Receiver shackle bracket or receiver pin for recovery strap

hatu · **Posted:** Mon Nov 12, 2007 5:44 pm

I'm wonderin' if anyone has info on the different strengths and/or weaknesses of using a rear receiver shackle bracket or just the receiver (hitch) pin when attaching a 2" recovery strap. I see the same pics of the shackle bracket with ratings of 11,000lbs or 20,000lbs depending on who is selling it. I can't find any ratings on the pins though. If they are both equal, what's the advantage of spending 50.00 for the shackle? You still have to use the pin to secure the shackle bracket. Maybe the bracket distributes the load on the pin in a more advantageous way. Maybe I'm just thinkin' too much about this.... :idea:

Any thoughts?

dgeist · **Posted:** Mon Nov 12, 2007 6:20 pm

hatu wrote:

I'm wonderin' if anyone has info on the different strengths and/or weaknesses of using a rear receiver shackle bracket or just the receiver (hitch) pin when attaching a 2" recovery strap. I see the same pics of the shackle bracket with ratings of 11,000lbs or 20,000lbs depending on who is selling it. I can't find any ratings on the pins though. If they are both equal, what's the advantage of spending 50.00 for the shackle? You still have to use the pin to secure the shackle bracket. Maybe the bracket distributes the load on the pin in a more advantageous way. Maybe I'm just thinkin' too much about this.... :idea:

Any thoughts?

6 vs. 1/2 dozen depending on how you're using it. The difference is probably in the smooth corners and load distribution of the shackle. Without the shackle, you might bend the pin and or damage the strap on a sharp edge if you pull it laterally. If you wheel, you might want to just look for a cheaper model (I've seen them for $35) and if you just want a sense of security if you slide off into the snow, you're probably fine with the receiver and a pin.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:14 pm

IMO save your money
just use the pin
the shackle thing hangs out and gets hung up on junk
or you can do the loopee trick and not worry about the pin but that requires you to hook the strap every time you need it
loopee trick is where you hook the strap over the top of the hich and route it around the top to the front then down and out the back
dont hurt the strap
no need to worry about somthing breaking loose and killing some one
and you get to tell the guy behind you
"hope you can keep up I dont have a strap"

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Mon Nov 12, 2007 7:38 pm

"just use the pin" works unless you get stuck in deep water and need an easy way to attach a tow strap. I know this from first hand experience.

I had water up above my tow hitch about an inch below my tailgate. Climbed over my seats, opened my tailgate... My stepbrother threw me the tow strap and I attached it without being able to see what I was doing. Imagine how fun that would have been if I only had a pin.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:56 pm

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

"just use the pin" works unless you get stuck in deep water and need an easy way to attach a tow strap. I know this from first hand experience.

I had water up above my tow hitch about an inch below my tailgate. Climbed over my seats, opened my tailgate... My stepbrother threw me the tow strap and I attached it without being able to see what I was doing. Imagine how fun that would have been if I only had a pin.

if you are wheelin that where that can happen save your self some trouble
hook the strap up first and loop it around the spare tire or close it in the window
or even better do like me
dont play in the mud

AbsoluteRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 2:51 am

Not sure if Mr Thompson wants to get into another one of these. Shackles are usually rated by weight, the pin then screws into the "u" and you essentially have a solid connection, things can happen, things can break, yada yada. I've never seen a shackle that is rated at 20k break, and I've pulled quite a few dozen farm vehicles out of waste deep s%^& far bigger then any libby or even full size pickup. My neighbor pulled a semi up a snowy hill in my chevy 3/4ton with a rear shacle/hitch bar i got at tractor supply (i have a few of the same one, personally i went with a warn shackle). Depending on the strap rating (usually 20k or under for our apps ) i wouldnt see a shackle breaking. I could see a hitch pin bending and pulling through that hitch, they arent rated for actually putting weight on in the very middle of them like a strap could/would. another cheap route would be getting a hitch without a ball and popping a shackle on that.

hatu · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:27 pm

Looks like this ends up a matter of preference and how deep you plan on getting in the muck.... I kind of see the advantages to both though....

AbsoluteRenegade...Checked out your pics...How did you end up doin' that to your wrist?

KJ Taz · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:05 pm

I can't see where sticking a pin through a receiver is any different that sticking a pin in a shackle and the receiver hitch point.

Hummm I use both, straight pin in the Libby and the receiver mounted shackle in the Rubi. The one on the Rubi just seems like it is more for show although like was stated a side ways pull is much better through a shakle. But I have done them with just a pin and it worked out just fine. The pins have never bent, that one kind of cracks me up. I had one guy hooked to the back of my grand with a pin, and in the front I was hooked with my tow hooks to a stuck Cherokee. My front hooks bent out, bent the front frame but the rear hitch pin didn't budge a bit. They are a very strong strapping point, I know from experience. The guy behind me in that big a** Frod (ok Ford) couldn't yank it off or bend it, but he sure didn't cause the front end some pretty good damage. Yes this was screwed up situation and I don't recommend ever trying this method to get someone unstuck. I learned the hard way.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:54 pm

Sticking the pin in the loop and sticking it through a receiver is totally different from an Engineering standpoint.

The force is applied to the center of the pin when its through the loop of the strap. When you put the pin through the receiver, it actually makes two shear points.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:17 pm

AbsoluteRenegade wrote:

Not sure if Mr Thompson wants to get into another one of these.

OK but I have no clue what you are talking about?
or why you are calling me out?
if you would please enlighten myself and others?
Really I dont even see why you would make this statement?

I did say that shackles get in the way but I also said that was my opinion
why would that be a problem?

Uttles · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:49 pm

Don't forget the shackle is a very cool looking accessory for the Jeep. It's like a pirate earing. A functional accessory for sure, but a manly one.

I would would put money on either method lasting longer than most worn out straps.

KJ Taz · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:54 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Sticking the pin in the loop and sticking it through a receiver is totally different from an Engineering standpoint.

The force is applied to the center of the pin when its through the loop of the strap. When you put the pin through the receiver, it actually makes two shear points.

lol yea but, what is over kill? Which is going to beak first? The strap or the pin? Well this would be a gfood one for myth busters now wouldn't it. My money would still be on the strap giving out first.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:31 pm

KJ Taz wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Sticking the pin in the loop and sticking it through a receiver is totally different from an Engineering standpoint.

The force is applied to the center of the pin when its through the loop of the strap. When you put the pin through the receiver, it actually makes two shear points.

lol yea but, what is over kill? Which is going to beak first? The strap or the pin? Well this would be a gfood one for myth busters now wouldn't it. My money would still be on the strap giving out first.

True, the strap may break before the pin, but what happens if the pin bends THEN the strap breaks? :shock:

Youre going to have one heck of a time getting that pin out! :lol:

jason thompson · **Posted:** Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:42 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

KJ Taz wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Sticking the pin in the loop and sticking it through a receiver is totally different from an Engineering standpoint.

The force is applied to the center of the pin when its through the loop of the strap. When you put the pin through the receiver, it actually makes two shear points.

lol yea but, what is over kill? Which is going to beak first? The strap or the pin? Well this would be a gfood one for myth busters now wouldn't it. My money would still be on the strap giving out first.

True, the strap may break before the pin, but what happens if the pin bends THEN the strap breaks? :shock:

Youre going to have one heck of a time getting that pin out! :lol:

if we are playing "what if"
then I will post the "then you"

now if the pin bends and the strap breaks just cut the end off with a grinder
hammer it to the other side as far as you can ,use a punch to push it into the hich from the side and cut again
then just pull it all out
or get a torch and just set the strap on fire after it burns out the cut the pin out
just dont use to much heat and melt the gas tank :lol:

AbsoluteRenegade · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:43 am

hmmm, we'll start one by one:

hatu: umm, it was around here or kjcountry somewhere with some pics, putting down a glass window and the top half cracked and came down and sliced my tendons down through the bone/got stuck in the bone. calmly lifted it out, went in the kitchen and asked my buddy's girlfriend whos a nurse "think i need to go to the hospital for this (we both work there) so anyway, had to have reconstructive surgery to gain movement feeling etc back. accidents happen i suppose

jeepjeepster: my point exactly on the engineering standpoint, as mentioned in my previous post.

thompson: ha ha, you dont remember a similiar post/your standpoint on this in another thread awhile back? I believe over on kjcountry you know, i was meaning to call you about that....anyways, most play the "what if" because it could save your life ie "what if i stand in front of a winch cable and it doesnt break and slice off an arm" etc (i know we arent on that topic, but same principle)

KJ Taz · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:28 am

Using the pin in the receiver is one of the safest recovery points one could use. Its only down fall is a sideways pull. Using a pin in the receiver is highly recommended as a recovery point. Do some research on it.

The receiver hitch with a pin is far stronger than the front tow hooks even if you use both tow hooks to evenly distribute the load.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 10:34 am

jason thompson wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

KJ Taz wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Sticking the pin in the loop and sticking it through a receiver is totally different from an Engineering standpoint.

The force is applied to the center of the pin when its through the loop of the strap. When you put the pin through the receiver, it actually makes two shear points.

lol yea but, what is over kill? Which is going to beak first? The strap or the pin? Well this would be a gfood one for myth busters now wouldn't it. My money would still be on the strap giving out first.

True, the strap may break before the pin, but what happens if the pin bends THEN the strap breaks? :shock:

Youre going to have one heck of a time getting that pin out! :lol:

if we are playing "what if"
then I will post the "then you"

now if the pin bends and the strap breaks just cut the end off with a grinder
hammer it to the other side as far as you can ,use a punch to push it into the hich from the side and cut again
then just pull it all out
or get a torch and just set the strap on fire after it burns out the cut the pin out
just dont use to much heat and melt the gas tank :lol:

I'm not trying to be a jerk but everytime I read one of your posts I feel like I'm reading a poem...

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:02 pm

i have a 30k pro-comp strap and i dont even know if it will fit IN the hitch. and if it does fit, its gonna be the full width of the pin inside, so it wont ave all the force in the middle of the pin, its a reall thick/stiff loop at the end of the strap if anybody has ever seen these straps. the only way i can see using a pin like that as a downfall, where u would be better off using a shackle, is if your doing sidepulls where the hitch could possibly rub the strap really bad

jason thompson · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:22 pm

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

jason thompson wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

KJ Taz wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Sticking the pin in the loop and sticking it through a receiver is totally different from an Engineering standpoint.

The force is applied to the center of the pin when its through the loop of the strap. When you put the pin through the receiver, it actually makes two shear points.

lol yea but, what is over kill? Which is going to beak first? The strap or the pin? Well this would be a gfood one for myth busters now wouldn't it. My money would still be on the strap giving out first.

True, the strap may break before the pin, but what happens if the pin bends THEN the strap breaks? :shock:

Youre going to have one heck of a time getting that pin out! :lol:

if we are playing "what if"
then I will post the "then you"

now if the pin bends and the strap breaks just cut the end off with a grinder
hammer it to the other side as far as you can ,use a punch to push it into the hich from the side and cut again
then just pull it all out
or get a torch and just set the strap on fire after it burns out the cut the pin out
just dont use to much heat and melt the gas tank :lol:

I'm not trying to be a jerk but everytime I read one of your posts I feel like I'm reading a poem...

I will take it as a complement
"I'm a poet and didn't know it"

jason thompson · **Posted:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:28 pm

AbsoluteRenegade wrote:

thompson: ha ha, you dont remember a similiar post/your standpoint on this in another thread awhile back? I believe over on kjcountry you know, i was meaning to call you about that....anyways, most play the "what if" because it could save your life ie "what if i stand in front of a winch cable and it doesnt break and slice off an arm" etc (i know we arent on that topic, but same principle)

No
I do not remember
My life is way to bussy to keep up with BS that happens on the internet ,Kid ,wife ,job ,wheelin

If you need to call me about something Off-road or Jeep realated then go for it
My number is 504-256-2553
I use this number for my LA Off-Roaders Expo stuff as well as the 101 course stuff so I dont mind giving it out to
people who feel they need info or have questions about that kind of stuff
Just have the respect to call at a resonable hour ,I do have a 4 month old in the house

Receiver shackle bracket or receiver pin for recovery strap

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