'06 T4R V6 SR5 Stock Hitch Strong Enough for Recovery?

[DexTech]

Just purchased a Receiver Shackle, D-Ring, and a Snatch Strap. Anyone know if the factory hitch is strong enough to use for recovery? Are the Tow points strong enough to use for recovery?

Thanks

 

[gm350reratliff]

I would like to know too. It would suck to be in BFE and have the recovery points tear off. I already have a warn 9000 on a cradle mount that I use on my other truck. I would like to wire the 4runner to use it too but I haven't had the time.

 

[mysticz]

Should be since it's connected to the frame.

Anyway if you going to use a snatch strap your momentum will do most of the work so not much pulling involved.

If you doubt the strength just use the recovery point under the bumper on the frame.

 

[eskimochaos]

Should be since it's connected to the frame.

Anyway if you going to use a snatch strap your momentum will do most of the work so not much pulling involved.

If you doubt the strength just use the recovery point under the bumper on the frame.

Yea and that momentum from your car is being transferred to the strap via the tow hitch.

For pulling its probably fine - yanking IDK.

 

[Will_4R]

Yea and that momentum from your car is being transferred to the strap via the tow hitch.

For pulling its probably fine - yanking IDK.

:iagree:

Unfortunetely there are not specific ratings for the factory tow/recovery points. The hitch reciever is probably the strongest point if you have a proper reciever shackle. But even so, the hitch reciever is rated to pulling 5,000 pounds. I am not sure how this correlates to a WLL of 10,000, which is what shackles are rated to. Ideally the strap wil be the weakest link in your system so if something fails it isn't a piece of metal flying through the air.

 

[audiness]

There's no reason it shouldn't be strong enough to support the entire weight of the vehicle

 

[bigonenine]

I have a Stock 03 Sport and had to pull out my cousin in his 05 Wrangler with a 6 Inch Lift and 35 inch tires. He was stuck in mud and water up to the hood. I use a warn receiver shackle and a recovery strap, my hitch is still there so I guess its all good :thumb3:

 

[DexTech]

Thanks for all the replies.

Never considered that the snatch strap would hopefully be the weak link and fail before any other part.

 

[zstampe]

Good thread, I use my reciever shackle in my hitch and so far so good......

 

[eskimochaos]

It all depends on the situation. Snow, sure its fine, sand maybe, axle deep in mud hell no.

Why do people get 12k winches on land cruisers?

 

[DexTech]

I understand that if you are axle deep in mud the odds of getting pulled out by a like size vehicle and a recovery strap aren't good. But that isn't something that would happen that often where I and my friends go. Snow, sand, getting hung up on something etc is what I expect.

Thanks for your reply

 

[eskimochaos]

I understand that if you are axle deep in mud the odds of getting pulled out by a like size vehicle and a recovery strap aren't good. But that isn't something that would happen that often where I and my friends go. Snow, sand, getting hung up on something etc is what I expect.

Thanks for your reply

Sounds like your set then. Just be smart.

 

[TechWrench]

What I think we are overlooking, is the type of oem hitch he has. As I recall, the V6 uses the lighter duty hitch that is bolted only to the rear crossmember (not the frame rails). This is why it is not recomended for any type of weight distribution hitch system. The V8 hitch is fully mounted to both of the main frame rails, and much stronger. For normal pulling, which doesn't go over the 5K rating, you should be OK, but 'jerking' with a chain or non-expanding strap could result in bending the weaker crossmember the hitch is mounted to.

 

[DexTech]

thanks Techwrench, that's the answer I was looking for. Someone once mentioned to me that the hitch on the '06 v6 SR5 was a "baby hitch" and that he thought I should get the v8 for that and lots of other reasons. I didn't know it was attached to the cross member and not the rails.

 

[00328]

Ideally, you wouldn't be pulling dead weight anyway. Hopefully the stuck vehicle would be helping the situation by spinning its tires trying to get some traction and just need a little tugging to regain momentum.

 

[CNJ Runner]

so what is the consensus on this? If you have a v6 with the factory hitch , you can or cannot pull another vehicle if they are helping? by can or can not i mean will it damage my truck?

 

[Carl_G]

so what is the consensus on this? If you have a v6 with the factory hitch , you can or cannot pull another vehicle if they are helping? by can or can not i mean will it damage my truck?

I bought recovery gear and then sold it because I was scared that yanking on the frame the wrong way could put the whole thing out of alignment after reading about it a lot. Maybe I'm totally paranoid.

That's just my opinion though. I have NO experience in vehicle recovery.

It's kind of funny: I bought my 4runner imagining all this off roading I would be doing. Did some logging roads etc. , but then started to "baby" it, polish and wax it, etc. I will still use it for some fun logging roads and camping an snow. But that's it!
I know, you guys are ashamed if me. But it's such a great vehicle I want to keep it mint!

Here's an interesting article that explains how a frame could get pulled out of alignment.

http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/TowStraps_Hooks.html

 

[DocMT]

so what is the consensus on this? If you have a v6 with the factory hitch , you can or cannot pull another vehicle if they are helping? by can or can not i mean will it damage my truck?

No worries at all. If you guys have seen what I've pulled with my V6 4Runner, you wouldn't have any concerns. When you put these things into 4LO, you have some amazing pulling power due to the low gearing.

I pulled a Lincoln Navigator out of a ditch one time. It was completely stuck in the ditch and I had to pull it UP and out before it got any traction whatsoever. I just wish I had my camera with me because it would have made a great thread on the forum.

I've also used my 4Runner to pull bushes and stumps out of the ground. Again, you'd be surprised how much pulling power you have in 4LO. When pulling something like a stump, you're dealing with an object that really doesn't give at all. So the first thing I'll do it ease up and pull the strap tight and then see if I can start to loosen it up by pulling (instead of yanking on it) only. If not, I'll back up a bit and then use the vehicle's weight and momentum to loosen it up. I've done this a few times and haven't ever bent anything. So don't worry too much if you want to use your 4Runner for stuff like that. It's built stronger than most people realize. Seriously.

 

[Ross]

Hitch receivers are designed and tested for rolling weight. When you are stuck there is much more resistance than just the weight of your vehicle. The less metal to bend the better. A good recovery point attached directly to the frame is better. No matter what way you pull the force will be on the frame, not a receiver welded to a metal bar and then attached to a frame.

 

[scottm]

I use the recovery points welded to the frame, not my baby hitch. 20,000-lb snatch strap and big shackles from Tractor Supply. As a joke, one of my brothers gave me a huge strap, about eight-inches wide, good for pulling fire trucks out of sink holes I suppose.

Be safe, read about do's and dont's if you're going to carry equipment. The last car I got unstuck I just dug it out, didn't see anything sturdy enough to pull on. Another time I just loaned my strap to a guy with a pickup, he dropped it over his hitch ball and went at it. I just kept everybody back, expecting that thing to slip off. Watch out for the car you're pulling out to rocket out of the ditch full-throttle with you attached. If they go out into traffic, so do you.