Flat link e. Installed

[IRSmart]

yup, that works too. not sure if side loading the shackle on the loop may be a risk though? I really don't know

View attachment 191381

You wouldn’t be side loading it. The pin would be on the winch cable, and the looped end on whatever you’re hooked up to (strap, other car, etc), or vise versa. Same hookup, just one less piece of equipment in the setup.

 

[olyelr]

You know what I never understood about their closed system hooks? All one has to do is take the factory hook off and put a shackle on. Boom, closed loop system, and the “hook” becomes an irrelevant component in the rigging

thats exactly what i was saying earlier on. Seems like all it does is add in another possible failure point in my mind.

 

[muddy12]

yup, that works too. not sure if side loading the shackle on the loop may be a risk though? I really don't know

View attachment 191381

Easy way to avoid side loading when using a shackle directly attached to the cable, is to put spacers (stack of washers work in a pinch) on either side of the cable so it stays centered on the pin.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[IRSmart]

thats exactly what i was saying earlier on. Seems like all it does is add in another possible failure point in my mind.

I’m not even really commenting on the increased risk of failure, moreso in the redundancy of the part itself. To me it really serves no purpose at all, if you look at it. You’re literally just replicating the closed loop that already exists at the end of the rope or cable. I don’t get it.

Edit: especially for me, with a ten ton snatch block and synthetic rope good to 30k lbs, I would actually be DECREASING my capacity by adding this hook only rated to 16k lbs, as opposed to just booking up directly to the eyelet of my rope. These Factor55 hooks seem to be more of a fashion statement than a usable piece of offroad equipment. No offense to OP.

 

[IRSmart]

You're typically wrapping the hook around a tree and hooking back on it's self or whatever anyways.

Um...no, you’re NEVER doing this.

 

[Westwind1124a]

I’m not even really commenting on the increased risk of failure, moreso in the redundancy of the part itself. To me it really serves no purpose at all, if you look at it. You’re literally just replicating the closed loop that already exists at the end of the rope or cable. I don’t get it.

Edit: especially for me, with a ten ton snatch block and synthetic rope good to 30k lbs, I would actually be DECREASING my capacity by adding this hook only rated to 16k lbs, as opposed to just booking up directly to the eyelet of my rope. These Factor55 hooks seem to be more of a fashion statement than a usable piece of offroad equipment. No offense to OP.

Probably a fair assessment... But it works for me, and yes I do like the way it looks

 

[Trailmaker]

The winch is held on by 4 blots. And I looked up the part numbers and they are not grade 8. Let’s say I’m wrong and they are. The rope, hook, and shackles rated higher? The winch is rated at 12k so can it pull a 8k truck completely off the ground? Say it can. What will fail first? Maybe the bolts holding it all together??
Allow me to get nerdy:

Tensile strengths and yield strengths are expressed in pounds per square inch in U.S. measurements. To determine the maximum load a bolt can carry, multiply the cross-sectional area of the bolt at the greatest thread depth by the tensile strength of its material. For example, a 1/2-inch grade 8 bolt with 13 threads per inch has an effective stress-carrying cross section of 0.1419 square inches, so its breaking load would be 0.1419 (area subject to stress) x 150,000 (tensile strength) = 21,285 pounds.

if the bolts are the weakest link? Should they be??

 

[madtrucker2016]

The bottom line is this mounts to the hook on the truck anyway so whats the point.Really dont get it,just the look of off road tools hanging off your truck. Have never seen a factory hook open up and bend have you. I have two factory hooks and thats fine with me.

 

[Trailmaker]

The bottom line is this mounts to the hook on the truck anyway so whats the point.Really dont get it,just the look of off road tools hanging off your truck. Have never seen a factory hook open up and bend have you. I have two factory hooks and thats fine with me.

I get it. The Factor 55 gear looks great!
I want one. It has function to justify the purchase to your wife (my wife at least) and adds to the off road theme. Not to mention, you look legit.

before you argue with me look herehttps://www.ramforum.com/threads/upgraded-winch-hooks.136572/#post-1949642
About 30 PW owners agree with me and the OP.

 

[Trailmaker]

Um...no, you’re NEVER doing this.

Haha. When I got my Jeep I was 21 and I had zero recovery gear the first year, and went a whole summer doing this. since then I have learned the way of the Jedi.... still learning.

 

[olyelr]

The winch is held on by 4 blots. And I looked up the part numbers and they are not grade 8. Let’s say I’m wrong and they are. The rope, hook, and shackles rated higher? The winch is rated at 12k so can it pull a 8k truck completely off the ground? Say it can. What will fail first? Maybe the bolts holding it all together??
Allow me to get nerdy:

Tensile strengths and yield strengths are expressed in pounds per square inch in U.S. measurements. To determine the maximum load a bolt can carry, multiply the cross-sectional area of the bolt at the greatest thread depth by the tensile strength of its material. For example, a 1/2-inch grade 8 bolt with 13 threads per inch has an effective stress-carrying cross section of 0.1419 square inches, so its breaking load would be 0.1419 (area subject to stress) x 150,000 (tensile strength) = 21,285 pounds.

if the bolts are the weakest link? Should they be??

the diesel brothers pulled their raptor up the side of a building with the smittybuilt 12k pound winch.

 

[IRSmart]

I get it. The Factor 55 gear looks great!
I want one. It has function to justify the purchase to your wife (my wife at least) and adds to the off road theme. Not to mention, you look legit.

before you argue with me look herehttps://www.ramforum.com/threads/upgraded-winch-hooks.136572/#post-1949642
About 30 PW owners agree with me and the OP.
View attachment 191464

Oh I’m not doubting they’re popular. I’m just questioning the purpose they serve at all. Their literal purpose is to provide a hole for a shackle to attach to, giving it a closed loop system. The winch cable eyelet provides the same thing. That’s really my point. Not that they’re bad, just that (unless I’m missing something) they’re unnecessarily redundant.

 

[Trailmaker]

Oh I’m not doubting they’re popular. I’m just questioning the purpose they serve at all. Their literal purpose is to provide a hole for a shackle to attach to, giving it a closed loop system. The winch cable eyelet provides the same thing. That’s really my point. Not that they’re bad, just that (unless I’m missing something) they’re unnecessarily redundant.

Well since you asked...
The ultra hook offers both a hook and a place to hook a shackle. The one the OP bought could be replaced with a shackle, but it would not pull into the rollers like the E Link, (with out going to a very large shackle) . And a shackle does not center itself. (Even the load on the cable) Go with a smaller shackle and tether it off to the bumper? I guess, but that looks tacky. Ultimately the look is what it comes down to over basic function and the OP spent $150 for his Ray-Bans.
part of the money pit we all fall into owning a PW... and still Love our Trucks!
lol
Cheers irsmart

 

[Trailmaker]

the diesel brothers pulled their raptor up the side of a building with the smittybuilt 12k pound winch.

Really? If I drive to your town will you let me pull your PW up a parking garage? That YouTube video will get a billion hits.
I have been curious about the ability since I bought my truck day one.

 

[Westwind1124a]

Didn't mean to get everyone fired up. Next topic.... Has anyone Lowered their PW?....

 

[IRSmart]

Didn't mean to get everyone fired up. Next topic.... Has anyone Lowered their PW?....

I don’t think anyone’s fired up, I’m actually impressed we’ve been able to have a calm discussion about it actually lol

 

[madtrucker2016]

I get it. The Factor 55 gear looks great!
I want one. It has function to justify the purchase to your wife (my wife at least) and adds to the off road theme. Not to mention, you look legit.

before you argue with me look herehttps://www.ramforum.com/threads/upgraded-winch-hooks.136572/#post-1949642
About 30 PW owners agree with me and the OP.
View attachment 191464

I really don't see the need for it .Factory hooks do the exact same thing,its all about hooks how big is yours seems to me . Just saying

 

[madtrucker2016]

the diesel brothers pulled their raptor up the side of a building with the smittybuilt 12k pound winch.

Love that show those are some crazy boys

 

[madtrucker2016]

yup, that works too. not sure if side loading the shackle on the loop may be a risk though? I really don't know

View attachment 191381

oops forgot to put the spinner on the shakel

 

[thkbaron]

haha I was waiting for some F bombs. Yeah I wish I had the diesel brothers job. Totally not fair. #jealous