Recovery points?

Didn't see any installation instructions, so I'm not totally clear on how it's attached to the frame.
I find it amusing that it's labeled "FRONT HIDDEN HITCH" and shown with the shackles hanging from it - not so hidden any more.
Probably a sensible choice IF you're not going for any bumper replacement AND if you have a local powder coater to finish it for ya.

 

Mobtown makes some excellent stuff. I have their sliders and they are overbuilt. I would trust their products. ARB refuses to install recovery points on their Tacoma bumpers as they believe it can mess with airbag sensors and what not. So even if you were to buy an ARB bumper, they recommend you buy their recovery point for recoveries. Makes sense the more you look into it.

 

Wankers.....

 

You're referring to the Demon brackets, right? Not the most recent posts regarding Mobtown's front hideaway hitch, correct?

 

Whichever the ones are being quoted above....

 

I asked AMI about ratings of the demon brackets and the email reply said this: "Our D-Hooks are more for aesthetics than performance gain. Though, the tow capacity is 15,000 lb Capacity (2:1 Safety Factor)."

If I were going to buy and use them for recovery, I would certainly use a strap between them to spread the load.

I'm strongly considering the ARB recovery point.

 

I went with the Draw-Tite Front Receiver. Attaches to the frame at multiple points and has a higher rating than the Curt.

 

Do you have picture of it installed?
Thanks

 

I just found some pics on line and it looks like it hangs pretty low... https://www.etrailer.com/Front-Receiver-Hitch/Toyota/Tacoma/Draw-Tite/65070.html

 

Thanks Al.
Oh yeah it does. No thanks.

 

Here it is.

 

There was a post I saw here about the hidden front recovery point bending when yanked on. I bought and installed an ARB recovery point. Not the sexiest mod, but I know what it's rated for if I ever need to use it.

 

Thanks Doc

 

I was looking for that post too. It bent down pretty good as I recall.

 

It sounds like the factory point, or the ARB point are best. I assume that using stuff like short straps (tree savers?) and wrapping them around axels and such is also a good alternative?

 

They look too lightly built. The welds look cold and amateuristic, and those rings look mall rated. There are better ways to go. These strike me as a "made in the CCP" rebranded product someone paid $10.00 for a pallet of them on Ali Baba.

 

Take a look under the truck and see what the OEM hook is connected to and how it's connected. It's 2 bolts going into a thin steel square tube. It's designed to be a "tow hook" meaning it can be used to pull the truck on flat ground with no resistance.

The only thing you can actually yank/recover from is the rear tow hitch or a real front recovery point which it attached to the truck frame. In my research, I haven't found a single rated front recovery point other than ARB. Even full front bumpers aren't rated that I've seen. The bumpers bolt to the front crash bar, not the frame.

I'm not saying to buy an ARB. I'm just saying don't buy/use something it wasn't designed for.

 

Anyone that has a front slim or full bumper, these are a great solution for reinforement and affordable. They wrap around the bumper and frame and include 3 bolts and are surprisingly larger than the pictures show.

https://www.bayareametalfab.com/FBR...inforcement-brackets-2005-to-2021-_p_142.html

 

Yup! They know it. They don't really stress test their stuff so the disclaimer is what you get back. ARB on the other hand gloats about their ratings and throws their testing results on their page. Definitely the best REAL recovery point on the market for our trucks (aside from going with a new bumper and whatever.

Anyone know anything about if ARB will do group buys?

 

Look at the Kurt hitch. It's $160. Mounts with 4 bolts, 2 factory and 2 with the kit. And you can add a skid plate on the receiver. Then you can put a hitch shackle, winch, or use the 2 tow points on the side. I don't know what people are talking about needing like 10 tons of pulling force when the truck is not that heavy. You could hang the truck in the air on a front hitch.