Jimny Front Recovery Points

Dutchjimny wrote: i want it!

They should be forsale and available one day :dry:

The 3070-16 definately has some weaknesses, especially if the tow has any kind of angle on it.
Gussets are the way to go i think... without upping the thickness of the plate :pinch:

Just tried model mk1 against the passenger side, and it looks okay... but I need to have the end angled upwards to follow the curve of the bumper, or it sticks out and down a lot!

Will try and get some pics uploaded tomorrow.

I have to admit I'm not keen on the design of these. A vehicle with a KERR rope can develop about 30 Ton of pulling force. Ok, it's an extreme case but it shows what a recovery eye could be subject to. With this design there is just too much leverage trying to shear the bolts / bend your chassis.

I've seen ones which poke through the bumper for which you have to cut a slot. I can understand people not being keen of cutting them though. What about a screw in eye? You can buy suitably rated eyes with a male thread. Then it only requires a single hole in the bumper.

Just a thought!

Si

X-Eng Simon wrote: I have to admit I'm not keen on the design of these. A vehicle with a KERR rope can develop about 30 Ton of pulling force. Ok, it's an extreme case but it shows what a recovery eye could be subject to. With this design there is just too much leverage trying to shear the bolts / bend your chassis.

I've seen ones which poke through the bumper for which you have to cut a slot. I can understand people not being keen of cutting them though. What about a screw in eye? You can buy suitably rated eyes with a male thread. Then it only requires a single hole in the bumper.

Just a thought!

Si

The screw in eyes were suggested to me years ago primarily as they could be removed for daily duties and of course were out of the mud and accessible.
At the time i didn't want to cut the bumper but a slight argument with a disco has changed that! I would still have a pair and bridle across them personally though.

X-Eng Simon wrote: I have to admit I'm not keen on the design of these. A vehicle with a KERR rope can develop about 30 Ton of pulling force. Ok, it's an extreme case but it shows what a recovery eye could be subject to. With this design there is just too much leverage trying to shear the bolts / bend your chassis.

I've seen ones which poke through the bumper for which you have to cut a slot. I can understand people not being keen of cutting them though. What about a screw in eye? You can buy suitably rated eyes with a male thread. Then it only requires a single hole in the bumper.

Just a thought!
Si

Completely understand where you are coming from

I'm not planning on modding my jimny much futher than AT tyres, and underbody protection
I want it to remain standard looking... mainly so its worth something when i get rid of it in a year or so.

It could be argued that i don't need to upgrade my standard points. But Martin needs someone to have a go at designing something... so i am

I have a towbar on the rear if i do get really stuck

I'd be the last person to try to prevent innovation.

Once upon a time, I saw a Vitara at Slindon which was well & truly stuck in deep mud. The owner had not intended to get so stuck - but you know the way it goes!

The vehicle had some fabricated 'recovery points' on the front. Although these were different, they worked in a similar way to avoid cutting the bumper.

I, as a Marshal, recommended they tie a strop on to the axle - but nobody wanted to go swimming in the mud. The owners mate pitched up in a Range rover, tied a bridle on to the eyes, floored it and it ripped the ends off the Vitara chassis. Worse than that - it flew through the air and went through the back window of the rangey - chassis ends, bumper and recovery points.

While you might know not to get stuck and not to use the points for a snatch recovery - there is no telling what the next owner might do or decide they are up to.

Liability becomes an issue if you are selling them. Even if you sell them as tie down points or towing eyes and specify them as not for recovery - the law may take the view that recovery isn't far removed from towing and if it looks like a recovery point, it's reasonable for the user to use it as such.

I'm not saying don't do it, just be careful! My product liability insurance costs about 10k per year so I have to make damn sure that it won't break even if it's being used incorrectly. At least not in a way that threatens life or limb.

The chap in the Range rover was only a bit cut up with broken glass - but OK. The Vitara owner was obviously upset about his truck - and said he'd bought it like that and assumed.......

Si