Figured this would be the best place for this question.

A week ago I got stuck in a snow bank and a friend had to pull me out from the rear, so that got me thinkin about my bumper.



I figure my bumper isn't going to get ripped apart from a rear recovery, so that would lead to the bolts being being the weak link if it did right?

Right now there's two bolts on each side bolting it to the frame. Not sure what grade they are as I just used the same ones that attached the bumper before.

Should I be looking to replace these bolts with different ones just so I know what grade I'm using. Also what grade should I be looking to use? I heard grade 8 are strongest for tension but are they the strongest for shearing forces?

Also where can I find one of those shackles that take the place of the tow ball, I think that would be a better option that wrapping the recovery strap around the bumper.

 

A bumper should never be used as a recovery attachment point because of the potential forces involved the frame is the preferred area. That being said for a lightly stuck vehicle [not deep mud/river bed/ deep ditch] the bumper might be used as a point of last resort.
If your bumper was attached with the factory bolts they are the metric = of grade 8 and are plenty strong enough, the bumper itself is the weak point. If you use the ball attachment holes you may experience some tear-out issues.
Make sure that no one is standing where they may be hit should the shackle rip out and warn the other driver to keep an eye on the line... they may have to duck quickly if it come through their windshield. Avoid jerking and apply a slow steady strain on the line and you may be able to make it work.

You can get shackles from trail gear. Check out the linky below member tofer is a dealer and is running an excellent fund raising promotion for1972TLC who was in a serious auto accident shortly before christmas.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f5/h.../#post51009848

 

I would not use a bumper like that for a recovery point. If you have it attached with grade 8 SAE or 10.9 Metric, they will probably hold. The next question is how well are the mounting tabs mounted to the actual bumper? I have seen alot of that type bumper pushed of center, the mounting tabs bent. They don't look like that have much lateral strength. A good yank to the side and I would think the bumper mounts will bend. NEVER wrap a strap around a bumper like that. The raw sharp edges will cut through the strap.

I would get a couple of good recovery points mounted to the frame with good bolts.

Do you have any in front?

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

Gerdo - I do have the stock hook out front. Should there be a hook or something out back? If not is there something you would recommend buying to bolt up underneath?

 

the stock hook and d ding are not rated. but you could get some shakle's or hooks that are rated with the proper hardware of course.

 

has anyone ever had a problem with the factory hooks bending or snapping? im not being a smartass im really curious. i just added 2 factory hooks to my truck because the 2wds only come with the skinny loops and you can bend by looking at them wrong.

 

i would never use my stock bumper as a tow point, very unsafe.

 

Not really. My frame was so rusted up front that the frame tweaked a bit and the bolt bent, but never an issue with the hook itself.

 

i'm sure the hook is actually strong enough. but the factory bolts aren't rated.