Rival 4X4 Recovery Points installed

[braupe]

This evening I had a chance to install the @RIVAL 4x4 recovery points on our 24 FX4.

Right out the gate you can tell this kit is BEEFY. Not just the red recovery points themselves, but the mounting blocks. The factory recovery points are better than nothing, but these are on a different level.

Stock ones are mounted with stamped steel, the Rival Kit is all thick welded steel.

I have spoken with Alex from Rival at length about these and he tells me that this kit is based on the Australian market kit. And that in Australia if a recovery point is red it means something. It means that it has a minimum working load limit. In the states they are red or orange or yellow to match the OEM trim preference.

For years the Aussies have had the cool parts that we cannot get stateside. Thankfully Rival is doing their part to bring that engineering to us.


If you’re interested this is the kit:

https://www.rival4x4usa.com/product...d-ranger-raptor-u-s-2024-2025-ford-ranger-u-s

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[purdyd]

i also installed the rival recovery points

https://www.ranger6g.com/forum/threads/sand-lariat-fx4-and-minor-updates.20085/post-304204

But I doubt the oem tow hook is stamped Steel.

It is pretty thick.

it has obviously been bent into shape but there is a pretty generous fillet welding holding the hook

Probably where the rival hook has an advantage would be if the recovery pull is off axis.

 

[superj]

I dont think my truck has recovery points, being its 2wd. I would think everyone needs them though

 

[Bushmechanic]

On red paint indicating it's got a load limit:

If there is a specified and tested load limit, it should be forged or stamped right into the metal.

Aftermarket manufacturers can, at times, be a little cavalier in regard to their load limits. There's stuff that will get the job done, and there's stuff that's actually rated for the job.

 

[purdyd]

The rival hook is stamped with a working load limit.

I was advised to install with the wll up so it I hard to take picture now.

I don’t doubt the hook rating. That is one chunk of steel.

The weak link might be the bolts.

But properly torqued bolted plates in shear are pretty strong.

I wonder if any testing was done?

 

[Bushmechanic]

The rival hook is stamped with a working load limit.

I was advised to install with the wll up so it I hard to take picture now.

I don’t doubt the hook rating. That is one chunk of steel.

The weak link might be the bolts.

But properly torqued bolted plates in shear are pretty strong.

I wonder if any testing was done?

I suspect they had to test something if they're selling recovery points with a specified load limit.

I would imagine they did as much thinking as they could and then sent a few off for testing elsewhere. They'd need some way to verify their assumptions. I could almost swear I've seen that design before, but it might just have been similar.

I've personally seen a recovery point rip off and make it through both the rear glass and windshield of a vehicle. That'll make a person quite paranoid about ratings.

 

[DaStockRR]

Their site says “Each recovery point supports an impressive 11,000 lb working load limit”.

 

[purdyd]

Their site says “Each recovery point supports an impressive 11,000 lb working load limit”.

yes I’m sure the red hook is rated, it will last longer than the truck

but there are four bolts to attach to the spacer bracket which in turn is attached with the 2 bolts to the frame

the same two bolts that were used with the oem hook

so is the whole assembly rated? Or tested?

 

[Bushmechanic]

yes I’m sure the red hook is rated, it will last longer than the truck

but there are four bolts to attach to the spacer bracket which in turn is attached with the 2 bolts to the frame

the same two bolts that were used with the oem hook

so is the whole assembly rated? Or tested?

I was in the middle of typing that I had wondered about that.

I doubt they tested any truck frames to failure.

It doesn't take much hardware to handle the load, though, so long as it's chosen properly.

How it mounts to the frame is important, but I haven't looked underneath mine to check.

 

[braupe]

The rival hook is stamped with a working load limit.

I was advised to install with the wll up so it I hard to take picture now.

I don’t doubt the hook rating. That is one chunk of steel.

The weak link might be the bolts.

But properly torqued bolted plates in shear are pretty strong.

I wonder if any testing was done?

Yes Rival has tested these. I have spent time with Alex and the Rival team and they explained that these are all rated and tested. Sorry if that was confusing in my post.

 

[Trust_But_Verify]

This evening I had a chance to install the @RIVAL 4x4 recovery points on our 24 FX4.

Right out the gate you can tell this kit is BEEFY. Not just the red recovery points themselves, but the mounting blocks. The factory recovery points are better than nothing, but these are on a different level.

Stock ones are mounted with stamped steel, the Rival Kit is all thick welded steel.

I have spoken with Alex from Rival at length about these and he tells me that this kit is based on the Australian market kit. And that in Australia if a recovery point is red it means something. It means that it has a minimum working load limit. In the states they are red or orange or yellow to match the OEM trim preference.

For years the Aussies have had the cool parts that we cannot get stateside. Thankfully Rival is doing their part to bring that engineering to us.


If you’re interested this is the kit:

https://www.rival4x4usa.com/product...d-ranger-raptor-u-s-2024-2025-ford-ranger-u-s

Hey "Texas Truck Channel." Thanks for posting!

 

[purdyd]

Yes Rival has tested these. I have spent time with Alex and the Rival team and they explained that these are all rated and tested. Sorry if that was confusing in my post.

not to belabor thus but it is not clear if the whole assembly attached with the oem bolts was tested

or just the red hook part

it wouldn’t even have to be on a truck.

You could bolt the whole assembly to a fixture and pull on it

and you want good marketing?

compare it to the oem tow hook and publish a video

and make sure everyone is safe during that test!

 

[RCMUSTANG]

This evening I had a chance to install the @RIVAL 4x4 recovery points on our 24 FX4.

Right out the gate you can tell this kit is BEEFY. Not just the red recovery points themselves, but the mounting blocks. The factory recovery points are better than nothing, but these are on a different level.

Stock ones are mounted with stamped steel, the Rival Kit is all thick welded steel.

I have spoken with Alex from Rival at length about these and he tells me that this kit is based on the Australian market kit. And that in Australia if a recovery point is red it means something. It means that it has a minimum working load limit. In the states they are red or orange or yellow to match the OEM trim preference.

For years the Aussies have had the cool parts that we cannot get stateside. Thankfully Rival is doing their part to bring that engineering to us.


If you’re interested this is the kit:

https://www.rival4x4usa.com/product...d-ranger-raptor-u-s-2024-2025-ford-ranger-u-s

Was this the factory rubber filler panel? Raptor don't come with them and it's a huge gaping hole around the hooks.

 

[Elfman]

I guess what I don't understand about buying aftermarket hooks like Rival's....isn't the stock hook rated to withstand working limits including the truck's payload? Why do we need these aftermarket hooks? Why are we assuming the OEM hooks wouldn't hold? Wouldn't that be a HUGE liability to Ford if they didn't hold? Someone educate me here.

 

[purdyd]

I guess what I don't understand about buying aftermarket hooks like Rival's....isn't the stock hook rated to withstand working limits including the truck's payload? Why do we need these aftermarket hooks? Why are we assuming the OEM hooks wouldn't hold? Wouldn't that be a HUGE liability to Ford if they didn't hold? Someone educate me here.

I think the OEM tow hooks are just fine. I installed the rival hooks also but after taking off the OEM hooks and having them in hand they aren’t that bad, it is a substantial chunk of steel.

i did see a video of someone and I can’t find it, with a bent tow hook and can’t find it now.

I think if you pull straight on the tow hook, the OEM is fine. The rival is probably stronger if the load is off axis.

ultimately both designs are connected to the fram with the same two bolts.

i did find this video And the guy agrees with me but i have nothing to support my claim. I personally think rival could do some marketing by showing a video comparing the designs tested to failure.

Was this the factory rubber filler panel? Raptor don't come with them and it's a huge gaping hole around the hooks.

yes that is that is the OEM piece that comes with non raptors with tow hooks. it is held to the truck and to the front fascia by two bolts

the rival instructions tell you to trim the tongue, I just left mine as stock.

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