Harbor Freight $9 receiver tow hook

[adventureduo]

If anyone needs one.. may be good for one pull only since it's from Harbor Freight lol

But hey $9.99, Can't beat that!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/95500-95599/95594.gif

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95594

***NOTE*** it's rated for 10,000 lbs

[cruiseroutfit]

Call me crazy but that thing just scares me! :chowtime:

[DaveInDenver]

Call me crazy but that thing just scares me! :chowtime:
That would be my first reaction, to run away. Wonder if anyone has seen it up close?

[bigreen505]

That would be my first reaction, to run away. Wonder if anyone has seen it up close?

I have. 4Wheel Parts carries them. If anything I would say they are more frightening in person. The actual part is much lighter in weight then that one looks to be.

[adventureduo]

I have. 4Wheel Parts carries them.

I thought they sold their own brand? Is it rebadged with 4wpw on it?

[WJinTRSC]

I'd rather have the one from Northern. It's pretty heavy and substantial to hold in your hand. Costs more, but I believe you're paying for more.

Harbor Freight = Cheapo Knock-off Norther Tool Not bad for some things, but not good for all. Just my .02.

[adventureduo]

Call me crazy but that thing just scares me! :chowtime:

Kurt, you're not crazy! Im posting this, almost as a WARNING! LOL!

[gary in ohio]

If anyone needs one.. may be good for one pull only since it's from Harbor Freight lol

But hey $9.99, Can't beat that!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/95500-95599/95594.gif




The finest slave labor welding money can buy.-:)

[Grim Reaper]

That one scares me a little LOL.

I was thinking about this one.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200247874_200247874&issearch=330441

[DaveInDenver]

That one scares me a little LOL.

I was thinking about this one.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200247874_200247874&issearch=330441
This one seems perfectly fine (just don't get impaled on it!).
http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/330441_lg.gif

Doesn't hurt that it has this, too:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/icons/madeintheusa.gif

[BigAl]

This one seems perfectly fine (just don't get impaled on it!).
http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/330441_lg.gif

Doesn't hurt that it has this, too:
http://www.northerntool.com/images/icons/madeintheusa.gif


That's the one I want if I ever loose a hand.

[DaveInDenver]

That's the one I want if I ever loose a hand.
Aye!

http://i.imdb.com/Photos/Mptv/1389/7554_0126.jpg

[ntsqd]

FWIW I've never seen any utility in a hook. Too many hard and soft failure modes. Much prefer a shackle type adapter.

The one I built for myself is a weldment, but none of the welds see any of the load, all they do is hold the pieces in position. Mechanical interlocking distributes the loads.

Some folks claim to just use the hitch pin inside the receiver. I've tried that, and it only works with a singled pull. If you need to double the strap to shorten it that doesn't work as there isn't room inside the receiver for more than one strap.

[DaveInDenver]

Some folks claim to just use the hitch pin inside the receiver. I've tried that, and it only works with a singled pull. If you need to double the strap to shorten it that doesn't work as there isn't room inside the receiver for more than one strap.
This methods works and is safe. Like you mention, space inside the hole is a premium and you gotta be aware of sharp edges around the receiver itself. It's also works less good off angle. But it is a perfectly acceptable solution and one that works in a pinch without a ton of risk. IOW, I would far and away rather see a draw bar pin recovery point than one of these welded grenades-in-waiting.

[ntsqd]

No argument that it works and is safe. Just severely limited too.

[Halboo]

For a few bucks more you can have something a whole lot safer and more adaptable.
http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/images/118/Shackle.jpg
I've said it before; I am very leery of any discount house/offshore fab'd gear that may be put under a heavy strain.
My 2¢

[ntsqd]

The only problem with those is their unnecessary mass. There is no reason that the 2" square section needs to be solid other than for ease of manufacture.
Still, I'd take one of those over anything with a hook.

[DaveInDenver]

There is no reason that the 2" square section needs to be solid other than for ease of manufacture.
Nothing wrong with that! I'll don't mind living with the extra few pounds.

[flyingwil]

What are the advantages of the hook? I think the shackle is much more better IMO.

[Halboo]

I was a Boatswain's Mate in the Navy and have worked as a shipyard rigger so I have extensive experience when it comes to moving heavy stuff.
For a hook to work properly(read safely) it must be moused (seized off) thereby nagating it's only advantage which is speed.

[ntsqd]

Nothing wrong with that! I'll don't mind living with the extra few pounds.
It's nit-picky since I'm sure I've given away those pounds elsewhere w/o realizing it, but every pound I don't carry extends my range that much further & improves the ride quality.

Agreed that making it that way max's out the load rating, but I've got to wonder if it were actually engineered & mfg'd with efficient materials use in mind just how much more it would cost and how much less it would weigh.
As an experiment I pocketed the sides of a model 3/4" deep w/ 5* of draft angle. In Ductile iron that cut 1.13 pounds from a 5 pound part. Would want to do some analysis to be sure, but SOP is that this didn't significantly alter the stresses in the part. Looking at that from the mfg point of view that means that the metal for every 5th part is free since marketing isn't likely to cut the price of the new and improved part. :)

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u196/ntsqd/shackleslider.jpg

[Willman]

^..Nice work!

I think that habor Freight looks like plastic coated with steel:hehe:......

[\\'anderer]

If anyone needs one.. may be good for one pull only since it's from Harbor Freight lol

But hey $9.99, Can't beat that!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/95500-95599/95594.gif

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95594

***NOTE*** it's rated for 10,000 lbs
I'm having nightmares of a small black cresent shaped object flying through the air at high velocity:Wow1: