Base Plate as a Recovery Point

[Pvsaint]

In order to mount a Base Plate for Flat towing my Ranger I had to remove the tow hooks.
Is it OK to use the Base Plate connections as a recovery point for the time I get stuck and need a pull?
Pictures show how the Base Plate is connected and it seems to me that it is attached as well as the original tow hooks but if you have an opinion I'd like to hear it.
If it doesn't appear that it would work does anyone know if after market recovery points such as ARB makes would work in this situation?

How the base plate is attached. The bolt through the side has a tube spacer (#7 above) to reinforce the frame.

The arms (#9 from above) are locked into the base plate.

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[HenryMac]

If it's good enough to tow your vehicle with...... it should be good enough to use as a recovery point. In both cases they are pulling the weight of the vehicle.

I'd suggest you address the question to the folks that make the towing components you are using.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

In order to mount a Base Plate for Flat towing my Ranger I had to remove the tow hooks.
Is it OK to use the Base Plate connections as a recovery point for the time I get stuck and need a pull?
Pictures show how the Base Plate is connected and it seems to me that it is attached as well as the original tow hooks but if you have an opinion I'd like to hear it.
If it doesn't appear that it would work does anyone know if after market recovery points such as ARB makes would work in this situation?

How the base plate is attached. The bolt through the side has a tube spacer (#7 above) to reinforce the frame.

The arms (#9 from above) are locked into the base plate.

Hi Paul,

I made some for just this purpose for use with my Roadmaster Base Plates.

Best,

Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[pete]

The only concern I can think of is in recovery procedures you may be putting more load on the brackets than when towing. From the drawing you submitted it appears that you are using a Roadmaster QD bracket. Those are what I have on my Ranger. From what I've seen I believe the mounting of the bracket to the frame is stronger than the way the tow hooks were mounted. I don't have any idea about the strength of the connections of the brackets but the same brackets are used on heavier vehicles than the Ranger.

So in short, I would use the brackets if needed for recovery.

 

[Pvsaint]

If it's good enough to tow your vehicle with...... it should be good enough to use as a recovery point. In both cases they are pulling the weight of the vehicle.

I think towing the vehicle and pulling it out of mud are different animals. I was taught in the Army that a tank stuck in mud to the top of the tracks would double the weight of the tank so maybe pulling a truck from mud would put more strain on the tow points than just pulling it down the road.

I'd suggest you address the question to the folks that make the towing components you are using.

I'm not sure that the company that makes this in order to tow a car behind an RV would go out on a limb and say it could be used to recover the truck since they haven't tested it as such.

 

[Pvsaint]

Hi Paul,

I made some for just this purpose for use with my Roadmaster Base Plates.

Best,

Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

That looks good Phil. I have a couple extra arms so I guess I'll set them up with a cable or bar in order to spread the weight between them. Thanks.

 

[RAS100]

I'm having the Blue Ox baseplate installed in a few weeks and I had the same questions. Phil - your modified tow hooks look great. Can I ask how you made them? Also, any tricks or tips about flat towing the truck. Haven't done it yet obviously. Didn't mean to hijack the thread.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I'm having the Blue Ox baseplate installed in a few weeks and I had the same questions. Phil - your modified tow hooks look great. Can I ask how you made them? Also, any tricks or tips about flat towing the truck. Haven't done it yet obviously. Didn't mean to hijack the thread.

Hi Rich,

I have a wood and metal working shop at the back of my RV garage so I used my big lathe to turn the twist lock tow hooks. I also found Trailer spring U bolts of 7/8" diameter that I cut off the threads and then welded the U bolts to the twist lock. Already used them once to pull a metal mailbox pole back into alignment with a come-a-long. Worked very well.

best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[pete]

Rich. A tip. Use a checklist for your complete tow hook up and one for setting the Ranger in tow mode. Use the checklists every time you get ready to tow and don't try to have a conversation with anyone while you are setting up.

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