rear tow hook

9970 Views 39 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Blue Leader, Jun 6, 2009

bigwilly11189

Discussion Starter · Jan 2, 2007

What does everyone use as a rear tow point? If you need to recover another vehicle what do you use? I'm guessing that I'll need to had a tow hitch and I can strap the recoverty strap to that... If I needed to pull someone out of a snow bank I couldnt b/c I can't turn around going against traffic. Also is it safe to even try pullng someone out in reverse gear?

Why wouldn't Nissan add a rear tow hook? GRRR.

1 - 20 of 40 Posts

mtdewmike

· #2 · Jan 2, 2007

I have one of these in my receiver hitch.

I've used it several times, and it works great.

Receiver Shackle Bracket

I'm assuming that you mean is it safe for your truck to be in reverse gear when pulling someone out, correct? Yes, it is, since Nissan put a tow hook in the front of the truck. Just make sure that you secure the strap to a tow point, axle or frame on the vehicle you're pulling out, and go slow.

See less See more

kokopop

· #3 · Jan 2, 2007

2

I have something similiar to this.

But if you take one of these and get a 3/4" shackle from TSC that will work just fine.

You can pull out in reverse with no issues. Just be slow and don't spin the tires too much.

Edit: Damn you mike! Beat me to it!

See less See more

mtdewmike

· #4 · Jan 2, 2007

kokopop said:
Edit: Damn you mike! Beat me to it!

:iconbiggrin:

Muzikman

· #5 · Jan 2, 2007

Or at long as you use a strap with a 2" wide loop on the end, you can stick it right in the receiver and put the pin in. No need for a shackle attachement.

But yes, a tow hitch is the only form of rear recovery point there is. But it works will and it also saves your bumper when wheeling.

kokopop

· #6 · Jan 2, 2007

mtdewmike said:
kokopop said:

Edit: Damn you mike! Beat me to it!

Click to expand...

:iconbiggrin:

When are you going to get that SB OR 06 X on the trails?

BoonDox

· #7 · Jan 2, 2007 (Edited)

Just get this and a couple of clevis.

________
Vapir oxygen

See less See more

NotAlot

· #8 · Jan 2, 2007

mtdewmike said:
I have one of these in my receiver hitch.
Yes, it is, since Nissan put a tow hook in the front of the truck.

Where is it? I can't see it in any pictures (and I don't own an Xterra yet

RiNkY

· #9 · Jan 3, 2007

muzikman said:
Or at long as you use a strap with a 2" wide loop on the end, you can stick it right in the receiver and put the pin in. No need for a shackle attachement.

But yes, a tow hitch is the only form of rear recovery point there is. But it works will and it also saves your bumper when wheeling.

We discussed this once on XOC. Hitch Pins aren't really designed to take that type of beating, but I'd say it was better than nothing. Something to do with all the stress being on the middle of the pin rather than at its edges. I have the setup pictured by mtdewmike. In fact, here it is on my X in the snow this weekend - Just in case.

See less See more

Muzikman

· #10 · Jan 3, 2007

RiNkY said:
muzikman said:

Or at long as you use a strap with a 2" wide loop on the end, you can stick it right in the receiver and put the pin in. No need for a shackle attachement.

But yes, a tow hitch is the only form of rear recovery point there is. But it works will and it also saves your bumper when wheeling.

Click to expand...

We discussed this once on XOC. Hitch Pins aren't really designed to take that type of beating, but I'd say it was better than nothing. Something to do with all the stress being on the middle of the pin rather than at its edges. I have the setup pictured by mtdewmike. In fact, here it is on my X in the snow this weekend - Just in case.

If the strap end is 2" wide then the stress is evenly distributed just as it would be with the shackle mount. I would agree if you were using a hook.

See less See more

usmc xterra

· #11 · Jan 3, 2007

I read on that Bill Burke site to remember the capacity of the hitch is just that. On an X it's about 5000 Lbs. (Some trucks go high as 10K) Hey that will get you out of a lot but not as much as a recovery bumper with big shackles welded on it. And some of the hitches I see posted I can tell are rated for like 3000 lbs. Just mentioning this so you think about it. Imagine someone hooking a 9000 lb winch onto you when you were really stuck and something coming loose at like 5000 lbs of pull and coming at you? Yikes! Plus, a hitch is constructed to have a direct to the rear pull, not sideways or at angles. One way I can think of to avert a break would be to use a nylon fuse, that would be a strap rated close to the 5K the hitch is rated at.
This would only be a big worry if you were like really stuck. Just keep it in mind.

Here is a good read for those wondering about where to hook.
http://www.4x4now.com/sf0100.htm
MC

bigwilly11189

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 3, 2007

Wow thanks for all the great replies. I know I wouldnt' be pulling any suburbans out with a tow hitch, but would it be possible with the front tow hook. What is the capacity on that??

Muzikman

· #13 · Jan 3, 2007

I don't know what the rating is on the front hook, but my guess is not much (they usually never are). First thing to do is look at the bolt and see if it's a 10.9 grade bolt. If it is an 8.8, the bolt will shear off pretty easily.

I would take the same caution with the front as you would with the rear tow hitch.

Recovering a vehicle is never safe.

bigwilly11189

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 3, 2007

it should be able to at least support the same weight as the vehicle, correct? How do you determine the grade of the bolt?

mtdewmike

· #15 · Jan 3, 2007

kokopop said:
mtdewmike said:

kokopop said:

Edit: Damn you mike! Beat me to it!

Click to expand...

:iconbiggrin:

Click to expand...

When are you going to get that SB OR 06 X on the trails?

Soon, I hope!

mtdewmike

· #16 · Jan 3, 2007

NotAlot said:
mtdewmike said:

I have one of these in my receiver hitch.
Yes, it is, since Nissan put a tow hook in the front of the truck.

Click to expand...

Where is it? I can't see it in any pictures (and I don't own an Xterra yet

The front tow hook is on the passenger side, kind of angled towards the ground. You can see it in this picture.

See less See more

bigwilly11189

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jan 4, 2007

I would like to know Nissan's reasoning on why they dont put a dual tow hook on the front (and one or two on the rear) of the X or Pathy but they add them onto the Armada which will probably be the least likely to see any offroading...i wonder sometimes

mtdewmike

· #18 · Jan 4, 2007

bigwilly11189 said:
I would like to know Nissan's reasoning on why they dont put a dual tow hook on the front (and one or two on the rear) of the X or Pathy but they add them onto the Armada which will probably be the least likely to see any offroading...i wonder sometimes

That makes two of us.

Lyrex

· #19 · Jan 4, 2007

bigwilly11189 said:
I would like to know Nissan's reasoning on why they dont put a dual tow hook on the front (and one or two on the rear) of the X or Pathy but they add them onto the Armada which will probably be the least likely to see any offroading...i wonder sometimes

Maybe because they figure the Armada is more likely to get stuck and needs multiple recovery points!

bigwilly11189

Discussion Starter · #20 · Jan 4, 2007

haha

1 - 20 of 40 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.