Any opinions?

I believe WARN makes a steel model, and Ramsey makes an aluminium. I'm not sure which is the better type.

Anything else to consider?

 

Anyone?

 

Are you talking about a receiver mounted winch system or just a receiver hitch? Either way, I've never heard of anyone making one of all aluminum. I wouldn't trust anything but steel to be carrying a heavy load.

 

Just the part that goes in to the hitch, that you attatch the shackle to:

Here's a pic

 

Tom,
Do great minds think alike?
Yesterday I won this on e-bay...

Insert & Shackel


Sounds like his "test" showed it strong.

Also... What kind of Tow Strap would you all reccommend?

 

OK, got it now. Just saw your post on 4x4Wire. I'd still go with steel. The weight difference isn't that much and rust shouldn't be a big problem if you just take it out and rub it down with penetrating oil once in awhile.

 

 

NOTHING WITH HOOKS NOTHING WITH HOOKS NOTHING WITH HOOKS
use nothing with hooks because they can KILL if they break. My bro busted his AC fan, grill ans dented up his radiator when one broke pulling trees out of the woods.
I have broke 4 2inch tow staps. I currently have a Big Daddy Offroad 3 incher with sewn ends and my bro has a 30ft 4 incher. I use the broken ones as tree savers

 

That's definitely one example where I'd use steel instead of aluminum. The aluminum will be a few times weaker than steel because you're limited to the same dimensions. They're not even using a higher strength aluminum, so it's definitely not worth it. The 6061 AL alloy is generally 1/3 the strength and 1/3 the density of common steels. It has a large advantage in stiffness only when you can use 2 or 3 times the thickness as what you'd use for steel, and because of the thickness you'll get far less deflection from a large force or impact, while maintaining the same or less weight of the part (like on my bombproof front winch bumper made of 3/8" thick aluminum).

 

Ditto the statement NOTHING WITH HOOKS. Make sure you get a 'recovery' strap, not a 'tow' strap. Towing and jerking are very different things.

 

I think the majority of us know the evils of metal hooks
Do we have any more brand names that you guys want to endorse?

 

Thanks for the explanation Jeff, that was exactly what I was looking for.

 

Understood and agreed.
My question is: Are the steel ones solid like the Al one, or a square tubular steel inserted into the hitch. I have not seen any that are steel to compare to.

 

Very good info!
Would it be OK to screw one of the D shackles onto the provided tow hitch where the ball would normally go? Or just buy a all-steel insert like the one pictured above?
Good off-road stores in the Los Angeles area? (San Gabriel Valley)

 

First toy,

Tom is putting together a deal w/ a company that might be willing to sell a genuine Warn hitch reciever w/ the D-shackle for $40 shipped. Correct me if I'm wrong here, Tom!

Bob

 

That is correct. I just spoke to Central 4WD a minute ago. For more info, tune in to this thread.

 

Great, I'll order it tomorrow! thanks for making that deal.

Ok so good off-road stores in the LA area?

 

Humm...what happened to the thread Tom? I can't seem to find it now......

 

I asked for it to be moved to the Vendor Group Buy section, I should have posted it there in the first place.

From the Yotatech home page, click on Toyota Aftermarket and OEM Parts Suppliers, then Vendor Group Buys, then the WARN thread.

Or, just click here.

 

when I click on the link, I get a "not permitted to enter"page. I can't find your post otherwise either.