What size shackle do you use

[Hillbilly Heaven]

Need to add shackle mounts to my bumper. I am going to with long weld through that not only weld to the bumper but attach directly to the frame.

I would like to go with 1" thick by 4" tall with 1-1/8 inch hole. Can buy these extra long already cut and drilled so I don't have to make them.

Looking at Crosby catalog at their shackles it appears the gap in the body will allow me to use 7/8" and 3/4" shackles. The body gap on the 5/8" is only 1.060" so it may not fit. The hole is centered top to bottom, but the edge of the hold is 1" inch from the end. There should be enough depth inside the shackle of all 3 sizes for a strap.

What I am concerned about is if trying to recover someone else that may not have as large of a shackle mount as I do. Do I need to carry 3/4" shackles in case they do not have any? Posted a poll to see what the common size is among this large audience.

 

[Josie'slandcruiser]

To be honest, I chose the D ring shackles in my winch kit by their load rating, not size.

Not sure what size they are, maybe the 3/4 inch body with 7/8ths pin?

Good luck with the project.

 

[Hillbilly Heaven]

I am using a Warn M12000 winch. Crosby rates their 209A 7/8" 1" pin shackle at working load limit of 13000 lbs. I agree with what you said if I am doing a self recovery. If am trying to recover someone else my shackles probably will not fit their mounts and if they don't have shackles, he has screwed his unprepared self. Should I carry the smaller shackles at least a pair. I don't know if they make a 13000 pound rated soft shackle.

 

[Howard70]

... I don't know if they make a 13000 pound rated soft shackle.

They do.

Howard

 

[Happy Joe]

Perhaps, a little background info; shackles tested to destruction...
http://www.unsealed4x4.com.au/issue038/#1

 

[Hillbilly Heaven]

Just what I thought of soft shackles. They are fine if it is a round pin or tubing but it it is through a hole like a shackle mount, it is like a razor. Interesting to see that the soft shackle failed not by breaking but the knot untying.

 

[jgaz]

Perhaps, a little background info; shackles tested to destruction...
http://www.unsealed4x4.com.au/issue038/#1

Such a good reminder to use proven, name brand, shackles.
At work, for overhead lifting, it was Crosby brand, no exceptions. We would be written up for using anything else.
I know there are other brands, such as Van Beest Green Pin, that I’m sure are every bit as good but the Crosby was our “gold standard”.

 

[Bayou Boy]

Yep, the price difference is not enough to use anything but Crosby. I wouldn't even substitute an ARB or Warn shackle for a Crosby. They are just as unknown as what you buy at the hardware store.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I know there are other brands, such as Van Beest Green Pin, that I’m sure are every bit as good but the Crosby was our “gold standard”.

I think this may be regional to some extent. A rigger in the Netherlands would probably say the exact same thing except about Van Beest and another in Sweden about Gunnebo. I personally wouldn't worry about any of the major brands as long as you can verify they aren't counterfeit. IOW, if the choice is between a Crosby from an unknown source vs the Van Beest from a reputable source I'd pick the green pin.

BTW, the answer to the question is I've accumulated shackles of all sizes up to a 1" pin since it seems I end up with hardware of all sorts. If you're picking for your truck I'd pick the largest you can and get shackles to match. Can't think of a downside to using a larger shackle than your WLL requires. It's not like you want it to be a fuse and hard parts are the last thing you want to risk overloading. A broken strap or synthetic line is bad but a broken shackle or wire rope is worse.

 

[Metcalf]

Maximum proof load is typically 2x WLL, MINIMUM breaking strength is typically 6x WLL

That means that a 5/8" shackle with a WLL of ~6500lbs, Proof Load will be 13,000lbs, but the minimum breaking strength would be 39,000lbs!

.....how engineered are your recovery points? You sure?

I think overhead lifting safety requirements have skewed what people are using for vehicle recovery.

 

[Hillbilly Heaven]

Vehicle winch manufacturers only rate their winches in pounds without stating if that is rolling load or if it is a dead load. A 4,000 pound vehicle buried to the axles in mud or sand could well exceed the capability of a 12,000 pound winch. When a manufacturer states their winch as 12,000 pound do they mean it will fail or stall beyond that point? Usually it is limited by the cable not the winch itself. For the same vehicle the loads vary as to whether you are lifting or a rolling load and is it buried or is it sitting on flat ground.

When I first posted this, I mentioned the type of shackle mount I wanted to use. I did not mention that these will not just be welded on the face of the bumper but long enough to go thru the bumper and be mounted directly to the frame rails also welded where they enter and exit the bumper.