 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > 90 Rear Recovery Points - is there a solution?! |
 
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| Orangesofa Member Since: 10 Oct 2014 Location: Somerset Posts: 214   
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I might be venturing into a topic for which I will be told to search as this has been covered to death but please hear me out – it is different this time – I promise!
I have decided to join a local LR club for a spot of mud play and one prerequisite is ‘recovery points front and rear’. Yep – makes sense and the front is sorted by the recovery points attached to the steering guard/chassis. Now the rear is a whole different story… I have a 90 2.2 on a 13 plate with the tin foil crossmember which limits the choices as below: JATE rings – cannot fit them easily due to the location of the fuel tank. To fit cast rings I’d need the tank out which is the devil’s work apparently. Tow bar – I have one of these gathering dust in the garage which I duly removed within days of getting the car as (1) I don’t tow and (2) if I am going off road, the last thing I need is a built in plough to help me get stuck. Besides, is a 3.5t rated tow ball (or DB jaw) a sensible recovery point?? I gather not. I could go for a D&B 5t Camel Jaw but at £150 it is a tad pricey and I still have the plough issue... QT Swivel and Shackle – mounts to the tin foil cross member and due to the fuel tank (again) the supplied backing plate cannot be fitted, not to mention the threaded crossmember holes would present an issue even if I could get to the back of the crossmember to fit the reinforcing plate. Rear Recovery Eye – the one supplied by Extreme is welded not cast so may not be the best choice not to mention the whole fitting to the crossmember issue (see above). LR Crossmember Reinforcing Kit (+ a recovery point of some type) – I thought I was onto a winner with this one then having thought about it I may not be so sure. A straight pull is going to rely on the threads in the crossmember sharing the load. The material they are mounted into, namely the foil of the crossmember, presents a weak spot – no? The more lateral pull is helped by the reinforcing plate as it will spread the load over a larger surface area but I am not so sure this is the answer. If you look at the tow bar kit, it has tow arms which reach back to the chassis which is most likely for a very good reason. This leads me to what I think is the answer – perhaps the only answer… 2” receiver mounted to the crossmember with the arms running back to the chassis - the only drawback I see with this one is that it is nearly £200 for the receiver then another £50 per attachment. As I will only want a shackle eye – it is a mighty expensive solution and doesn’t give me the recommended 2 recovery points to share the load. So – that is my take on the problems with each of the solutions and I would really welcome some ideas on what could work that wouldn't cost me the earth. Have I missed anything? How does everyone else get around this? I have two JATE rings going spare that would be perfect but dropping the tank appeals about as much as sticking pins in my eyes. Does anyone have any experience of getting JATE fitted to a D90 with rear fuel tank? I did ponder speaking to a local engineering firm to see if they could fabricate something to use all of the existing threaded holes in the crossmember plus build some arms to the chassis but reckon I might end up back in the £200+ category. Thoughts/advice very much welcome… Phil |
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2nd Jan 2016 5:35pm |
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| Mash Member Since: 09 Feb 2015 Location: Guernsey Posts: 1674  
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I assume the way the tank fits is different to the 110s I am used to as you have to remove the JATE rings to enable you to drop the tank.
The army use the NATO towing pintle that bolts through the crossmember and does not effect off-roading, they are a great bit of kit with minimal maintanence, ie clean and grease. They are normally for sale on eBay and often a member has one in his shed up for grabs also. 90 wolf - Jasmin http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39408.html 90 V8 - Maggie http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic42564.html 110 TD5 - Buggsy http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic59029.html 52HG25 lightweight https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72342.html D3 Hse - Fiona Capri 2l S - Anna Think I might have a problem............ |
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2nd Jan 2016 5:51pm |
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| Orangesofa Member Since: 10 Oct 2014 Location: Somerset Posts: 214
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NATO Pintle is the same principle as anything else mounted directly to the crossmember. The solution is only as strong as the weakest part and in this case - it is always the crossmember.... Phil
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2nd Jan 2016 5:58pm |
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| ibexman Member Since: 13 Dec 2008 Location: Essex Posts: 2945
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 Click image to enlarge |
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2nd Jan 2016 6:06pm |
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| Orangesofa Member Since: 10 Oct 2014 Location: Somerset Posts: 214
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Yep - rear recovery eye in OP. Surely this is relying heavily on the strength of the crossmember screw threads plus the eye itself is welded to the backing plate. Not too sure I would trust that set-up to look like that after a snatch recovery.... but would welcome people's experiences
 Phil |
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2nd Jan 2016 6:10pm |
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| ibexman Member Since: 13 Dec 2008 Location: Essex Posts: 2945
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Bolt your tow kit on for play days
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2nd Jan 2016 6:12pm |
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| g-mack Member Since: 07 Jan 2014 Location: northumberland Posts: 1967
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nas step??? My 109 thread
my youtube channel |
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2nd Jan 2016 6:24pm |
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| g-mack Member Since: 07 Jan 2014 Location: northumberland Posts: 1967
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i wouldn't use it like that to pull out weeds
i have one of them but have plates on front and back  though its easier on a 300tdi
Click image to enlarge My 109 thread my youtube channel |
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2nd Jan 2016 6:27pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8581
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What sort of 'mud play' do you intend doing with your local LR club?
Competition use or the occasional RTV trial? If only RTV then the idea of a correctly set out trial is that not too many vehicles will get stuck and then only lightly stuck. OK purists might argue against it but normal towing equipment can be used with care. If you intend to get your vehicle stuck in deep mud holes then that is a different story. What condition is your rear cross member in? Brand new or been attacked by rust worms? If the latter that might need sorting out first. An alternative rear recovery point would be this. Has the advantage of being able to attach a rope or strap direct to it without using a shackle. Combine it with this reinforcing plate Brendan |
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2nd Jan 2016 6:56pm |
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| dantastic Member Since: 04 May 2010 Location: London Posts: 367
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I have one of those for my 110. Great piece of kit.
But I would avoid snatch recovery if at all possible. |
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2nd Jan 2016 6:56pm |
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| Pilgrimmick Member Since: 16 Nov 2015 Location: Highlands Posts: 582
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Regardless of what you fit, only use a snatch recovery if you have inspected the vehicle making the recovery, that is not practical most of the some, so do not use it as a recovery method. It is DANGEROUS, unless everyone knows exactly what they are doing.
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2nd Jan 2016 6:58pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8581
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Also do not forget the three most important bits of recovery equipment.
Eyes to assess the actual situation. An engaged brain to work out the safest way of carrying out the recovery. A shovel to reduce the possible forces involved. Brendan |
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2nd Jan 2016 7:11pm |
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| dave18 Member Since: 11 Jul 2015 Location: Gorleston, Great Yarmouth Posts: 497 
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Cut the X-Member off and fit one of these
https://www.devon4x4.com/d44-heavy-duty-re...57747.html |
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2nd Jan 2016 7:12pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20359
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Use a Dixon Bate 3.5T ball and pin hitch, this's will give you a very strong centred tow point capable of taking both.
There are also 5T versions. Or use a NAS step with regular ball at the lowest point and singular hitch above. Or like me use a 3.5T ball and pin in one unit. |
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2nd Jan 2016 7:23pm |
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