that are designed to "open" when overstressed.
This will allow the rope/strop to fall free of the hook, where factory ones may break the hook off, making a leathal projectile, or cause serious damage to chassis etc where it is mounted

The factory tow hooks should be used as that, TOW hooks, not recovery hooks.
The mounting is just as important, a poorly mounted rated hook can be just as deadly as a weak factory hook.

most factory hooks are refered to in manuals as tie down hooks, US manufacturers have a rateing on them for a %age of the spring rate (found on a us forum, cant find again).

You can do whatever you want but you risk being handed a shovel to dig yourself out and risk having it break and smash someones window or pannel work or worse.

Me I got hooks and I will mount them upright.

OH GOOD LORD.............. JEEERRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! COME QUICK

Ok I'm here...... right who needs sorting out.....sound like I'd better come down there and give the 12hr lecture in person If this keeps up I will have to fit the flashing lights and the siren to the prado with big towhook police signage all over it DISCLAIMER: THIS WAS A JOKE




HAHAHAHA nice windup everyone is starting to panic and dig out their universal disclaimers and stuff.

I like the idea of having standards in place for ORE trips (well in fact any 4x4 experiences) but who is controlling this? who can you go to make sure that not ony the hooks you have are ok but also the mounting you have is also ok... as i'm sure you are all aware, not all trucks are created equal and there are subtle differences between how and where hooks are mounted.

IN MY PERSONAL VIEW

The mounting is important when fitting them, all trucks are different so the agreed standard/protocol on ORE trips seems to be that the trip leader checks them and the mounts at the start of the trip and the person doing the recovering should check them as well.

Some clubs do regular safety checks, others don't...last time I suggested that IN MY PERSONAL OPINION I nearly got bricks thru the window , one thing that would be good is a list of ORE people who are able to check your hooks and other safety equipment for your own piece of mind...they could even put a checked sticker on your truck to make it easy for the trip leaders and people recovering you....This would be a voluntary thing I reckon IN MY PERSONAL OPINION ....dunno not sure on other peoples thoughts on this....would be great for the non engineers that mount their own hooks etc....

Disclaimer: the above was a suggestion only IN MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION

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Jerry, you left out the most important instruction from your disclaimer:
"this side to enemy" - applies to Nissans as well as claymores - not so sure of Prados tho...

On the hook thing, I've broken the captive nuts on the back of my Patrol, replaced those (and 10mm plates, crush tubes,etc), then bent the rated bolts, then straightened a rated hook. I'd say it comes down to common sense (I've not tried that yet), and not getting TOO energetic on the snatches - you can bust anything if you try. The "rules" are about minimising the damage if/when you do, not about guaranteeing something's safe - imho.

disclaimer: sosume.

Thats some serious forces that you have thrown through your chassis!!

Just get a lighter truck??

I like the idea of having standards in place for ORE trips (well in fact any 4x4 experiences) but who is controlling this? who can you go to make sure that not ony the hooks you have are ok but also the mounting you have is also ok... as i'm sure you are all aware, not all trucks are created equal and there are subtle differences between how and where hooks are mounted

.
As with all trips it is up to the trip leader to scrutineer trucks and drivers for trip suitability.

Thats some serious forces that you have thrown through your chassis!!

Just get a lighter truck??

Or learn to use a winch
Al