Rear bumper towing point

[Gold Finger]

First Andy, the hook that I referred to is for mainly towing trailers which have a 3” ring and they are mainly military NATO types of trailer. The trailer rings are suitably high unlike the vast majority of civil trailers which I think are predominate on both sides of the pond, which have been mainly designed for low hitches such as found on the majority of cars. Even Agricultural types of trailers such as the Ifor Williams trailers which most farmers use here and are towed behind Landover’s, are strangely low slung, the hitch in question would not be suitable for towing these. This is because of two reasons the first is that the angle would have the trailer sloping back resulting in the wrong nose (tongue) weight making for a unstable tow and would also be unsuitable for an unsupported drop plate as the leverages imposed would be too great causing the rear cross member to twist about a horizontal axis. In short the trailer ring mount has to be the same height as the hitch on the vehicle.

The cheapest place to buy a military hitch is from military breakers at approximately £15 - £25. in the UK. I am sure they must have the same type of hook available in the US as the military trailers look similar.

 

[IdahoDoug]

As for Toyota going to all the trouble, etc. It may well be the case that the same center bumper piece is used all over the world, but in countries where the 80 is sold with that position is rated to tow Toyota may install a reinforcement. I don't know, but I would do a bit of research and comparison between a NA 80 series and one from a member in a country where the tow point is actually rated with a sticker or owner's manual instruction to be sure it can handle it. A recovery load or tow load is quite high and the consequence of being wrong could range from bent frame tips to a fatal accident. Anecdotal information on this thread should not be considered factual. Also, the point GoldFinger makes is a good one that using a hitch that can apply force below the bolt pattern would subject the cross member to twist is a good one. I had a Montero/Pajero with these same "pintle hook" points and it came with a sturdy loop which centered the force in the center of all four bolts. Guys would put drop hitches on this and bend the crap out of stuff.

DougM

 

[harveya]

Thanks guys, I don't actually want to tow a trailer with this point, just thinking of it as an occasional pull someone a few yards out of trouble so the height isn't an issue consequently no twisting forses on the bumper, don't want a drop hitch.

Also thiniking of it as a mount for a bike rack and as a mount for a dismountable winch which you can get towball ounts for which is why I need a combined Pintle/receiver hitch mount so I can mount a towball on it.

Cheers

 

[Gold Finger]

For curiosity the UK advertisement brochure that Toyota did for the Landcruiser in 1993, page 8 shows the 80 with a NATO tow hook fitted to the rear cross member.

 

[e9999]

was just looking at mine. Strangely, the 4 bolt pattern only has 2 threaded holes. What's with that?

Notably, my hitch receiver -which is only rated at 5000lbs- is held by 6 bolts vs the 2 holding the OEM tow loop... I would think the receiver could be used to good effect for recovery in a pinch... Worse that could happen probably would be that the center part would bend out, but I doubt the bolts would let go if properly rated and I doubt the receiver frame would break...

 

[Tools R Us]

I would think the receiver could be used to good effect for recovery in a pinch... Worse that could happen probably would be that the center part would bend out, but I doubt the bolts would let go if properly rated and I doubt the receiver frame would break...

That ugly thing will take a hell of a beating! Full bore slams on the snatch strap won't bend it, slamming it on rocks only scratches it, tuff bugger!

 

[IdahoDoug]

Agree with Kevin. For recovery, I use a Warn hitch shackle that goes in the receiver hole. It's a stinger with a large hole in which hangs a Warn shackle. This is far stronger than using either factory recovery hook back there. Many full bore slams. The last 4 months include yanking a 7000lb pickup up a slight hill onto the road way, and yanking a much larger medium duty TV truck out of the mud.

Rather than using it in a pinch, I far prefer this recovery mounting.

DougM

 

[e9999]

rather than buying a dedicated receiver shackle bracket a la Warn, an inexpensive way to do this is to buy a straight or low offset ball mount (HF, $12-$15 or so) and either use the 1" ball hole as is or drill a hole for your shackle across the tube.

Either way, the weak point is probably the hitch pin (only 5/8" I believe).