Question About Recovery Points

[RebelAtHeart]

I'm working out my first trail-ready mod necessities with my new Xterra. Started with decent tires, maxtraxs and a shovel. However, I'm realizing that I have no good recovery points and I'm looking for some advice. It's fairly trivial for me to add recovery to the front of the frame (there's easy bolt on options), but the back becomes a bit more of a job. Is it safe to just roll with front recovery points for a while? I know there are options for the back, but I'd rather not invest in those when I plan to add a new bumper in about a year. I also assume it's not a good idea to be rolling with no recovery points... Anyone have thoughts on this?

 

[PonoAdventures]

Factor 55 hitchlink sounds like a good option for you.

 

[Road]

You might consider a frame mounted receiver hitch and one of these: D-Ring Shackle Mount Trailer Hitch:



Then, when you get the bumper, sell the frame-mounted hitch and keep the solid D-Ring, or sell both.

I'm putting a front mounted hitch on my van and have one of these to use as recovery point if needed.

A Class III Curt hitch receiver that fits Xterras goes for about $150 and this D-Ring is $35.00

.

 

[RebelAtHeart]

Factor 55 hitchlink sounds like a good option for you.

Ah, yes. I did think of that, however I don't have a hitch receiver. Something I plan to rectify with a new bumper in about a year. I'm also aware that there are recovery point mods for the rear of an Xterra that require some bumper cutting.

Doing rear recovery mods at this point aren't really something I want to do if I can help it. That's why I was wondering if it is foolish to operate with only front recovery. If it is, then I'll rethink my year long plan.

 

[RebelAtHeart]

You might consider a frame mounted receiver hitch and one of these: D-Ring Shackle Mount Trailer Hitch:

View attachment 193137

Then, when you get the bumper, sell the frame-mounted hitch and keep the solid D-Ring, or sell both.

I'm putting a front mounted hitch on my van and have one of these to use as recovery point if needed.

A Class III Curt that fits Xterras goes for about $150.

.

Ohhh, I didn't know those existed.... lemmie do some research....

 

[Road]

Ohhh, I didn't know those existed.... lemmie do some research....

.
Yep: Xterra Class III hitch receivers

 

[BensonSTW]

How stuck do you plan on getting and in what kind of terrain? Forest service roads, desert two racks, run what you have. Recovery if needed shouldn’t be that violent. Deep mud and huge rocks - get the recovery points. Knowing your rig’s limits can eliminate the need for a lot of the recovery gear.

 

[RebelAtHeart]

How stuck do you plan on getting and in what kind of terrain? Forest service roads, desert two racks, run what you have. Recovery if needed shouldn’t be that violent. Deep mud and huge rocks - get the recovery points. Knowing your rig’s limits can eliminate the need for a lot of the recovery gear.

Totally understood. I appreciate the point. Yeah, I don't plan on getting myself stuck. Since I'm just getting started I'm not sure what my vehicle limits are. I plan to be careful, but just looking to have a backup plan for the backup plan. Stock Xterra's got a lot of plastic front and back, so I'm making sure if I do need a hand that there's someway to attach.

 

[the_rockies]

One thing my recovery team uses a lot is Cluster Hooks. You can find them on Amazon and other recovery websites. They essentially hook into the holes in your frame and can be used for pulls with winches and can get you unstuck if needed. They're relatively cheap too! We use them when we get called to vehicles that don't have recovery points like sedans or vehicles without a rear hitch.

 

[M Rose]

One thing my recovery team uses a lot is Cluster Hooks. You can find them on Amazon and other recovery websites. They essentially hook into the holes in your frame and can be used for pulls with winches and can get you unstuck if needed. They're relatively cheap too! We use them when we get called to vehicles that don't have recovery points like sedans or vehicles without a rear hitch.

This would be the best solution any ways.