Tow balls are not to be used as recovery points

thanks guys now i know not to use my tow ball to recover:)

thanks very much for the information...it really brings home what the consequences can be for poor recovery practices.

Wow i actually didnt know that thanks heaps wont be doing that any more eek

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Originally Posted by cobra

Wow i actually didnt know that thanks heaps wont be doing that any more eek

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There is a heap of info on this forum, some of it can save your life.
Cheers, the ferret.

THere was a segment in todays 4WD TV that discussed this

Just wondering what peoples thoughts on this: Pull the pin out and remove the entire towball and tongue etc out, then put the strap into the tube and put the pin back in. I think this is a safe method you can use when you dont have any extra gear (hitch receiver and shackles etc). Its definately better than a towball. What are peoples thoughts?

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Originally Posted by taslucas

Just wondering what peoples thoughts on this: Pull the pin out and remove the entire towball and tongue etc out, then put the strap into the tube and put the pin back in. I think this is a safe method you can use when you dont have any extra gear (hitch receiver and shackles etc). Its definately better than a towball. What are peoples thoughts?

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No problem at all if the strap is a folded eye construction. The straps with flat eyes can be a bit of an issue as the eye is wider than the reciever.

Some people will have seen/heard of pins being bent using this method and even pins being jammed in the reciever. The amount of force required to bend the pin enough to jam is far and above what should be emplyed during a snatch recovery.

IE if you bend the pin your doing it wrong

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Originally Posted by Turtle_au

The strange thing is I always thought it was illegal to leave the towball and tongue on the vehicle unless it was being used to tow a trailer. I always take mine off, and curse others when I hit my shin on theirs.
I also wonder about the fatigue factor. You might get away with the snatch, but will the hitch/ball still handle a sudden stop with your prized boat or van hitched up?

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Tailgaters isn't it. Park brake and one less on the road.

My sister wanted me to remove off small car (a major job) That week she sitting stopped at red light ,bamm, other car pushed to side off road, she had a slight scratch, I get Saturday to drink beer.

Bloke I know badly dinged back door, strap hit wind screen WITH OUT ANYTHING on it.
Whats that loop for at the back above tow ball,it is NOT recovery point, not for chains for towing so what is it for.
Pulled recovery pionts off two gqs those 2 bolts have been the type to shear under a lot off stress for the bullbar.
Tie a couple of shirts/ jeans to strap to slow it a little if broken

This is a story from a while back two retirees brough 2 trucks to tour this great land. out exploring one day one truck got stuck. easy just attach to front of one truck and TOW BALL of the other...................long story short TOW BALL smashed the rear window went through the rear and front headrests through the driver smashed the windscreen and embedded the TOW BALL in a tree 50 myrs away. Do a recovery course, be familiar with your equipment only one boss/ this happened in the mid 90s and still happens today. NOT WORTH A 2 INCH HOLE IN YOUR SCONE

Wow, a lot of force behind that one.

I helped someone on the weekend pull out our local landscape delivery truck who was stuck on a clay slippery hill. I watched the person just about to loop the chain over the ball. It also feels good to teach and explain what can and does happen indeed!