... and therein lies most of the problem Clunkster
People have stopped carrying shovels and replaced them with missile launche... oops I mean Snatch Straps
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ok all good and well ,plates, straps and hooks how do you rate them,as said it may suit your application but not someone elses and the bolts, thats what holds a lot of this gear on does every body use high tensile rated bolts or whats found in the shed ? snatch straps seem dangerous to me i like to use a chain but not reef the other out but take up the slack and then give it the berries or if that fails down comes the shovel
Given the proven potential for grief when recovery points/equipment (and non-recovery points too) fail, why don't the ADRs get updated to include a clause stating that front/rear recovery points, to a certain factor of GVM (say 3x GVM at least), are mandatory for any vehicle to be classified as an off-road vehicle (such as the MC rating on my x-trail)?
Sure a segment of aftermarket suppliers will get hit, but its better them than some poor bugga being hit who is using provided locations that are not up to the task.
There's still many ways and a lack of knowledge out there that will kill and maim people, but its good if at least one factor can be taken out of the equation.
Places like this forum are a VITAL component of the education of 4wd'ers. Been so interesting to read all that you've had to say. Thank you so much.
Hmm... I'm tired. Not sure if I'm making sense now. But I wanted to say that I agree with you Tim. A heavy recovery that plastically deforms the recovery point has weakened that recovery point. Even if it hasn't plastically deformed, each recovery takes a toll on the fatigue life.
How do you account for this? I guess that if the right people are trained they can become recovery point inspection centers. If someone has a seemingly heavy recovery, they can take the vehicle in to have the point professionally inspected. If it's plastically deformed, then it needs to be replaced. If it hasn't, then it just gets logged against that point. Some general rules such as inspections after every 10 recoveries, and a recovery point life of say 100, or 200, or 1000 recoveries and then the point must be replaced due to fatigue considerations.
Some ideas for debate. Without debate to shake the tree the apples won't fall off.
Aircraft components often have inspection intervals defined for these very purposes.
I just wish I could fit a rated front recovery point. But then, that's part of the debate. What exactly is 'rated' :)
Sleep time zzzzzzzzz
You still need to be careful - even with a recovery hitch - as the cross-member is not that strong without beefing up
Will say it only once, mine are rated to suit the 4x4 eg 4.2 manual 3.5 t
3lt auto 2.5 t
I then get them destruction tested, if I get less than 15t I redesign them.
I make them as strong as possible using KISS method
This is a TOW rating not a LIFTING rating as like SWL, or WWL