For those of you familiar with Harbor Freight tool stores, would you use the hitch and D ring set they sell on the trails. My brothers dont trust the way it looks and they bought ARB ones. Any comments?

 

I buy a lot of tools from HF but when it comes to safety/recovery equipment I'm willing to pay more for quality. A D-ring failure could result in somebody getting seriously injured.

 

Are you talking about this?


No way that is 10,000lb capacity, unless they mean breaking strength is 10k, which would be way too low for recovery. Probably ok for towing a car out of traffic to the shoulder, but that's about it.

 

How about this one? It must be better it costs $3 more

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95594

 

I have the "D-ring" one pictured that goes in the receiver hitch. I have towed many full size trucks out the mud and never had a problem.

 

The olny problem with those reciever type recovery thingy's is that they are only as stong as your trailer hitch.
Your trailer hitch is rated at 7700lbs, so you can have a 12,000lbs "D" ring bolted to a draw bar but that wont mean squat.

 

Never use a hook for recovery.

You're not going to get a safe screw pin shackle and receiver mount for $8.95.

 

I pulled out two vehicles with that ring this weekend. One was a big rider truck buried to the frame in my brother's new front yard--still loaded with some furniture!
If the hitch tears off before the D-ring breaks, well, I guess I should have bought the more expensive one!

 

I have the same HF d-ring hitch setup. I bought it last minute to use on a off roading trip. I've used it many times to pull others, and get myself pulled out.

 

Wow, surprised by some of the comments! Decisions decisions. I have to admit that HF tools work, but they are probably setup for very light use or temporary use.