Bumper/Shackle/Hitch question
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New User
Joined: Aug 2013
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Bumper/Shackle/Hitch question
I am considering either making one myself of having a local highschool metals class fabricate a simple steel rear bumper for my 1997 F150. Im thinking 4"x6" Beveled and capped on the ends.
However my question lies in shackles and recovery:
I am under the belief that I use a Class 3 reciever and hitch because it is stronger than a bumper mounted hitch (and obviously lower on my lifted truck). This causes me to rethink installing shackles or D-Rings to my bumper with the thought of recovering myself or someone else. I see shackles on lots of custom bumpers, but what is the benefit to shackles on the bumper as opposed to hooking a recovery strap to the hitch?
Wouldn't I want to connect to the CL 3 in some way for the recovery and not the bumper?
Ive been playing with this stuff all my life and Ive seen things work and fail and now I'm just trying to be a little more mature and specific as I build my own toy.
-Thanks.
However my question lies in shackles and recovery:
I am under the belief that I use a Class 3 reciever and hitch because it is stronger than a bumper mounted hitch (and obviously lower on my lifted truck). This causes me to rethink installing shackles or D-Rings to my bumper with the thought of recovering myself or someone else. I see shackles on lots of custom bumpers, but what is the benefit to shackles on the bumper as opposed to hooking a recovery strap to the hitch?
Wouldn't I want to connect to the CL 3 in some way for the recovery and not the bumper?
Ive been playing with this stuff all my life and Ive seen things work and fail and now I'm just trying to be a little more mature and specific as I build my own toy.
-Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,403
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From: Charlestown, RI
The only reason I can understand the benefit of bumper mounted D rings is increased capacity. A class 3 hitch is rated to tow 5k lbs in most cases. That's almost the weight of our trucks. Compound that by being stuck in mud, and that figure goes up. A bumper mounted D ring will be more in line with the frame, and will offer more capacity than a frame mounted hitch will.
That said, I used my former 93 F150's class 3 hitch to yank a semi that was stuck on snow/ice here at work three times in one winter. Using a tow strap, I yanked the ever loving **** out of the semi and got it to move. Obviously, I didn't care about destroying my truck, but it didn't do any damage. I think the elasticity of the tow strap worked in my favor.
Personally, I wouldn't bother with D rings on the bumper. Get a hitch mounted recovery shackle, and you should be all set.
That said, I used my former 93 F150's class 3 hitch to yank a semi that was stuck on snow/ice here at work three times in one winter. Using a tow strap, I yanked the ever loving **** out of the semi and got it to move. Obviously, I didn't care about destroying my truck, but it didn't do any damage. I think the elasticity of the tow strap worked in my favor.
Personally, I wouldn't bother with D rings on the bumper. Get a hitch mounted recovery shackle, and you should be all set.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 72
From: Roseville, MN
A lot of 4x4 clubs won't allow recovery points that are mounted to a bumper. I guess the tought is that bumpers aren't always strong enough and you are usually pulling through a welded connection which they also don't like (they prefer recovery points bolted directly to the frame). But they do generally allow using a class 3 receiver as a recovery point. Not sure I understand the rationale there since they're usually welded too.
I do agree with Bob, that a receiver hitch is generally below the frame while a bumper is in line with it, which is a minus for the receiver hitch.
Below is the solution I worked out on my Bronco. The pic shows the front bumper, but the rear is the same. I didn't mount recovery points to my bumper, I mounted my bumper to my recovery points. Those "tabs" sticking out of the bumper are solid pieces that go through holes in the bumper and are bolted to the frame. The bumper is then welded to the recovery points. I can put clevises directly on these tabs and I have recovery points bolted directly to the frame (I also have a tow bar I can attach to the tabs on the front bumper).
I do agree with Bob, that a receiver hitch is generally below the frame while a bumper is in line with it, which is a minus for the receiver hitch.
Below is the solution I worked out on my Bronco. The pic shows the front bumper, but the rear is the same. I didn't mount recovery points to my bumper, I mounted my bumper to my recovery points. Those "tabs" sticking out of the bumper are solid pieces that go through holes in the bumper and are bolted to the frame. The bumper is then welded to the recovery points. I can put clevises directly on these tabs and I have recovery points bolted directly to the frame (I also have a tow bar I can attach to the tabs on the front bumper).
New User
Joined: Oct 2013
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I agree with "nothing special". If you were to mount pull tabs to a bumper (even if were 4 x 6 tube) all of your force would be transferred to the wall of the tubing. I have seen an application that used both ideas. The guy built a rectangle tube bumper, inserted the flat bar mounts all the way through the tube and into the frame, capped and welded every seam, and then used the bumper as an axillary air tank.
Just throwing out a couple of ideas.
Just throwing out a couple of ideas.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Tri-Cities, TN
Depends on the hitch. I have a 16k-rated HD frame-mounted hitch, I seriously doubt any bumper is going to exceed that capacity. Add a 2" front-mounted receiver and you can use a draw bar mounted winch on either end of the truck.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
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From: Gilbert, PA
Agreed. A hitch distributes the load better than 99% of any bumper ever made
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,533
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From: SW Florida
Yup, go for the hitch, or bolt/weld recovery points to the frame (same place a hitch places a load).
Pulling on a bumper alone is asking for trouble due to how most of them are mounted.
Pulling on a bumper alone is asking for trouble due to how most of them are mounted.
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
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From: North Dakota
How about something like this.
The shackle mounts go all the way through the bumper, bolt to the frame, have a flat iron welded to the mount that pinches between the frame and the receiver hitch. So the bumper is held on by 10 1/2 inch bolts.
Than the front has them too.
How to do the front https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...mple-zone.html
The shackle mounts go all the way through the bumper, bolt to the frame, have a flat iron welded to the mount that pinches between the frame and the receiver hitch. So the bumper is held on by 10 1/2 inch bolts.
Than the front has them too.
How to do the front https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...mple-zone.html
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New User
Joined: Aug 2013
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How about something like this.
The shackle mounts go all the way through the bumper, bolt to the frame, have a flat iron welded to the mount that pinches between the frame and the receiver hitch. So the bumper is held on by 10 1/2 inch bolts.
Than the front has them too.
How to do the front https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...mple-zone.html
The shackle mounts go all the way through the bumper, bolt to the frame, have a flat iron welded to the mount that pinches between the frame and the receiver hitch. So the bumper is held on by 10 1/2 inch bolts.
Than the front has them too.
How to do the front https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...mple-zone.html
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 11,273
Likes: 100
From: North Dakota
Thanks, sadly I sold the pickup a year n a half ago. I loved the topper/camper shell. I only had it off the pickup once, and really didnt like how it looked.
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