Front Recovery Point? Stuck + Winched by a Jeep while Off Road/Rock Crawling

9375 Views 28 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Polonus, 3 mo ago

Transit_4x4_3.5_130

Discussion Starter · Jun 24, 2021

It's been well discussed that there is no factory tow hook on a Transit, but has anyone ended up stuck with no tow hook and had to improvise? How have others handled this situation?

We found the van's limit and had trouble getting up a rocky hill. In a pinch I loosened the front lower bumper trim piece to wrap a tow strap around the frame end and feed it back through the plastic trim. Hooked up a shackle to the tow strap and took a winch pull from a Jeep. Planning on fabricating a front winch bumper after this experience.

Below is a video of us getting stuck and winched while doing some mild "rock crawling," which is also up for debate... ; ) We have a Jeep Rubicon too, and until recently I would have said this is not really rock crawling... but it sure felt like it was from behind the wheel of the van!

Check out the video, is this really "rock crawling?"

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OldMadBrit

· #15 · Jun 24, 2021

Transit_4x4_3.5_130 said:
Good eye! I haven't done the rear shock mount lift mod. Been wrestling with the compromise. It appears that the mod would reduce the amount of rear axle articulation/travel by using a 2" shorter shock and lowering bump stops by 2". Up travel reduced on one end of the axle could reduce down travel on the other end. I'm worried that would make it harder to keep my tires on the ground over uneven terrain like this, even though I would absolutely LOVE to have more clearance? You've done a ton of wheeling in your van, what do you think about the tradeoff?

We sure did have fun out there, great trail and it was a trip casually hiking over the Mexican border and back! I like to think I could have made it with a spotter and a better line, although it was getting pretty tippy 😬 Cheers!

I have a Quigley and did the shock mount mod. From what I could see, it doesn't impact articulation - so much as restore it. Quigley add a 2" lift block but keep the stock upper shock mount in the same place, so the shock runs nominally 2" extended. This nominally compromise rebound travel, with reduced static sag. Relocating the lower shock mount upwards by 1-1/2" restores the shock back close to its nominal static sag. It shouldn't reduce compression travel but should increase rebound travel (droop).

FWIW we abuse the crap out of ours off-road as well and the shock mount relocation has stood up to it.

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OldMadBrit

· #18 · Jun 24, 2021 (Edited)

Transit_4x4_3.5_130 said:
That is awesome to hear! I am definitely wanting to do a shock mount relocation after learning that. Do the lift blocks get totaly eliminated with the install?

No not at all. All it involves is sawing off the bottom of the OEM rear shock mounts and relocating the bottom shock bolts upwards by 1 1/2" with the VC brackets. This reduces the risk of the rear shocks snagging a rock or a rut. Everything else stays the same - apart from restoring rear axle articulation back to OEM. The lift blocks are not touched. It took me about 2 hours and 1/2 of that was me staring at it lol.

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