| Author | Message | ||
     Blake Luse (Muddyrover) Senior Member Username: Muddyrover Post Number: 861 Registered: 02-2002 |
What is the proper way to mount a dixon bate tow jaw or a D ring bracket (like the one on the front page pic of moab) on an ARB bumper? | ||
| Greg French (Gregfrench) Senior Member Username: Gregfrench Post Number: 396 Registered: 11-2002 |
I have a related question once his is answered... Why is it better to have a bolt-on recovery point than a weld-on. I saw it mentioned on the now-famous bumper post, but was afraid to ask. | ||
| Nadim Samara (Discodino) Member Username: Discodino Post Number: 60 Registered: 02-2003 |
Bolts hold better than a weld that may be contaminated (not a good weld) that can break. | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 191 Registered: 07-2002 |
Use a steel backing plate and grade 8 or higher bolts. I have some of EE's Shackle brackets on my ARB and used a 3/16" steel backing plate and 1/2" grade 8 bolts, it is very stout. You can fabricate a backing plate with some scrap steel or home depot usually has some steel plate you can buy. http://www.expeditionexchange.com/smb/index.htm | ||
| Blake Luse (Muddyrover) Senior Member Username: Muddyrover Post Number: 862 Registered: 02-2002 |
steel backing plate is just a piece of steel that has the bolt holes cut in it right? What would be better a dixon bate tow jaw or a D ring shackle bracket Also is it necessary to have something fabed to bolt the recovery point to the frame? | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 192 Registered: 07-2002 |
Thats correct. Just find a location you want to put the recovery point, drill holes in bumper and backing plate and bolt on, easy as that. It will be plenty strong, I don't think it is necessary to fab something to the frame. Dixon bate and D ring both great recovery points, all depends on what you like. | ||
| Blake Luse (Muddyrover) Senior Member Username: Muddyrover Post Number: 865 Registered: 02-2002 |
So there's not a real big difference in performance on the 2 recovery points? Anybody wnat to chime in with personal preference,. | ||
| Jeffry Scott (Jeffry) Member Username: Jeffry Post Number: 93 Registered: 12-2002 |
FYI, I just saw a story in one of the Land Rover magazines that Dixon Bate has issued a recall for some of their tow jaws. Just thought I'd pass this along to those who might have purchased one of these: Page 24 of May 2003 Land Rover Enthusiast. Dixon Bate 5-ton towing jaw, models 201910 and 202010 with batch code 01/7 (manufactured July 2001) | ||
| Blake Luse (Muddyrover) Senior Member Username: Muddyrover Post Number: 866 Registered: 02-2002 |
I was thinking of going with the 3.5 ton Dixon Bate would that be sufficient? | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 241 Registered: 01-2003 |
I have an ARB and I use my d-shackles in those stock holes on the bottom of the bumper. Is that a bad idea? Why do people upgrade to the dixon bate or the ee thingy's? | ||
| Christopher Boese (Christopher) Member Username: Christopher Post Number: 46 Registered: 10-2002 |
I was wondering the same - are those holes at the bottom of the ARB bar intended for recovery? | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 193 Registered: 07-2002 |
Those factory holes make fine recovery points with shackles, but the dixon bate and shackle mounting brackets look much cooler, jewelry for my ARB. | ||
| Michael Slade (Serious_one) Member Username: Serious_one Post Number: 58 Registered: 04-2003 |
The ARB tabs bend over. Dixon-Bates and the shackle brackets don't. | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 243 Registered: 01-2003 |
But it is okay to pull on them right? I was thinking about those EE shackle brackets when I put a winch in the bumper. But for now I'd like to keep using those holes. I have worried about bending them or bashing them so they are no longer safe to use. | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 194 Registered: 07-2002 |
Probably okay if you pull on them in a somewhat straight ahead line, but might bend as Michael pointed out if you pull on them on a sharp angle, just my thought. | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1550 Registered: 02-2002 |
I have bent the lugs on the ARB pulling bushes out of my front yard. I'd hate to think what would happen if one were to put some real force against one. Slade-check your E-mail! Peace, Paul | ||
| Michael Slade (Serious_one) Member Username: Serious_one Post Number: 59 Registered: 04-2003 |
I think they are fine for straight pulls. I was bending them over time and time again in Moab rubbing against the slickrock, so I decided to cut them off and replace them with the Dixon-Bates. The lack of approach angle (comparitavely speaking) led to the demise of the tow 'fins' on my ARB bar. I suppose you could look at the Dixon-Bates as 'jewelry' for your truck. I tend to look at them as tools that happen to be bolted to the vehicle. | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 195 Registered: 07-2002 |
Wow Paul, how the heck did you bend the tabs by just pulling bushes, those tabs on the ARB don't look that weak. Michael, I actually do use those SMB's, just being a smart ass about the jewelry comment. | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1551 Registered: 02-2002 |
If I knew how I'd bent them, I'd know how not to let it happen again:-). Keep in mind that I do not use the snatch and pull method, rather, I am a proponent of the slow and steady method. Peace, Paul | ||
| Michael Slade (Serious_one) Member Username: Serious_one Post Number: 60 Registered: 04-2003 |
That's what SHE said. ;) Hehe. | ||
| Brian Fransson (Brian) New Member Username: Brian Post Number: 30 Registered: 12-2001 |
Alan Where exactly did you mount the shackle brackets on your ARB? I have the non-airbag, winch version and I'm still looking for the right place. Right now I'm thinking about placing them inboard, close to where a winch would sit. I'm just worried the hardware in the back will interfere with a winch. Would you have any pictures available? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Brian | ||
| Alan Bates (Alanb) Member Username: Alanb Post Number: 199 Registered: 07-2002 |
Brian, click on my profile. http://www.discoweb.org/cgi-bin/discus/board-profile.cgi?action=view_profile&pro file=alanb-users My ARB is for a 92 RRC but it should be very similar to others, just find a spot that won't interfere with the winch, you will probably have to mount them further outboard of the winch, or you might have enough room to mount them inboard but you may have to remove the winch to mount the brackets, and use short 1/2" grade 8 bolts. Some pics from EE's website: http://www.expeditionexchange.com/smb/index.htm | ||
| Brian Fransson (Brian) New Member Username: Brian Post Number: 31 Registered: 12-2001 |
Thanks Alan Now I have a better idea. Thing is if I move them outboard on the passenger side of the bumper I have the ARB decal which is recessed into the bumper which is a thin spot. Would not be able to get four solid points, only three. Trying to have them mounted as close to the frame mounts as possible. Right now I don't have a winch so it's a guessing game. Brian | ||
| Michael Slade (Serious_one) Member Username: Serious_one Post Number: 62 Registered: 04-2003 |
Brian, You are doing what I just did with my CrewCab. I got some of the shackle brackets from JP for the ARB bumper. I made a mistake (gasp!) and installed one of them to the right of the winch, just inboard of the frame rail brackets. Looks very nice there, and is in my preferred location. I went to install the second one and realized that I would have to do a couple of things to make it work. 1. Make a spacer plate for the winch to allow room for the bolts and backing plate. 2. Relocate the second one to be outside the frame rails. Decided not to do this because of the stickers (they're so cuuuute) and it would look assymetrical and kind of goofy. 3. Not do anything. For right now I am sticking with option 3 until I have time to make a spacer plate for the winch (which I plan to do). IMO, having one tow point on the front of the bumper that you KNOW is secure is going to be fine. The odds of me being placed in a life or death situation and having it go badly because of the lack of a tow point on the other side of the winch is so small I'm willing to live with it. On the RRC I have mounted Dixon-Bates to the outside of the frame rails, but I understand your dilemma with the sticker. Sometimes we're too damn picky aren't we? ;) Michael | ||
| Brian Fransson (Brian) New Member Username: Brian Post Number: 32 Registered: 12-2001 |
Michael Thanks for your input as well. As you said, it looks very nice inboard and you just can't cover the stickers outboard. Now I'm looking a bit closer into placement. I would be able to mount the shackle brackets the outside of the frame rails just below the ARB sticker, however my concern is the ARB for a Disco angles back right there. If I do place them there, is the angle too much? On a pull would there be too much pressure on the inside of the shackle and would that result in pulling that part of the bumper out? Brian | ||
| Michael Slade (Serious_one) Member Username: Serious_one Post Number: 63 Registered: 04-2003 |
Hi Brian, Yeah, that angle is kind of weird, and admittedly, the center portion would be preferable...but on my RRC, I had my Dixon-Bates mounted outboard of the frame rails. Granted, on a Dixon-Bate, the load kind of centers itself on the center pin, and on the shackle bracket an angle pull would try to twist the bracket away from the bumper (the inner bolts being the pivot point essentially). But...in all honesty the times when that really happens is pretty infrequent. When it does happen, the components themselves are up to the task, the weak link would become (IMO) the mounting of the bracket. I think that if you used a thick backing plate that extended beyond the outer dimension of the bracket by 1/4-1/2 inch it would sufficiently transmit the load w/out worries. IMO, the preferred location is on the inside of the frame rails, but, I have used them on the outside of the frame rails without any problem whatsoever. Whatever you do, don't mess up that sticker!!!  Michael | ||
| Brian Fransson (Brian) New Member Username: Brian Post Number: 33 Registered: 12-2001 |
Michael Don't worry...I won't mess up the sticker. It's all about the sticker. So I'll mount them on the outside with beefy backing plates. I still need to find a proper backing plates though. Again, thanks for your input. Cheers Brian |
