Do I need a tow hook?
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 12:16
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Dizne
Hi all,
I'm a new member (visitor) looking for some advice.
I have a Mazda Bravo 4wd and I'm off to Fraser next week, but don't have a tow hook on the front of the ute. I was told I may not need one - that I could simply get a tow rope and put it around the two side chasis rails and then over the front rail (that is welded to the side rails) and then attach this rope (using a D-shackle?) to my snatchem strap (if I DO get stuck, that is?!).
Would this suffice?
If I do need to attach a tow-hook, where is an appropriate spot on a Bravo?
And, finally, is the tow bar on the back ok to use from that direction?
All tips appreciated!
Cheers,
Diz
Reply By: Moser - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 12:56
Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 12:56
Gday
I have a bravo, and to be honest I would cringe at the idea of using the tow bars on them, especially getting pulled out of soft sand. I have put on the front recovery hooks on both sides bolted to a 8 mill angle iron that I made to bolt to the chassy using high tensel bolts, then I use a bridal for which I hook the snatch strap to.
I dont the same on the rear, but this time bolted the recover hooks directly to each side , once again using the bridal strap.
for your own saftey and safety of others plus protection to your vehical dont use any other method or tie points on your car for recovery .
Ozzie
AnswerID:
179052
Reply By: Dizne - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 13:54
Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 13:54
Thanks for the replies!
If I attach tow point to the front, do I need to have two (one on either rail)? I have just been to Supercheap, and just got the one tow-hook.
More questions ...
When letting my tyres down to ~23psi for sand driving, how accurate are those little pen-style guages? (As that's all I've got to go by!).
Also, we are planning the barge trip at low tide - I take it there should be no probs getting on and off at low?
Cheers,
Diz
AnswerID:
179059
Follow Up By: robak (QLD) - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 14:37
Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 14:37
One should be enough as long as it's a rated tow hook. The rating will be stamped on it. If it's not rated then don't use it.
I assume you're catching the barge from Inspik point. There is a failry large strecth of sand you have to cross at inskip to get to the barge. If you can make it there you shouldn't have any problems on fraser. Also don't drop your pressures too much, because as soon as you cross you'll be driving on the hard packed, low tide, beach for many kilometers. Take a compressor with if you can.
Because of the recent rains you shouldn't have any problems on the island. I'd be surprised if you'll need to use your recovery equipment at all.
have a great trip.
R.
FollowupID:
435350
Follow Up By: Dizne - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 14:54
Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 14:54
Fair dinkum ... will the rain make THAT much of a difference to the sand driving hey?! Sounds good to me ... but I hope it is blue skies while we're there! :D
Cheers robak!
Diz
FollowupID:
435354
Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 14:06
Monday, Jun 19, 2006 at 14:06
Robak said....."One should be enough as long as it's a rated tow hook".
I would politely beg to differ (to steal a phrase from somebody else, above).....
By all means a snatch strap attached to a single hook, properly attached to a chassis rail MAY suffice to get you out of a sand bogging....BUT....if the forces are reasonably significant (eg: you don't bother shovelling-away the sand in front of the tyres etc), you could quite easily pull your chassis out of whack. I've seen it done to a HiLux.
Far better to get 2 hooks, one either side. Use a bridal (tree truk protector is possible) and share the load across both chassis rails. If doing so, pass the bridal through the hole in one end of the snatch strap, then attach each end of the tree trunk protector to one of the hooks, forming a "A". DO NOT USE A SHACKLE....PLEASE.
FollowupID:
435468
Reply By: Dizne - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 20:41
Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 20:41
Thanks TroopyMan.
I do have some experience in 4wd'ng ... been up
the Kimberley (
Gibb River Road to
Kalumburu) and up some huge dunes in the nor'west of WA! It's really surprised me where my Bravo will go - considering it's quite old and stock and only has a set of cheese-cutters for tyres!
I am just trying to prepare myself for this coming trip to Fraser, because it's been quite a while since I've been off-road. Last time was a couple of Christmases ago when we went up the beach on Bribie - coming off the beach was quite a mission, as it was fairly chewed up from the Christmas traffic (lots of others where also having trouble, so that made us feel better).
Back then I didn't realise how low you could let the pressure in your tyres down to, so I don't think I let much out. Also can't remember what gear I was in when I finaly did get up off the beach - L4/H4?
I'm also concerned about where to attach a snatchem strap to the front of my ute. I don't know why I haven't worried about this before, with all the trips I've done, but it does concern me - I'd hate to pull the front of the ute off!
Just want to be prepared and get it right I suppose - cheers for all the advice and help!
Diz
AnswerID:
179114
Follow Up By: TROOPYMAN A.D. 1998 - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 20:54
Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 20:54
I would think there is a lot more chance of getting the rav4 bogged . Do you have a hayman reece type towbar . If so you could buy something like this .
Hitch reciever recovery point .
www.bbmotorsports.com.au/category124_1.htm
FollowupID:
435401
Follow Up By: Dizne - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 21:07
Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 21:07
Yeah, I've got an ARB towbar that would fit into I think, but I am more worried about a piont to attach to when towing/snatching from the front?
FollowupID:
435405
Follow Up By: TROOPYMAN A.D. 1998 - Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 21:27
Sunday, Jun 18, 2006 at 21:27
I have no idea where you can fit a tow hook on the front . I have nowhere on the front of the troopy to put one either .
FollowupID:
435409