| Author |
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EricV (Bender2033)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 12:52 am: | 
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Ok, well I'm getting ready for MAR so I took off the factory brush bar in preparation for removing the airdam/trimming end caps/installing JATE rings. Well, while I was under the truck I noticed that my tie-rod end boots were shot to hell, so I have decided to upgrade to RTE's bullet proof cross and track rod set up along with 4 new tie-rod ends.
The problem is this is unexpected $$$ outlay has cut into my MAR slush fund. So the question is this: If I reinstall the brush bar after I remove the airdam can I safely use the recovery points at the bottom and forgo the jate ring purchase ($100!!! for 2 ... OUCH!) ? |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 09:51 am: |
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Eric:
This posting of yours is sure to bring out many opinions and anecdotes of folks destroying the front end of their trucks using the factory brush bar, and maybe even more commenting about their heroic recoveries using the factory brush bar.
Unless you are absolutely certain of the attachments of your brush bar to your truck, I would not advise trying to use the factory brush bar as a recovery tool. I know a few folks who use theirs for this purpose, but I have also seen on at least one occasion, the brush bar rotated to where it was in direct contact with the bonnet and further recovery attempts would have done significant damage. Just look at the air-bag ARB in the window for an instance where something one would expect to be able to be used for this purpose failed and did body damage.
Now, if one is in a situation where you either must live or die by your recovery, by all means, use whatever is available, but if you have the time to do it right, do it (with apologies to Ho, "Just Do It").
If you need a quick recovery point for the rally, I suggest going to your local farm supply store and buying a one foot piece of the biggest chain they have that will pass a 1/2" bolt through it. Using a 5-1/2" long bolt, and two washers, you can make a fairly substantial "Ghettofabulous" (Thanx Perrone) recovery point. It won't look particularly good and John Lee will give you hell for it, but it will get you out of trouble. Mount it as you would your Jate rings. I have a picture if you'd like to see what they look like.
Paul |
Mohan (Mohan)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 01:49 pm: |
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I'd like to see those pics.
My truck is not here right now either - are there holes for the bolt already in the frame or do you need to drill new? |
Paul T. Schram (Paulschram)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 03:27 pm: |
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Mo:
You use the holes that would hold your Panhard rod and steering box, were your truck LHD rather than RHD (or vice versa). The lowermost bolt hole is very heavy duty, it is the same mounting point one would use if they were mounting Jate rings.
I'll have to learn how to post pictures!
Paul |
EricV (Bender2033)
| | Posted on Thursday, September 12, 2002 - 11:27 pm: |
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Thanks for the input! I'm hoping that I might be able to pick up a set of Jatos at MAR. |
M. Recke (Disco_Obsession)
| | Posted on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 05:36 am: |
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ERIC, I used my factory brush bar recovery points as a tow point to try to drag a tree stump out of my new driveway.Yeah I know that Landrovers are not to be used as bulldozers and the like! But the brushbar did endup moving in a up and rearward direction and came very close to the bonnet, which could have caused some very nasty body damage. I have thought of drilling a couple of extra holes at the mounting point and putting some heavy bolts through to stop the pivoting of the brushbar.
Mario. |
Eric N (Grnrvr)
| | Posted on Friday, September 13, 2002 - 08:04 am: |
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I have used my brush bar a few times for simple pulls. It moved a little once. If it is a lite pull then you should be ok just make sure that the bolts holding it on to the frame are really super tight and if you see it start to move then stop pulling on it. If your stuck really good though I wouldn't use it. But, it will work just fine for lite duty pulling. |
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