WK2 2012 - Recovery hooks

[fester]

Originally Posted by Numb Thumbs

They are made from the same steel as the Jeep ones, or thicker. The hooks are actually laminated out of 3 layers of 4 mm lasercut steel.

The bolts are the original Jeep ones.

Yes, I think the chassis rails will break first.

And using two of them, instead of just one as Jeep suggest, makes the whole thing even stronger.

Cheers
Numb Thumbs

Agree numb thumbs they look fine. If done by an experienced steel fabricator with proper welding skills there is no reason not to trust these. Jeep are probably the only ones with true rated recovery points anyway. No point getting carried away with a rating on all the other aftermarket recovery points on the market when they are not tested insitu. I'd be more concerned to see sound engineering and fabrication skills. I've seen a rated point tear out of a seemingly perfectly good Cruiser cause unknowingly the mounting bolts were rusty in the nut and had wasted in diameter and snapped but it was not readily visible.

I'd like to see the hook itself cut out of solid 12mm plate, is there a reason he did them out of 3 layers of 4mm. Was it convenience for the prototype. Personally I'd prefer to see the hook facing outwards so the equiliser strap is pulling that little bit more on the inside of the hook instead of now pulling slightly on the outside of the hook loop.

I see you resisted the urge to powdercoat them Trialhawk red.

[Numb Thumbs]

It was close on the red vs yellow, but I decided the yellow was easier to see in the dim dark shadows.

We went bent inwards to avoid the complexity of trying to make them bend outwards. Maybe the Mk II can bend outwards...

These will be replaced by the Uneek 4X4 bullbar after this trip anyway.

Cheers
Numb Thumbs

[bmackin]

Looking good NumbThumbs!

I should have some photos for the ones I'm having fabricated very soon. They will be cut from 1 piece of 12mm steel for strength, and a duplicate shape to the Jeep factory hooks. The mounting bracket will be 12mm folded steel (no welding) and they will be rated by an engineer. Bolts will be 10.9 (what Jeep uses) or 12 depending on what the engineer suggests and will be included.

I've actually started a new off-road accessories business to sell these as well as a few other really cool products. So they will come properly boxed, with installation instructions and a warranty.

It seems WK2 owners are not only going to have recovery points, but some choice as well.

[MattG]

Originally Posted by bmackin

Looking good NumbThumbs!

I should have some photos for the ones I'm having fabricated very soon. They will be cut from 1 piece of 12mm steel for strength, and a duplicate shape to the Jeep factory hooks. The mounting bracket will be 12mm folded steel (no welding) and they will be rated by an engineer. Bolts will be 10.9 (what Jeep uses) or 12 depending on what the engineer suggests and will be included.

I've actually started a new off-road accessories business to sell these as well as a few other really cool products. So they will come properly boxed, with installation instructions and a warranty.

It seems WK2 owners are not only going to have recovery points, but some choice as well.

Nice BMackin - even ARB/TJM started small! Sounds like your recovery hooks will be bolted to the brackets like the factory ones? Just asking as I'm interested in just the hooks to mount to existing nudge bar brackets (also made by best bars and very similar to the mopar recovery brackets).

I'm also interested in the front bash plate you've mentioned.

[4dmad]

Good on you guys for having a crack at filling the void of after market products which all WK2 owners should have the right to choose from.
The more products that start getting made up for us, the more it will create interest and demand for them on top of what is already out there.
Maybe then some of these larger companies will take notice of the markets out there in the real world a bit sooner rather than later.

[GMWK2]

I should have some photos for the ones I'm having fabricated very soon.

Very keen to see what you come up with.

[bmackin]

Originally Posted by MattG

Nice BMackin - even ARB/TJM started small! Sounds like your recovery hooks will be bolted to the brackets like the factory ones? Just asking as I'm interested in just the hooks to mount to existing nudge bar brackets (also made by best bars and very similar to the mopar recovery brackets).

I'm also interested in the front bash plate you've mentioned.

There will be 2 options, recovery hooks with mounting brackets, and a 1 piece recovery solution (for each side) that is a recovery loop and bracket all-in-one. So to answer your question, you will be able to use the hooks independently of the brackets. Whether the mounting holes on the recovery hooks line up for your intended purpose I cannot say, but they will be available to use independently.

Cheers!