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While I don't intend on doing any serious off-roading (I'm not outfitting my truck with anything for it anyway), there's always a chance of getting stuck somewhere with the butt-end of my truck being the only option and can't use the front tow hooks when I inevitably call for help or maybe need to help a friend out of a jam. What are some good rear options? Are those hitch mounted hooks any good? I have a class IV hitch on my new 2018 SuperCrew 4x4. I've never been stuck before (fingers crossed, knock on wood, wish upon a star, etc..), but I am human and therefore prone to stupidity and will probably get myself into a sticky situation at some point. I subscribe to the ol' saying 'it's better to have it and not need than need it and not have it'.
Stay away from open hooks. A hitch mounted shackle or a big eye (like the trailer side of a pintle hitch) should work pretty well. Personally, on my Jeep I use a piece of 2"x2"x1/4" with a big eye bolt pressed & welded in. Works great and allows for pull in any direction without side loading the shackle. I need to cut it shorter so I can use it in my truck if needed.
Stay away from open hooks. A hitch mounted shackle or a big eye (like the trailer side of a pintle hitch) should work pretty well. Personally, on my Jeep I use a piece of 2"x2"x1/4" with a big eye bolt pressed & welded in. Works great and allows for pull in any direction without side loading the shackle. I need to cut it shorter so I can use it in my truck if needed.
Those open hooks freak me out. Looks like something hanging in a meat locker. My primary question is about using something in the hitch receiver like you talk about. Having only used it for towing, I didn't know what the true capabilities are for recovery. These companies will sell you anything, even if it doesn't work or isn't safe!
6.5 ton rating? Awesome. My hitch will buckle before that thing breaks. Thanks for the info!
I would be very impressed to see a hitch buckle...6.5 tons is only 13,000 lbs & some F150 hitches are rated for more that than. Of couse, who knows what kind of safety factor is built in to the ratings. What I do know is I've hooked my Jeep's winch to a full size truck twice, both times with no anchor points available. The 1st time was a mid 2000s GMC 1500 extended cab stuck in a field. Couldn't get close enough for a ****** strap, so we hooked two 9K winches to his trailer hitch to get him out. This was after an Ecoboost F150 on 35s broke the GMC's front tow hooks trying to ****** him out. The next I hooked an 8K Warn (that's known to pull well over 8K) to the hitch of a 2012 F150 crew cab & used a ****** block for 16K of pull power.
I would look for one that can be mounted with the d-ring either vertical or horizontal. That way you can minimize the side load.
The D-Ring shackle posted above will work great. I use them for that purpose and also have a 10K lb Warn winch that I put in my hitch receiver for self-recovery when I'm out off-roading solo.
Get a tow rope / ****** strap if you don't already have one, and a 2nd D-ring so you don't have to rely on other people to bring them. All you need is any truck passing by, and with the two D-rings (one for his hitch receiver, one for yours) and the ****** strap, you're good to go.
Bubba Rope, ASR, Opposite Lock, or ARB. Don't go cheap on those. You don't want a rope under that much stress to snap. Also make sure you get about a 25,000lb+ rating.
01-07-2019, 02:52 PM
Rear recovery options?
