Bumpers: why do the recovery tabs usually stick out the front?

[grahamfitter]

Recently I had the pleasure of sliding down an icy hill into the back of a stationary car. Fortunately the collision was so slow that absolutely no damage was inflicted to either vehicle and the other chap was very nice about the whole thing. The bumper on my Jeep Wrangler is the stock metal one so its basically a big flat slab of steel. I've noticed that the recovery tabs on most aftermarket bumpers stick out the front where they would probably puncture or at least dent another bumper in the slowest of collisions.

Surely there's a better location or design that offers the same functionality with less risk of damage?

Cheers,
Graham

 

[JamesDowning]

They are placed closest to the frame mounts as possible to decrease the amount of structural bracketry. Putting them inline with the frame puts the least rotational forces on the bumper brackets when there is a load on the shackles. There are other ways though... doesn't ARB put theirs below the bumper?

 

[mountainpete]

To add to James' comments, the exposed recovery location also offer some simple benefits: Easy to access during recovery situations; Easier to attach shackles to; and they create less wear on the recovery gear (friction) during off-center recoveries.

Pete

 

[TheRoadie]

Since you're supposed to arrange your driving so as to not hit other bumpers, that risk isn't part of the equation usually. I carry a winch in a Warn multimount up front, and that sticks out a lot!

Tends to keep people from bumping into me when parking as well. As long as they look first and figure it out.

 

[Crikeymike]

There are other ways though... doesn't ARB put theirs below the bumper?

Yes, ARB puts them below because you're not allowed to have protruding objects from front bumpers in Australia.

My bumper on my sidekick has recovery points that stick out and when I had a guy back into me a few months ago, it punctured his trunk, amongst other damage.

I'd love to have a recessed mount somehow, but it would be hard to attach a strap in a hurry I guess.

 

[ntsqd]

Those in the front bumper that I built for Patch stick out. Let me tell you how many times I've wonked my noggin or caught my legs on them. With a tube bumper you can design it such that they aren't needed, but not with a plate bumper.

Some late model cars have either tie-downs or recovery points that screw into the bumper's structure after popping a small access panel off. I will be giving a lot of thought to something like this for the front bumper for the FJ60. Something like Soenke's cool trailer hitch would be one option.

 

[Saline]

On a related note, I need to find weld on recovery points for clevis shackles. Anyone know where to find em?

 

[Crikeymike]

Some of the land rover off road companies sell bolt-on recovery points that are pretty beefy.

The name of the one where Ho Chung works escapes me, but they had them last time I checked.

I'm not sure about the weld on versions.

 

[jasonL_031]

Yes, ARB puts them below because you're not allowed to have protruding objects from front bumpers in Australia.

My bumper on my sidekick has recovery points that stick out and when I had a guy back into me a few months ago, it punctured his trunk, amongst other damage.

I'd love to have a recessed mount somehow, but it would be hard to attach a strap in a hurry I guess.

im going to have to disagree i have a arb front bumper for my power wagon and the tow points are protruding out of the front bumper

 

[ARBTECH]

Jason,
Crikeymike is correct, the bumpers by law cannot have protrusions for pedestrian safety reasons. Your dodge bumper recovery points are not actually supposed to installed unless needed. That's why the nuts are held captive whether the recovery eyes are in place or not. With the nuts locked into the bumper with their little brackets the eyes can be hand installed quickly and easily. If the safety requirement didn't exist our engineers likely wouldn't have bothered with the brackets and would have just bolted it in place. All that said most guys choose to leave the eyes in place all the time anyway.
Marc

 

[12husky]

Inset Recovery Pins

I saw this one in a magazine a while back and saved it to design into my own bumper.

http://www.friar-engineering.com/Images/bumper_w_rack.jpg

~Matt

 

[grahamfitter]

Thanks for the input, all!

Those in the front bumper that I built for Patch stick out. Let me tell you how many times I've wonked my noggin or caught my legs on them. With a tube bumper you can design it such that they aren't needed, but not with a plate bumper.

Some late model cars have either tie-downs or recovery points that screw into the bumper's structure after popping a small access panel off. I will be giving a lot of thought to something like this for the front bumper for the FJ60. Something like Soenke's cool trailer hitch would be one option.

His front bumper with fully self-contained winch is impressive, too!

Is there any reason the shackle mounts couldn't be replaced with flush-mount receivers? A receiver is quick to deploy and remove and could be left in situ on the trail if needed.

I suppose my ideal bumper would have three of them: two where the shackle mounts would be and one in the middle for towing or attaching a portable winch which could be used both ends of the vehicle and left at home between trips.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[grahamfitter]

I saw this one in a magazine a while back and saved it to design into my own bumper.

http://www.friar-engineering.com/Images/bumper_w_rack.jpg

~Matt

Ask and you shall receive? Great timing!!!

Cheers,
Graham

 

[DaveInDenver]

Yes, ARB puts them below because you're not allowed to have protruding objects from front bumpers in Australia.

My bumper on my sidekick has recovery points that stick out and when I had a guy back into me a few months ago, it punctured his trunk, amongst other damage.

I'd love to have a recessed mount somehow, but it would be hard to attach a strap in a hurry I guess.

Also on my ARB bull bar there are no recovery point technically. The two tabs are not really supposed to be recovery points but a place to hook the winch cable to when you double the line. You are supposed to reuse your factory tow hooks, which bolt onto the sides of the lower brace that wraps the front of the frame. They don't stick out, but do act like ramps and tend to get very beat up.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: OK, then why don't PEOPLE take off their trailer HITCH, when not in use ????

:costumed-smiley-007:smiley_drive::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO