I'm talking just the Ball, not the hitch.
Heck, I'd pass the pin in a good hitch as a tow point...

but would perfer a clevis mount like this



There are may ways that would pass tech, this is what I think is best and most safe. (And with your friend welding it, could be done for under $100, heck I've $35 into mine but I got a the steel a while ago.)

Get some 3/4" x 2" stock, say 12" long.
Drill a hole in one end large enough for a 3/4 pin clevis (see below)
Drill a hole in your bumper to fit the steel through...
Bolt the steel to your frame with two grade 5 bolts
Weld to bumper, front and rear.

Something like for your steel.


Screw in Clevis, 3/4" pin size minimum size.
Tensile strength - 50,000 lbs
Safe working load - 10,000 lbs


Strange as it seems, I'd have to pass this type.
The reason, even though your weld is good... you never know until you cut it or x-ray it.

 

The best advice I can give is to join an established 4x4 club. Make sure to check out a few to find a good fit.
Most clubs have people who've been trail riding before you were driving! (I've a friend that has been trial riding since 1975! )
People like this have seen it all, and can give great advice. Most clubs people will come out after the meeting to check out your vehicle... (Hint, the guy's who do tech in a good club will always give it a look over)
Back in the days before the internet that all there was to learn, finding people who when wheel'n




So your stuck in muck like you've never seen before, you didn't plan it but there you are... you've never been a 1/4 this stuck before.
You know you've good two points when a big blocked truck can hook up 5' from you with a 50' snap-strap (aka Recovery Strap) and hit full throttle.

I'll see if I can find a good u-tube video of some friends of mine doing this...
it's a sight to see

 

Hey I'm am actually selling my front and rear hitches and I see that you dont live to terribly far away. I made the front hitch all out of quarter inch square tube and some plate for the center section, and 5/16's side plates. It will bolt right up to your frame after removing the stock crossmember that is right behind the bumper. It only hangs about 3 inches lower then the bottom of the frame rail and had to notch the stock bumper about 2 inches for it to stick out. Enough that I had to cut the word truck out of my license plate, not sure if thats legal lol but my buddy silconed it to my grill under the ford emblem so its still there haha. I am a certified welder at Curt Manufacturing and this front hitch I made is beefier than a good portion of the class 3 hitches I weld on everyday. Rear is just a Curt class 3. Only getting rid of them cause Im taking off the bumpers and going to build something else to get better approach and departure angles, rear hitch hung me up a couple times this year so its gotta go.

 

That seems like an odd way to phrase it. Can and WILL maim and kill?

Not every equipment failure leads to injury.

And I know there is alot more incidents that equipment do not fail. And like I said, even if it fails, it doesn't always lead to injury. I've seen recovery points break loose during a recovery, but the weight on the line made it slap down into the mud instead of flying up and hitting someone.

I think there's a little bit of technique to any recovery.

 

Welcome to the off-road world, you'll see a lot more in the coming years.

 

You say it like I havn't already been off-roading for years.

All i'm really saying, is that if your cautious while recovering. Your not going to get killed. Keep everyone clear of the lines. Keep some weight on the recovery line. Think before you act.

 

Form you reply's it seem like your new to the off-roading seen.

 

Nope.

 

well in his case...if you start out as a poser you are always a poser LOL just kiddin kris your a good guy...dont see many pics of your truck burried in mud or snow though...WHAT THE HELL? at least i go out and find what i can in this freakin desert lol

 

My truck hasn't been driven in months. Most i've done is poser flex pictures.

But just cause I love you i'll post a bunch of pictures in your 4x4 Pics thread.

 

AWWWW TANKS BUDDIE! i feel soo special

 

 

Sorry then, I'm on the board of a 4WD state association and get to deal with new people a lot.
Then again I've been off roading since 1984

 

Okay? Thats cool.


So you mentioned what could replace a ball hitch, but what would be a good recovery point on the front?

 

This is a retarded question, everything from the rear still applies to the front.