Hitch shackle

[Fourty-four]

Is this a good deal on a hitch shackle? The price seems very low, so I'm not sure if the unit is good quality or not.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-Re...007QQitemZ170014622485QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

 

[toybox]

Is this a good deal on a hitch shackle? The price seems very low, so I'm not sure if the unit is good quality or not.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-Re...007QQitemZ170014622485QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

The listing was removed? maybe it was to good to be true.

I have a WARN which I bought for around $45. But to be honest with you I can't vouch for the quality of it over others as it has "Made in China" stamped on it.

 

[Fourty-four]

For some reason, ebay won't allow the link. It's from an ebay store-- Jeeperz-Creeperz.com. It's a "Rugged Ridge" hitch shackle for $24.95

 

[Thai]

I know that these things look cool...but why do you really want it?? It is not good for off-roading because it decreases your departure angle (just one more thing to drag). Secondly, since you are buying this, this means that you already have a hitch. You should just use your hitch to attach the tow rope to. Lastly, some idiot can come by and steal your D-ring (metal loop) and you would then have wasted $25.

I almost bought one a while ago, but the more that i thought about it, the less appealing it was.

BTW, i think that this is the right link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-Re...ryZ33653QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Fourty-four]

I'm not planning on driving around with it sticking out of my hitch!! I'm only going to use it for recovery (my vehicle or others!) in snow.

I don't like the idea of using my hitch pin inside the recovery strap loop. I've heard that the pin can bend or you can destroy the strap if you're pulling from off center, and the strap rubs against the inside edges of the hitch hole.

 

[Fourty-four]

Where is the best place to attach a tow strap on the front of my 4Runner? I know that we have a small loop under the front end, but I'm not sure if that is supposed to be used for a tow strap.

I don't want to bend or break anything if I'm stuck and need to be pulled out. I wish we had those chrome hooks that you see on Jeeps all the time!!!!!

 

[Thai]

If you tow something and actually bend the solid steel pin inside, then you have other issues than just a bent pin!! This is the last of my worry when i tow with the hitch. Of course, if you use the shackle above, then you would still bend the pin since the pin is holding the shackle to your hitch, right?

As for the tow rope being damaged, i can live with that. This is why i always carry more than one. I always examined them after each recovery.

As for your front tow hook...it is your only choice. Avoid being yank from the front...slow recovery is the best. As always, it's best to get towed or tow with the rear hitch.

 

[Expat]

Thai,

I would not normally disagree with you but this time, I gotta.

Departure angle - what could you possibly hit that would prevent your truck moving forward or backward due to the hitch. I certainly have hit mine a few times in dirt. sand, rock, mud but it just slides over. Better than smacking the rear bumper! Using your logic sliders on the side also reduce clearance and therefore should not be used offroad. If you look at your videos, you would be hard pressed to say that the hitch and D-shackle would have prevented or hindered your truck in those situations.

The tow pin is a poor substitute. Why would you want to put a tow rope/snatch strap into a location where it would quite potentially (by your own admission because - you a carry an second one) damage the rope/strap. That makes no sense.

As to being recovered, yanking from the front, if done correctly is an acceptable method, using the stock loops. In sand it can often be the only method for recovery and ropes and straps are designed for the yanking method of recovery (they provide stretching and recoil capabilities). It is not the best method to use the stock loops - that's why some people will move to a bullbar with better recovery points - but it's certainly an appropriate location and method. The rear recovery is great (best) but often not possible.

Finally I would question some of the logic in the pin strength arguement in the senario of attaching rope to it vs the solid hitch which spreads the load over the entire length of the pin. That would be splitting hairs tho as I doubt anyone has actually proven one is better or worse. I do believe the pin is generally designed to locate a fitting that will be used in towing where momentum is gradual and has a mimimal rolling resistance vs a static pull and hence why the hitch shown in the picture fits the whole space, spreading the load. I'd like to see someone test the various breaking points but can't see anyone bothering with that.

44 - I'd suggest you don't cut corners. Buy a recognised brand. Check with offroad shops for the ones they sell and then see if the one you are referring to is one they sell. If they don't, you might want to question why.

Cheers
Mark

 

[Expat]

I Lastly, some idiot can come by and steal your D-ring (metal loop) and you would then have wasted $25.

I had mine on for two years (yes it on all the time) and it's never been stolen.

Some points here.

You can use a locking pin to prevent someone stealing the hitch.
Some people cable tie their shackle
Having the hitch in place stops the doofus who can't park from banging into you.
On the PCH at Santa Monica 6 months ago I had someone in a G run into the back of me. His bumper - nice divot! My Tow hitch - scratched. That alone saved me the pain of repair, insurance issues and haggling with the doofus the G Wagon.

 

[Thai]

Mark, are we talking about the same thing here??

Ok...that shackle does NOT fit flush with the hitch (right?)...it sticks out from the hitch. So, if you're approaching the departure angle of your 4runner, then this thing will hit (may even damage it?). I did NOT say anything about the hitch hitting the ground...i am saying that the long shackle will decrease your departure angle. Anything that adds length to the hitch will decrease departure angle UNNECESSARILY. Now, if you're telling me that you take if off when off-roading, then i am all for it...but, then what is the point of having it then?!

Tow pin...i use it all the time. Actually, i have a Master Hitch Lock and use that pin to hold onto my tow strap. I gotta tell you...i have NOT seen any tow strap being damaged due to using the tow hitch pin and i was only answering 44's question. Also, i do align my tow as much as possible. I carry a 2nd one for length and backup. There is nothing wrong with keeping a close eye on your tow ropes...and trust me, i am not at all worried about the hitch rubbing on the tow rope.

The tow pin (or hitch lock pin) should be plenty strong if you're towing within your load range. Hell, even in YOUR application, you need it to hold your shackle to the hitch! The tow pin is also shallow enough within the hitch to not create enough angle on the hitch box itself to eat up your tow rope. Is there really any data to support using these hitch mounted shackles??????

And like i said above, if you manage to bend the tow pin, then a shackle mounted to hitch VIA TOW PIN would NOT help.

What are you talking about in the 2nd-to-last paragraph?? The tow pin goes thru the hitch...and things attach to it spreads it's weight across the whole hitch. What are you talking about? Are we talking about the same thing here??? And how is mounting your tow rope to the above shackle be any different since you're ALSO using the tow pin to hold the shackle???!!

As for bumper protection from rear-ends, i have no doubt that the shackle helps. People in G-wagens can't drive worth a damn!

 

[Thai]

Let's just make sure we are all on the same page...

This is the tow pin:

This is the tow hitch pin receiver where the tow pin goes thru the hole on the side:

This is the tow hitch lock i was talking about (mine is a bit different):

If you guys are getting the shackle, then why not get one of these:

This thing will stick out much more and provide protection against rear-end accidents!

IMHO, an effective hitch is one that hides under your bumper, easily accessible, provide some protection from underneath forces (bottoming out your rear end), BUT does not affect your departure angle significantly. This is why i am against anything that sticks out behind the hitch.

Besides Mark, how many people you see off-roading with the above shackle hanging behind the hitch??? To be honest, i have not seen one, not even one person doing this. I have seen a few on the road, but none off-road.

I love shackles (D-rings)!! But, i prefer them to be mounted to my bumper (ARB rear bumper for example). Or something along the lines of the Hummer vehicles.

Maybe you guys know something i don't...so, i could be buying that ebay shackle soon!

 

[Expat]

We're talking about this right....

 

[Thai]

We're talking about this right....

Yup...and i have re-edited my posts above to make it clearer. I have not had much sleep the past 4 days....

 

[Good Times]

Thai, you're quick to get back on Mark but I gotta back him up on this one.

That receiver for sale in the ebay ad is identical to the warn one that I have. It does not stick out more than it really needs to. If you look closely the only exposed part will be the actual shackle.

Now if you're complaining about departure angle this is a moot point. By the time you factor the hitch into play you're already at a piss poor figure so adding the shackle will not make your offroading experience any more unpleasant. When my 4runner was stock this was one of the first things bought and I have never once complained about the departure angle. I chalked this as part of the safety factor in offroading. I lose some but I gain more. Having that shackle in place while I offroad gave me a peace of mind knowing that if anything happened it's there ready to rock and roll and help me out or help someone else out.

The absolute worst scenario you can fall into if you don't have that shackle in place: you get wedged in a rut and can not get the shackle in place cuz you're jammed. Now if the shackle was there, there would be a way to access it since all you need to do is get the strap in place. (hope fully this makes sense).

Now as for using the pin and strap in the hitch, I highly don't recommend this at all. I consider this as a bootleg cheap ghetto version that could very well cause severe problems if any. Instead of taking that rist, what's 25-50 bucks in doing it the safe way?

GOod luck

 

[Thai]

Now as for using the pin and strap in the hitch, I highly don't recommend this at all. I consider this as a bootleg cheap ghetto version that could very well cause severe problems if any. Instead of taking that rist, what's 25-50 bucks in doing it the safe way?

GOod luck

Why?? What is so dangerous about it? Frankly, i trust my hitch and pin over any $25-50 product.

 

[Expat]

....BUT does not affect your departure angle significantly.

There is no way this hitch and shackle is going to interfere signifcantly with your truck moving forward or backward. I know, I and all my friends use them.

Besides Mark, how many people you see off-roading with the above shackle hanging behind the hitch???

Pretty much everyone I know who has a a tow hitch (not those with a steel rear bumper - only maybe three people have one of those on a 4th gen, because you can't get them A few people have made custom bumpers with specific recovery points but I don't believe we are talking about them or any other model truck other than the 4th gen which I thought 44 had. Maybe I'm wrong on this but then if he had a steel bumper I don't know why he wouldn't have recovery points welded on).

 

[Thai]

Well, if you guys care so much about 0.25-1/2" increase in your ground clearance by going with bigger tires, then why are you willing to sacrifice a few precious degree of departure angle with this shackle?? Maybe you guys see it differently from me.

Of course, if my "ghetto way" of towing people out is "dangerous," then i am all for this aftermarket shackle. Hopefully, goodtimes will post an answer to my earlier question.

 

[Baba Booey]

And like i said above, if you manage to bend the tow pin, then a shackle mounted to hitch VIA TOW PIN would NOT help.

What are you talking about in the 2nd-to-last paragraph?? The tow pin goes thru the hitch...and things attach to it spreads it's weight across the whole hitch. What are you talking about? Are we talking about the same thing here??? And how is mounting your tow rope to the above shackle be any different since you're ALSO using the tow pin to hold the shackle???!!

Thai,

One thing you should consider (and you may already know this) is that the hitch shackle mount (i.e. part that fits into the receiver) is a solid piece of steel (or some other metal) with a hole drilled through it for the pin to fit through.

I have a Warn hitch shackle, and I had to drill the hole edge out slightly in order for my hitch pin to fit through because it wouldn't fit through a slightly "out-of-round" hole on one end.

Because it is a solid piece of metal with a hole barely large enough to fit the pin through, I believe it would distribute the load evenly over the entire shackle mount piece. In fact, I am not sure that there is enough room in there to really bend the pin much at all because it is completely surrounded by the solid piece.

In your scenario using just the pin, the load is borne by just the two points on the pin that actually contact the edge of the holes on your hitch.

Then again, I am no engineer, and so I could be all wrong.

 

[Expat]

i am saying that the long shackle will decrease your departure angle. Anything that adds length to the hitch will decrease departure angle UNNECESSARILY.

Let's be sure of the terminology too.

The shackle is the silver D Ring

The hitch is the long steel bar connected to the shackle

The hitch reciever is the part of the tow bar that accepts the hitch.


The shackle just swings in the breeze. There is no way this is getting in the way of departure angle.

As I said previously, the hitch may hit but it will not reduce departure angle. It will just slide over.

 

[Thai]

In your scenario using just the pin, the load is borne by just the two points on the pin that actually contact the edge of the holes on your hitch.

Then again, I am no engineer, and so I could be all wrong.

Well, the pin (or hitch lock pin) is also solid steel. Therefore, i doubt that you will ever see any damage to these pins from towing. Remember, these pins hold the heavy trailers (up to 6500 lbs) to your 4runner...so, i doubt that it will break. I have never heard of any damage to these pins.

If you don't have the steel bumper w/ integrated D-rings, then you should just use the tow hitch. It provides the same purpose without losing any departure angle.

Good discussion everyone...gotta go to bed. Good night.