Using Factory KW T800 Tow Recievers

As a tow truck driver with over 20 years in the business I strongly say DO NOT use the eyes in the front bumper to pull yourself out, they are not designed to pull only lift. They are there just to lift the truck up for decking (transport from the factory). They are not strong enough except for the slightest of pull and if you pull at any angle you risk the hook snapping or twisting the frame rail out of alignment. It is best to attach your recovery strap to the axle near the spring u bolts even though this means you will have to get down in the mud. Otherwise they do make a bolt on attachment popular in the oil field that sets up a shackle in the center of the bumper and better distributes the forces of the pull.

Without getting to complicated the forces involved in pulling a truck out of the mud can sometimes be 2 to 3 times the weight of the vehicle depending upon how many wheels are stuck, how deep in the mud they are buried, any gradient such as coming up out of a ditch, etc, meaning your loaded 80,000 pound grain hopper could actually require 120,000 pounds of force to get it moving (or even more). Yes it could be much less, the same 80,000 pound truck on hard level ground will only take 8 to 16,000 pounds of force to start moving if all the wheels are free rolling.

If you insist on using the front hooks I recommend using a nylon lifting sling commonly referred to in the towing industry as a roundsling or continuous loop strap. These are available in many lengths and ratings and fit inside the eyes you want to use. You can out them thru the eye and chock back onto themselves then put a standard screw pin shackle on the other end of the strap and attach your chains there.

 

After years of dealing with those crap factory tow hooks , I moved up.........

 

Cat, that is the attachment I was recommending to the OP, glad you put the picture up. We have them on the front of our wreckers and they work great.

 

Other then the bumper what is that bolted to?

 

The bumper is cut out around it. It's mounted to a steel cross member and tied into both front spring hangers. Witch are also beefed up. Your in pretty deep if you break this set up.....