Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey all

Im very limited for space at the rear of my zuk and im looking for an option of how to fit a recovery point (or two)...

Taking into account the loads taken by my u-bolts i came up with this:



essentially a perch, plate and ubolts holding it to the rear x-member with a hook welded (or bolted?) to the plate.

Obviously the hook is going to generate leverage on the u-bolts, so an "eye" type fixing might be better suited - but whats everyones thoughts on this tpye of solution???

That idea has so many issues I don't know where to start.

Tube crossmember is probably not strong enough.
Rating of U-bolts???
relying on welds only
Recovery point not closed, strap could come loose

Do you have a towbar and or towbar mounting bracket???

alien wrote:Hey all

Im very limited for space at the rear of my zuk and im looking for an option of how to fit a recovery point (or two)...

Taking into account the loads taken by my u-bolts i came up with this:



essentially a perch, plate and ubolts holding it to the rear x-member with a hook welded (or bolted?) to the plate.

Obviously the hook is going to generate leverage on the u-bolts, so an "eye" type fixing might be better suited - but whats everyones thoughts on this tpye of solution???

that type of hook needs to be mounted horizontal not vertical
When you pull on the hook the ubolt will slip around the pipe
Thats for starters.

Make a rear bar and pull from that

thanks guys =) i figured it was an unlikely solution, the thinking was far too lateral! haha

alien wrote:thanks guys =) i figured it was an unlikely solution, the thinking was far too lateral! haha

Something like this is a better idea, but only if your chassis is striong enough:



You also want to make sure you use a minimum of grade 5 (imperial) / class 8.8 Metric - or better still grade 8 / class 10.9 bolts.

^^ thats a brilliant idea - did you weld crush tubes in too?

alien wrote:^^ thats a brilliant idea - did you weld crush tubes in too?

That's not my car.

Make sure you fit crush tubes if not there already if you are going that route (if you are bolting all the way through - I think that bracket just clamps to the bottom of the (c-section) chassis). And a longer bracket with more bolts to spread the load is better.

Landcruiser Recovery Point

alien wrote:^^ thats a brilliant idea - did you weld crush tubes in too?

not so good on a Zuk, chassis is a bit on the thin side for it.

i brought 2 hooks rated at 3500 kg from suppercheap and mounted then to the chaise, just put 5 mm flat steal on each side for extra strength, i used one of the holes that is already their than dilled another hole behind it. it seem pritty strong iv pulled a 3.5tone patrol out of sand bogged to the belly and a heep of other cars and haven't had a problem, i use a equalizer strap to.





cheers Scott.

the flat steel each side would need to be welded on to give any strength, otherwise you're risking tearing right through the chassis rail...

its amazing how little space there really is for recovery points on the back of a zuk, especially when my rear shackle hangers are right on the end of the chassis =)

I was going to say that - DavePatrol - only coil sierras have that much space in that location.

However, alien - Davepatrols solution is sound - the chassis is well supported in that area and plenty strong enough. I don't actually think there is any need for the doubling plate on the hook side.

Steve.

thanks steve - like i said though, my shackle hanger is welded exactly where that hook bolts on =) this really only leaves me with the rear-most x-member on the chassis, the round one with the fuel tank mounts on it.

what to do what to do...

ISUZUROVER wrote:That idea has so many issues I don't know where to start.

Tube crossmember is probably not strong enough.
Rating of U-bolts???
relying on welds only
Recovery point not closed, strap could come loose

Do you have a towbar and or towbar mounting bracket???

If welded properly I'd be more worried about the metal breaking away than the weld breaking.

alien wrote:thanks steve - like i said though, my shackle hanger is welded exactly where that hook bolts on =) this really only leaves me with the rear-most x-member on the chassis, the round one with the fuel tank mounts on it.

what to do what to do...

Reinforce (sleeve) the cross member and put a recover loop on it (like GQ\GU's have)