Outer Limits 4x4 Board

looking at building one anybody got some dimensions, this will be a one piece anchor ( not a folding one like the PRT) got most of it designed but unshaw on the angle of the main bar any help would be sweat thanks Bill

After having to bury the spare wheel once I swore black n blue I'd never dig a hole that big again.....
I made my own in 30 mins, its a piece of 8mm plate thats 300mm X 300mm square and it has a 16mm piece of rod bent into a "V" ( D shackle bolts on here) and thats welded smack bang in the middle. I've used it heaps of times for both single vehicle pulls and for an anchor for my rig while I winch out another vehicle, its never failed me yet. It also doubles as a jacking plate for those flat tyres !!! The removal from where its burried is as easy as....I get slack at times and just use the winch to "un bury it"

pics?

What about a sand anchor from somewhere like Whitworths Marine?

10mm would be better?

In all honesty I think 6mm plate would be adequate, its the way the 16mm "V" is welded on thats important. Drill 2 hole that allow the "V" to go through the plate and weld it on from both sides then grind off any excess on the flat side. Ill post pics tomorrow for you.
Kingy

I just bent my brand new Pull-Pal 11,000lbs at 90 degree at the joint of the arm and the spade. It was VERY disappointing. Its made out of 1/4" steel (4mm). I think I'll make a copy of the spade in the same shape but 8mm just to be sure that does not happen again.

pic of my sand anchor upsidedown being used as a jacking plate

thats a 6" bottle jack sitting in the centre !!

Sand anchor showing the "V" where I attach winch/chain/D shackle etc to.

Dimensions: 8mm plate cut to 300mm x 300mm square. 16mm rod bent into a "V".

Production: cut the plate to the size you need, drill 2 holes that allow the "V" to pass through the plate and protrude atleast 6mm out the "flat side", enlarge the holes on the flat side 3/4 of the way through the plate so as there is say 4mm clearance around the "V" rod and use a "hot setting" to weld this side and then grind off flat. This is process is called a "complete fillet weld" and "plug weld" and is very strong.

On the side that the "V" is on use a "cooler setting" to weld it up, a hot setting will weaken the "V" rod and the weld this side is really only there to stop corrosion getting in.... a sealer if you like !.... then paint it ... done!

tip...... look at where you are going to store it in your rig and make it to a size that fits neatly into that space. Mine was made to fit in a specific place in the recoverybox and it doesnt move or rattle and is easy to get to...have fun !
Kingy

how far does it bury itself under load? I'm thinking by looking at it that maybe 1/3 of it is unnecessary? (except as a jacking plate)

any pics of it in use?

good idea to use it as a jacking plate and anchor..

The most its ever burried itself was in the sand dunes, it went down a foot further than I buried it and the load it was under was... my rig and the troopy I was winching up the dune. The troopy was on a lower level and couldnt get out, the dune angle was about 40 degrees and the total winching distance was around the 15metres. The plate also moved foward about 1 metre under the load.

I usually only bury it so that the top edge is just visiable in muddy conditions ... its easier to find that way !

I have used it between 2 small saplings too,(about the size of your forearm) one just wasnt strong enough and I found 2 that were close together, sat the plate behind them and ran the winch rope between them.

I also have "steered" the plate using a long handled shovel in the sand, by sticking the shovel in behind the plate I found I could alter the angle of "bite" it had..... handy when its time to get it out.

Room was a major consideration when I made it and I like things to do more than just one job, I didnt have the room foran anchor and a jackplate... one had to go so thats how I came up with this idea.