Basics for keeping in my wife's JLU

[ShadowsPapa]

Kitty litter, folding shovel, folding max-trax type of device? As you well know, yanking on a car without recovery points gets sketchy. Perhaps some self-recovery supplies might be safer with a stranger?

Last car I winched out of the snowy median I hooked around a cross member brace near where the lower control arm attached. I had the driver stay in the car, engine running, transmission in gear, just enough throttle that the wheels didn't spin and keep the steering wheel so the wheels pointed directly at my truck as it was coming out. Was a pretty easy pull.

Another one I attempted to tow out of the snow (he was buried bad and the snow was wet and heavy) I didn't get out but had to stop because I had 2 minutes to get back home, get my wife and get her to a doctor appointment. The guy phoned another fellow in the area with a tractor.
I had no traction and there wasn't any place to hook onto his car without ripping it apart - a lot of rust and when I reached up behind the rear bumper to see how things were attached, I got flaky rust in my hand and said - nope, can't use that............ Tried another area but had to leave.
I had the snow plow on so couldn't anchor my truck and use the winch, didn't matter, time ran out.

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[Rusty PW]

This picture is a no-no. The soft shackle in the receiver hitch. This receiver hitch does not have rounded corners around the hole. The square corners of it will cause the soft shackle to fail. With this receiver hitch. You would need a metal shackle in the receiver hitch. You can buy receiver hitches with nice rounded corners. So keep this in mind when buying your recovery equipment. What works with steel, does not work with synthetic most times.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This picture is a no-no. The soft shackle in the receiver hitch. This receiver hitch does not have rounded corners around the hole. The square corners of it will cause the soft shackle to fail. With this receiver hitch. You would need a metal shackle in the receiver hitch. You can buy receiver hitches with nice rounded corners. So keep this in mind when buying your recovery equipment. What works with steel, does not work with synthetic most times.

Please read and look again - you're wrong on this one.

(And look at the revered Factor 55 description below - works with soft shackles or 3/4" screw pin shackles. The Factor 55 is considered one of the top, and works with either, as does this less expensive one)

The receiver hitch is the part a ball mount goes into.
What's being shown IS a shackle mount - it's a piece that goes into the receiver, and it has rounded corners for a soft shackle.

The picture I posted with the silver shackle mount in the receiver with a soft shackle in it is just a less expensive version of the Factor 55 and made for soft shackles.
My picture shows a correct aluminum piece with RADIUSED hole for soft shackle. The reviews are good.

Again, that's not a ball mount, that's a part MADE FOR shackles. That's not a ball mount with a hole with square corners.

For onlookers -
Receiver hitch is the square tube that a ball mount goes into.
Ball mount - piece that slides into the receiver, is pinned in place and you attach a ball to it.
What's shown above is correctly made for shackles - the hole has radius, rounded edges, for shackles.
So what's shown is not a no-no.
A no-no would be unscrewing the ball from a ball mount and putting a soft shackle in it in place of the ball.

I'm showing a less expensive version of this and my picture IS correct -

For some reason they are called "shackle hitch receiver" but the receiver is the tube that adapters and ball mounts go in. And yes, the picture I showed before is 100% correct, with radiused hole exactly like the orange one above.

 

[Volt0]

@ShadowsPapa the only other thing that I can think of, is to look at the system as a whole, as a set of links, and carefully select the weak point in the recovery system.

i know we want something that’ll work, and not fail, but in the event that something does fail, what would you want it to be? I think most shackles have a max break strength of around 44,000lbs, and my recovery rope is right up there too ( I’m not sure about a tow strap ). So, in my system if my hitch/attachment point was less than that, it could be a very bad day for the other person. The amount of force generated can go up quickly, from a slow/gentle constant pull, to a small bump, to a 5’ bump, to something bigger.

edit: at about the same price as the Factor 55, I bought a pintle hitch, which in theory would provide more functionality ( off-road trailer ? ). https://www.amazon.com/CURT-48004-R...p?keywords=pintle+hitch&qid=1706455121&sr=8-3

edit #2: and this is for you @ShadowsPapa, lookup the the forces generated by the average 200lb rock climber, for a 1-factor fall and a 2-factor fall.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

@ShadowsPapa the only other thing that I can think of, is to look at the system as a whole, as a set of links, and carefully select the weak point in the recovery system.

i know we want something that’ll work, and not fail, but in the event that something does fail, what would you want it to be? I think most shackles have a max break strength of around 44,000lbs, and my recovery rope is right up there too ( I’m not sure about a tow strap ). So, in my system if my hitch/attachment point was less than that, it could be a very bad day for the other person. The amount of force generated can go up quickly, from a slow/gentle constant pull, to a small bump, to a 5’ bump, to something bigger.

edit: at about the same price as the Factor 55, I bought a pintle hitch, which in theory would provide more functionality ( off-road trailer ? ). https://www.amazon.com/CURT-48004-R...p?keywords=pintle+hitch&qid=1706455121&sr=8-3

edit #2: and this is for you @ShadowsPapa, lookup the the forces generated by the average 200lb rock climber, for a 1-factor fall and a 2-factor fall.

You are talking impact forces of a falling weight, or kinetic energy.
I'm talking a slow pull, hook up, take out slack, pull slow and steady, no jerking.

So it would be the weight of a vehicle on an incline against the resistance of snow. I could pull a 3,000 pound car up my tilt bed trailer with a 1200 pound ATV winch. Add some resistance, perhaps flatten the tires, or add snow, and it gets some tougher, but I'm not beyond the weight of the vehicle by much if anyway, with a steady pull.

I was afraid of this - we're getting tangled in with Jeep recovery when I'm only talking someone who is stuck in some snow, can't move because of the slick snow and some mild incline. It would to some extent be a rolling load - not a pull to get someone out of sticky mud up a steep incline. Not with my wife's Jeep, anyway.

I'm looking for simple pull 'em out of the snow because they got stuck sliding into a median or stuck in their driveway which is rather steep, or whatever. I can't see needing a load over 11,000 pounds for pulling someone out of the snow here. My winch can be on the 2nd wrap and easily pull them.

If I have my truck and the plow is not on, I'll use my winch. If the plow is on, I'll use stuff similar to what I'm looking at for my wife's JLU. I'd never use anything big and fancy. I'm looking at stuff for her Jeep mostly - not heavy recovery gear, just stop and help a stranger stuck in the snow.

If I have to spend the prices some of the name brands demand (mostly because it is a name brand in some cases), I simply won't. We'll let 'em sit and someone else can do it.

only looking for light equipment, and likely only used once a year if that - probably some years, it would gather dust in the back.
There's zero storage space in a 4xe, even the cargo area is smaller than a standard JLU.
I'm not even sure where to stash a strap and other stuff in that thing. Big heavy steel pintle - that's out for sure (and no need for our use here.

Nice thing is - her Jeep has got crazy torque at 0 mph. So the drive train can pull from 0 mph without needing to build any RPM at all..

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This picture is a no-no. The soft shackle in the receiver hitch. This receiver hitch does not have rounded corners around the hole. The square corners of it will cause the soft shackle to fail. With this receiver hitch. You would need a metal shackle in the receiver hitch. You can buy receiver hitches with nice rounded corners. So keep this in mind when buying your recovery equipment. What works with steel, does not work with synthetic most times.

So you are saying this is false advertising and anyone with a Factor 55 shackle mount cannot use them with a soft shackle?

Direct from Factor 55 web site -

• Slide it into the receiver, secure it with a pin, and you’re ready to pull
• Made from lightweight, super-strong CNCmachined 6000 series aluminum
• Simply slide the shackle mount into receiver opening and secure with hitch pin (not included)
• Machined radius on shackle mount hole for soft shackle compatibility
• Lightweight precision CNC machined 6000 series aluminum
• Weighs only 1.9 pounds. Steel versions weigh up to 8 pounds
• Rated at 9500 pounds
• Ultimate failure at 51,000 pounds
• Fits common ¾ screw pin shackles/D-Rings
• Machined radius on shackle mount hole for soft shackle compatibility
• Anodized or powder coated for oxidation protection
• Overall size- 6.6″ x 2″ x 2″

The pic I posted is a cheaper version of the same thing, even the WLL is similar.
It also has the machined, smooth radius, for soft shackles. It's a shackle mount, not a ball mount.
Guess you guys using the Factor 55 need to throw them away or use them only for steel pin shackles or D rings.

 

[chorky]

Doesn't her JL have the rear tow hook? If not you could probably pick one up easily - or heck I'll send you mine since they are unused.

I use a 3/4 soft shackle. Not necessary as it has a 47,000 lb breaking strength. But at the time it was only a couple bucks more expensive than the 1/2" option and it was in stock.
38-nexgen-gator-jaw-synthetic-shackle

Coupled with a 3/4" kinetic recovery rope. It is rated at a max of 24,000 lbs. I can't remember what the breaking strength is. But I wanted to make sure the shackles were stronger than the rope. Easy to fix a rope, relatively, not so easy to fix a shackle.
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...froad-kinetic-recovery-rope-green-34in-x-30ft

I also carry a couple hard shackles as well just in case. Also 3/4" and rated only at 18K pounds WLL. Also not sure of the breaking strength either.
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/recovery-shackles/92093-warn-3-4in-epic-shackle

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Doesn't her JL have the rear tow hook? If not you could probably pick one up easily - or heck I'll send you mine since they are unused.

I use a 3/4 soft shackle. Not necessary as it has a 47,000 lb breaking strength. But at the time it was only a couple bucks more expensive than the 1/2" option and it was in stock.
38-nexgen-gator-jaw-synthetic-shackle

Coupled with a 3/4" kinetic recovery rope. It is rated at a max of 24,000 lbs. I can't remember what the breaking strength is. But I wanted to make sure the shackles were stronger than the rope. Easy to fix a rope, relatively, not so easy to fix a shackle.
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...froad-kinetic-recovery-rope-green-34in-x-30ft

I also carry a couple hard shackles as well just in case. Also 3/4" and rated only at 18K pounds WLL. Also not sure of the breaking strength either.
https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/recovery-shackles/92093-warn-3-4in-epic-shackle

Yes, it's a Rubicon so does have a rear tow hook. And I've used the ordinary tow hooks, there are just times where I prefer something that can't possibly slip off.
There's just the one -

Two on the front -

I get the logic of 3/4" vs. 1/2" when there's a minimal price difference. I often do the same thing. If it's a big difference, that's different, but I sort of judge each case on its own, probably like you did.
Will a 3/4" soft shackle go through the hole in a shackle mount (made for soft shackles) if it says "will accept a 3/4" steel pin", for example.

If the shackle gives, you have the entire length of a rope or strap shooting back. If the rope or strap gives, you have only part of it going each direction - at least that's how I see it.
And I prefer to not have steel shooting back on the end of a strap or rope.

As long as she's alive and the primary driver/owner, her Jeep will never see the type of use a few Jeeps here see - when I discuss trails, rocks and mud, even when talking to someone else, if she's in ear-shot, I hear a "not with MY Jeep".............

 

[chorky]

Yes, it's a Rubicon so does have a rear tow hook. And I've used the ordinary tow hooks, there are just times where I prefer something that can't possibly slip off.
There's just the one -

Two on the front -

I get the logic of 3/4" vs. 1/2" when there's a minimal price difference. I often do the same thing. If it's a big difference, that's different, but I sort of judge each case on its own, probably like you did.
Will a 3/4" soft shackle go through the hole in a shackle mount (made for soft shackles) if it says "will accept a 3/4" steel pin", for example.

If the shackle gives, you have the entire length of a rope or strap shooting back. If the rope or strap gives, you have only part of it going each direction - at least that's how I see it.
And I prefer to not have steel shooting back on the end of a strap or rope.

As long as she's alive and the primary driver/owner, her Jeep will never see the type of use a few Jeeps here see - when I discuss trails, rocks and mud, even when talking to someone else, if she's in ear-shot, I hear a "not with MY Jeep".............

Forgot she has the Rubicon. I do wish they would have added holes to the hooks instead of just hooks. But I agree with her use case. Same for me. Although I still have winches just in case due to solo trips as well as 9 months of winter. I would think a 1/2" option would be sufficient for her Jeep since it's not loaded down with a bunch of gear like others. And adding a kinetic rope to the bag would be good as well since you can't always rely on someone else who is helping get you unstuck to have the proper equipment. In my experience anyway. I like soft shackles mostly. For the same reasons as you - breakage. But there are a few times a hard shackle is preferred so it's nice to have both options. I have seen more than a few situations where a soft shackle came apart during a 'jerking' pull like with a kinetic rope. Not that it broke, but that the ball end slipped through the hole even though it was connected and tightened properly. Those jerking motions with a kinetic rope, to me, seem more appropriate for a hard shackle whereas a constant slow pull like from a winch can be better controlled, and without the bump of a another vehicle pulling, is easier to ensure the soft shackle doesn't come apart. Not that that happens all the time. But I just have seen enough videos of it to justify having both options in my bag.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Forgot she has the Rubicon. I do wish they would have added holes to the hooks instead of just hooks. But I agree with her use case. Same for me. Although I still have winches just in case due to solo trips as well as 9 months of winter. I would think a 1/2" option would be sufficient for her Jeep since it's not loaded down with a bunch of gear like others. And adding a kinetic rope to the bag would be good as well since you can't always rely on someone else who is helping get you unstuck to have the proper equipment. In my experience anyway. I like soft shackles mostly. For the same reasons as you - breakage. But there are a few times a hard shackle is preferred so it's nice to have both options. I have seen more than a few situations where a soft shackle came apart during a 'jerking' pull like with a kinetic rope. Not that it broke, but that the ball end slipped through the hole even though it was connected and tightened properly. Those jerking motions with a kinetic rope, to me, seem more appropriate for a hard shackle whereas a constant slow pull like from a winch can be better controlled, and without the bump of a another vehicle pulling, is easier to ensure the soft shackle doesn't come apart. Not that that happens all the time. But I just have seen enough videos of it to justify having both options in my bag.

Kinetic rope vs. strap in a pulling out of the snow situation - I've always used the
* take out all slack, now apply the pull
method with no jerking or snapping, just a slow steady pull.
So I have big straps, accordingly.

 

[Jaxmax]

Bill, Take it easy , people are giving their thoughts on your question.
My view is yes you are buying the same thing as a Factor 55 or any of the others here for half price, but the radius on the amazon one is less then the Factor55 by looks, but they say it is rated for soft shackles and rated at much more working load but less then half the breaking strength, so it's all good, you do you. Another comment is you already have the hard shackle to use , use it, I don't put soft shackles on my rear attachment point with is a hitch skid as I think the hard shackle there is much better, but that's me......Jack

 

[WILDHOBO]

No need for "recovery" in the sense most "Jeep people" think of it.
Looking at basics so if in one of our winters with ice and wind and bad roads and weather, if she ends up off the road, she'll have what's needed to allow someone to help her get out.
or
If we run across anyone who is off the road in a snow bank or median, and I'm with her in her Jeep, there's some basic stuff to allow pulling said person back out.
Ran into that a week or two ago and had nothing at all in her Jeep to help the poor fellow (he was within walking distance of a house and there was other traffic so he likely wasn't there too long - I hate driving past stuff like that)

I told her we needed to keep a good strap, shackles and a couple of other odds and ends in her Wrangler to help herself, and others if needed.
It won't be any hard pulls or complex stuff, and there's no winch involved.
So - looking for basics, nothing fancy.
I ordered a slightly longer strap for my own JT and will put the 20 footer in her Jeep.

Any thoughts on this item -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TBCR9VJ

She's got a factory receiver and I'd prefer using something like this as opposed to tow hooks most of the time. Tow hooks are fine for what I'm thinking of - but.....
Can't see spending mega-bucks for something unlikely to be used at all, or for the sort of work I'm thinking of but don't want something dangerous either.

I think the best three things you could have would the following. Hitch block like the one you showed above, with rounded edges. Two soft shackles, and a 30ft Yankum rope or similar kinetic rope. The kinetic rope works fine as a dead pull like a strap, but is way better for tough “out of ditch” pulls or similar. It’s gentler on both vehicles and allows a JL to potentially pull out a much heavier vehicle.

 

[WILDHOBO]

No need for "recovery" in the sense most "Jeep people" think of it.
Looking at basics so if in one of our winters with ice and wind and bad roads and weather, if she ends up off the road, she'll have what's needed to allow someone to help her get out.
or
If we run across anyone who is off the road in a snow bank or median, and I'm with her in her Jeep, there's some basic stuff to allow pulling said person back out.
Ran into that a week or two ago and had nothing at all in her Jeep to help the poor fellow (he was within walking distance of a house and there was other traffic so he likely wasn't there too long - I hate driving past stuff like that)

I told her we needed to keep a good strap, shackles and a couple of other odds and ends in her Wrangler to help herself, and others if needed.
It won't be any hard pulls or complex stuff, and there's no winch involved.
So - looking for basics, nothing fancy.
I ordered a slightly longer strap for my own JT and will put the 20 footer in her Jeep.

Any thoughts on this item -
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TBCR9VJ

She's got a factory receiver and I'd prefer using something like this as opposed to tow hooks most of the time. Tow hooks are fine for what I'm thinking of - but.....
Can't see spending mega-bucks for something unlikely to be used at all, or for the sort of work I'm thinking of but don't want something dangerous either.

I was with @Mightytalldude a couple of weeks ago and we pulled an Acura out of a mess of snow. It looked like they attempted a u turn in a foot of unplowed snow. I doubled up the 30ft kinetic rope, used one soft shackle on the Acura, and one on the hitch skid with recovery ring (it’s always in my jeep). Doubled up it was short enough for the close quarters where we were. It took 2 minutes.

 

[Volt0]

You are talking impact forces of a falling weight, or kinetic energy.
I'm talking a slow pull, hook up, take out slack, pull slow and steady, no jerking.

Understood, and that’s how I read your original post. I was just trying to add some further concerns, and think outside the box. It would be my luck, that I plan for the slow & steady pull, and then if that didn’t work, someone would quickly escalate to a full kinetic recovery.

I’m super confident that you are aware of the limitations of your equipment; I’ve seen how thoughtful your posts are. My posting there, honestly, was a bit intended for others that might might not have done the same due diligence that you tend to demonstrate.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I was with @Mightytalldude a couple of weeks ago and we pulled an Acura out of a mess of snow. It looked like they attempted a u turn in a foot of unplowed snow. I doubled up the 30ft kinetic rope, used one soft shackle on the Acura, and one on the hitch skid with recovery ring (it’s always in my jeep). Doubled up it was short enough for the close quarters where we were. It took 2 minutes.

That's the sort of thing I'm referring to - I bet you found it was really a pretty easy pull, compared to other stuff you've done. It's just that the stuck vehicle can't make it out on its own, lack of traction, snow blocking the way, etc.

And for stuff in my wife's JLU - no offense, but seriously, a pintle type setup is just not gonna happen for a list of reasons. Not when a simple shackle mount would work with a rope or strap. Just too much money and weight - great for heavy tasks, but just clumsy for such a basic thing.

My view is yes you are buying the same thing as a Factor 55 or any of the others here for half price, but the radius on the amazon one is less then the Factor55 by looks, but they say it is rated for soft shackles and rated at much more working load but less then half the breaking strength,

I have a feeling one of the two is off in numbers. Factor 55 has a pretty low WLL - and a really high breaking number. That's an odd spread, IMO. I bet the spread is smaller in reality. I think the two are actually closer in numbers. Not picking on the Factor 55 - quality stuff, but I think their WLL is conservative and i can't see their breaking at almost double what the other's breaking number is.
I've found other pictures that make that radius look a lot more close to the same in other places, but even if not - it's a simple fix......... or don't use a soft shackle. It's pretty easy to smoothly radius aluminum.

Factor 55 -

Here's the less expensive unit - awfully close...........

The idea is keep everything small - it's a JLU only ever used on road and with little storage because it's a 4xe. Even the rear cargo area has less space than a gas or diesel JLU.

Heavy steel - no need or desire for a heavy steel thing weighing multiple pounds.

Keep weight down, keep size down, keep cost down as this is just for "nice guy" type use - not for recovery as jeep people tend to think of recovery.
If my wife is driving and gets into a pickle, I want her to have the stuff that someone can safely use to pull her out of the snow without damage - yeah, even Jeeps can get buried.
OR, she can call me and I know that the stuff will be there, although if my snow plow is off, I'd probably use the winch. If the snow plow is on, I won't need to dig out all the crap in my JT to get her out.

Bill, Take it easy , people are giving their thoughts on your question.

But a steel pintle hitch - 18 pounds of iron. Sorry, but I'd never even use that in mine and I do more tough stuff with my JT than her JLU will ever see.
It was just way out in left field as far as light, small, simple, getting out of the snow situation.

Thought I was limiting it when I said JLU, small, light, inexpensive, rarely used, only for light duty, pulling people out of snow, or someone pulling my wife's JLU out of snow (there's just no way she'd be able to get it into 4L and know what lockers are or how to get out of such a situation.

When we flew over the big embankment at the end of SE Powers here where the road drops off big time in our WJ and landed several yards from the road - I switch places with her and actually was able to drive that Jeep back out, working up the side of the ditch a few yards to the east. (Powers was pure ice - nothing and no one could stop or even slow on that road - they've since started salting and sanding the crap out of it any time there's a threat of even frost it's so bad.) She was amazed that I got that Jeep out of there. I was amazed she kept it between the poles and posts and kept it upright flying across that highway.

Understood, and that’s how I read your original post. I was just trying to add some further concerns, and think outside the box. It would be my luck, that I plan for the slow & steady pull, and then if that didn’t work, someone would quickly escalate to a full kinetic recovery.

I’m super confident that you are aware of the limitations of your equipment; I’ve seen how thoughtful your posts are. My posting there, honestly, was a bit intended for others that might might not have done the same due diligence that you tend to demonstrate.

I literally had not had the CBD yet (lol - that's only half-joking)

If I was still on the farm and had my JT - that's the sort of hitch I'd actually consider - can hook to almost any piece of equipment with it to at least MOVE it.
I typed before I thought of what I keep saying - others read these posts, too................

For a second time, this past weekend - we were this time driving TO church, and saw a guy with a 2 wheel drive pickup trying to help get another pickup out of a snowy not really deep ditch along by a stop sign. Looks like he tried to stop, the truck spun around and went into the roadside in several inches of snow - and now it's wet snow.
I told my wife - "man, I could have him out of there in minutes" as we drove by going to church - if it had been the trip back home, I'd have stopped in a heartbeat.
The weekend before - it was the guy crossing the divided highway trying to get to a farm house on the north side - and the path between lanes was deep with snow and coming up on our side it was a bit up hill. Had we had so much as a simple strap, i'd have had my wife stop her Jeep on the shoulder, hooked up and just driven away slowly pulling him out of the snow and onto bare pavement. Damn! For lack of something so danged simple as a strap or rope and something to hook it to!
Twice in two weeks - but one was because of timing. We're both the type where we wonder - "I wonder if they need any help" - but she'd never stop alone, only if I was with her. It bugs us when it's so very simple - and for lack of 2 or 3 pieces of simple equipment, we can't really help.

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