Custom Front Shackel Mounts?

[T4RT]

Custom Front Shackle Mounts?

I have been searching to see if anyone has come up with a custom front shackle mount with d-rings for an SR5 but I haven't seen anything custom yet. I know the tie down rings on the front may not really be designed for extracting someone who is stuck. I know the fastest answer would be just get an ARB or Shrockworks front bumper but my wife drives the Runner as her every day vehicle and that idea would go over like a lead balloon. I have seen some treads (listed below) about the Curt #31367 front mount trailer hitch which seems like a good option once I remove the front plastic to make it fit. The Curt #31367 allows for extra clearance where the Curt #31054 does not. I just wonder how well those welded rings will hold up if I had to extract someone from the beach who is stuck. The "Custom Built Look" guy in me hopes someone already came up with a custom shackle with D-ring setup that might look a bit more rugged/mean than the front mount trailer hitch option.

Research
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/75049-recovery-points-4runner.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/59697-tow-hook-placement-bad.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/87282-breaking-news-about-front-trailer-hitch.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/138054-question-those-curt-31367-front-hitch.html



My idea spawned after I saw a couple 3rd Gens (T4R.ORG members) with D-Ring hanging.

When I look at the 5th Gen, I would love to see a bracket designed to allow shackles to stick out where the lower inner rigid square lights in this picture are mounted and hang freely.

Thanks for reading and I welcome all input / suggestions!

T4RT

 

[T4RT]

After 14 hours and 96 reviews, maybe I need to provide a visual representation of my idea. If anyone has done this, please let me know. I don't have photoshop but I know my way around MS PAINT!

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[Jeremy556]

Those loops that go through the front crossmember and are welded on both sides are recovery points. A regular shackle pins fits just fine through them.

 

[Jesse1983]

AFTER

don't let [MENTION=47340]Titanpat57[/MENTION] see those shackles like that..

 

[T4RT]

don't let [MENTION=47340]Titanpat57[/MENTION] see those shackles like that..

Is this a good thing or a bad thing [MENTION=48772]Jesse1983[/MENTION]?

 

[eddiebx]

I have been searching to see if anyone has come up with a custom front shackle mount with d-rings for an SR5 but I haven't seen anything custom yet. I know the tie down rings on the front may not really be designed for extracting someone who is stuck. I know the fastest answer would be just get an ARB or Shrockworks front bumper but my wife drives the Runner as her every day vehicle and that idea would go over like a lead balloon. I have seen some treads (listed below) about the Curt #31367 front mount trailer hitch which seems like a good option once I remove the front plastic to make it fit. The Curt #31367 allows for extra clearance where the Curt #31054 does not. I just wonder how well those welded rings will hold up if I had to extract someone from the beach who is stuck. The "Custom Built Look" guy in me hopes someone already came up with a custom shackle with D-ring setup that might look a bit more rugged/mean than the front mount trailer hitch option.

I don't think the little welded loops on the CURT front hitch are meant for extraction...I think in their instructions it even tells you to hook up to the factory recovery points.

I guess you could get a hitch to shackle adapter and stick it in the front hitch, but be warned I am not sure if the CURT front hitch is rated for dynamic recovery, the only rating I saw for it is a 9,000 lb straight line pull for their front hitch mount.

Why not just use the factory recovery loops? I know they are not as sexy as a pair of shackles, but it seems to get the job done, lol.

 

[T4RT]

Those loops that go through the front crossmember and are welded on both sides are recovery points. A regular shackle pins fits just fine through them.

[MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] - Are you referencing the Curt #31367 loops?

 

[eddiebx]

[MENTION=78273]Jeremy556[/MENTION] - Are you referencing the Curt #31367 loops?

He's most likely talking about the ones that are welded onto the frame rails, they look kind of like this:

 

[Jesse1983]

Is this a good thing or a bad thing [MENTION=48772]Jesse1983[/MENTION]?

[MENTION=48772] ......the 2 red things on the same side would drive me nuts....be symmetrical...or GTFO

^^^^

 

[Jeremy556]

He's most likely talking about the ones that are welded onto the frame rails, they look kind of like this:

Yep, those. They go through the cross member and are welded on both sides, just below the main frame rail. They are much stronger, better recovery points than a front mounted hitch receiver. The only downside is they are pretty low on the vehicle, which is probably a PITA for limited/SR5s with all of the plastic hanging down from the bumper.

 

[T4RT]

I don't think the little welded loops on the CURT front hitch are meant for extraction...I think in their instructions it even tells you to hook up to the factory recovery points.

I guess you could get a hitch to shackle adapter and stick it in the front hitch, but be warned I am not sure if the CURT front hitch is rated for dynamic recovery, the only rating I saw for it is a 9,000 lb straight line pull for their front hitch mount.

Why not just use the factory recovery loops? I know they are not as sexy as a pair of shackles, but it seems to get the job done, lol.

My photoshop does look kinda nice doesn't it?

However, from my research posted by [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] on 5-3-2012 via this link on page two I thought maybe I should ask around to see if there were any other options.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/59697-tow-hook-placement-bad-2.html#post1058273

In the manual they are identified as "emergency towing eyelets" on page 555. On page 607, titled "If the vehicle becomes stuck" at the bottom of the page it states "If the vehicle remains stuck even after these procedures are performed, the vehicle may require towing to be freed."

With that said, any sane person would evaluate in a given situation whether the front eyelets were or were not the best place to hook. As I said above, any point you can hook to and get recovered without doing any damage is a recovery point.

I would use them if I was in a pinch but I was just curious if there was anyone else out there that might have come up with another option. I won't lie, the eyelets didn't look heavy duty to me and I would be afraid of the damage I might cause if I where to use them.

If I am being over cautious here guys, let me know.

 

[NoDak]

on the 2014 LE, they are even more recessed. the front are barely accessible and the single rear point sits higher (closer to he floorpan) than the trailer plug.

the front factory mount point still will not clear the bodywork even removing the black piece per the owners manual.

wish there was a way to get an extended shackle adapter to clear the bodywork, but I don't see that happening unless I can find a master welder to fab something up.

 

[Titanpat57]

don't let [MENTION=47340]Titanpat57[/MENTION] see those shackles like that..

[MENTION=48772]Jesse1983[/MENTION] ... he probably photochopped them off that wreck of yours....

peace out my brutha...:wink2:

 

[Jeremy556]

I would use them if I was in a pinch but I was just curious if there was anyone else out there that might have come up with another option. I won't lie, the eyelets didn't look heavy duty to me and I would be afraid of the damage I might cause if I where to use them.

If I am being over cautious here guys, let me know.

You're being overly cautious. I use these as recovery points all the time.

 

[1engineer]

My photoshop does look kinda nice doesn't it?

However, from my research posted by [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] on 5-3-2012 via this link on page two I thought maybe I should ask around to see if there were any other options.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/59697-tow-hook-placement-bad-2.html#post1058273



I would use them if I was in a pinch but I was just curious if there was anyone else out there that might have come up with another option. I won't lie, the eyelets didn't look heavy duty to me and I would be afraid of the damage I might cause if I where to use them.

If I am being over cautious here guys, let me know.

Yeah, that guy pissed me off.
Use common sense. Of course there are better ways to attach a hook that the hooks provided. A hitch is a good place even though the pin is in double shear. The drawback with a front hitch is ground clearance reduction though. The way I see it you have three options:
1. OEM hooks
2. Front hitch
3. Aftermarket bumper

Good luck!

 

[Intruder]

My idea spawned after I saw a couple 3rd Gens (T4R.ORG members) with D-Ring hanging.

Personally I wouldn't leave my shackles hanging there. They're going to rust, collect debris in the threads, or the pins will eventually vibrate out. I found out the hard way that if you leave a shackle hanging and do a water crossing in the winter you're going to have to wait a while before you can unscrew the pin unless you have a propane torch handy.

 

[eddiebx]

[MENTION=48772]Jesse1983[/MENTION] ... he probably photochopped them off that wreck of yours....

peace out my brutha...:wink2:

Super slow at wrenching and OCD over symmetrical-ness, it's like I'm looking into a mirror :wow:

Move over [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] I'm stealing your best friend :cheers:

 

[eddiebx]

Yeah, that guy pissed me off.
Use common sense. Of course there are better ways to attach a hook that the hooks provided. A hitch is a good place even though the pin is in double shear. The drawback with a front hitch is ground clearance reduction though. The way I see it you have three options:
1. OEM hooks
2. Front hitch
3. Aftermarket bumper

Good luck!

Someone here pissed you off? No way.

Serious question Greg, could you enlighten us about using those receiver hitch to shackle adapters and their durability when used for dynamic recovery? I think it was [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION] that brought up a good point a while ago about using a CURT front hitch for recovery and questioning if it was safe or not.

The way I understand it is, the front receiver hitch is rated for a certain straight line pull amount, same as the hitch pin holding the shackle adapter in place; but these "max working load ratings" are most likely for a gentle constant pulling force (like from a winch or something?). And probably not meant for a hard tug like during a dynamic recovery, right?

So let's say for example the CURT front hitch is rated at 9,000 lbs, is there any way to determine if this is safe enough for dynamic recovery? And the same goes for the hitch pins...would any typical one do, or you need to find some unobtanium version to be safe, lol.

Sorry about the in-depth question and if I am using any terms wrong...I've always been curious about this since all of you guys here have made me overly cautious about all things recovery (and for good reason!)

 

[Katahdin]

[MENTION=64712]CBI OffRoad Fab[/MENTION] makes a "high clearance front receiver hitch" for 4th Gen 4Runners. That could be a good option if they decide to make one for the 5th Gen.

 

[T4RT]

Someone here pissed you off? No way.

Serious question Greg, could you enlighten us about using those receiver hitch to shackle adapters and their durability when used for dynamic recovery? I think it was [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION] that brought up a good point a while ago about using a CURT front hitch for recovery and questioning if it was safe or not.

The way I understand it is, the front receiver hitch is rated for a certain straight line pull amount, same as the hitch pin holding the shackle adapter in place; but these "max working load ratings" are most likely for a gentle constant pulling force (like from a winch or something?). And probably not meant for a hard tug like during a dynamic recovery, right?

So let's say for example the CURT front hitch is rated at 9,000 lbs, is there any way to determine if this is safe enough for dynamic recovery? And the same goes for the hitch pins...would any typical one do, or you need to find some unobtanium version to be safe, lol.

Sorry about the in-depth question and if I am using any terms wrong...I've always been curious about this since all of you guys here have made me overly cautious about all things recovery (and for good reason!)

[MENTION=85512]eddiebx[/MENTION]- Unobtanium!! Nothing like an Avatar movie reference!:thumb3:

Honestly your in-depth question in right down the path I wanted to go so, Thank you! I have personally witnessed mass destruction of personal vehicles out on the beaches. I I have seen axles broken, tow lines snap and almost kill people, body panels ripped off, and to many vehicles buried to the frame to tell you about. The front tow hitch would be better if I could mount it where a hidden winch would go. [MENTION=66300]Intruder[/MENTION] brings up something I had never thought about. Leaving the shackles on the front would lend themselves to either vibrating loose or jamming up from the tiny sand particles infiltrating the treads over time. I do know that I will be purchasing a D-Ring Shackle attachment for the rear so I can pull someone out.