Receiver hitch recovery

B1Toad

TJ Addict
Original poster
Supporting Member
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Jan 15, 2023
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Arizona
I know most of us don't use the receiver hitch for recovery but here's a video with some good info that someone posted on the Sprinter forum this morning. Most here probably already know about the risks of using offset draw bars and balls for recovery but reminders can't hurt. Especially interesting is the orientation of the shackle. My F-350 has a class 5 receiver and I've considered using it for light recovery on the beach and for towing with a strap.

 
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All the more reason for people to remove their hitches from the receiver when not in use.

I always do. Otherwise I can't display my receiver cover. 😁

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This guy is showing worst case scenario of both equipment and technique. His receiver is a class III and rated at 8K lbs. Also the mounting wings of the receiver are very long to clear the spare and the leverage on a side pull will bend it. Also the ball mounts are cheap WalMart type crap and most likely only rated to 6K. Technique is important and in his examples they probably did not dig a ramp and were buried to the axel or frame causing maximum resistance. The Ford he shows, which happened down the road from my Az home, is again worst case scenario. Cheap underrated WalMart crap and the leverage of the long unsupported drop is huge. It was rumored that drinking was involved.The receiver on my TJ is stronger than the tabs welded to the bumper especially with a side load.
My smallest 2” ball is rated at 10K and my 2 5/16” balls go up to 25k. I only use solid dropped forged solid 2” ball mounts and are rated at 17k or better. My shin buster pintle hitch on my F250 with a class V receiver is rated at 25K. I rarely remove it as it weighs a ton. You don’t buy this stuff at WalMart prices. I have limited experience pulling out small 4X4s but I have a lot of experience extracting loaded class 5- 7 trucks stuck in a field somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Usually at 2 or 3 am. Proper technique goes a long way. For the big stuff only a 600+ tractor with a 6-8” rope will do and the limiting factor is finding somewhere on the truck’s frame strong enough to handle the pull.
As Dirty Harry says “A man has got to know his limitations”.

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Rory and crew with Trailmater makes good use of a receiver hitch in this video...they even use SARA or whatever that acronym is for the aluminum insert.


-Mac
 
The difference here is that he lifted at a 45 degree angle to break suction while pulling. You can do the same using a piece of 4x4 or 4x6 on the line to pull at an upward angle. Also he takes his time and does not rush things.
 
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