Harbor Freight shackles drilled out for 3/4 inch D Ring

[Blazintrails03]

I took 2 of these shackle receivers and drilled them out to fit Smittybilt 3/4 inch shackles but it kind of makes me nervous. I've since bought a smittybilt 3/4 shackle receiver to use instead. How do you think the HF ones would hold up? I think they were 5/8 before

[mikekey]

Google is your friend. A quick google search for this resulted in a lot of opinions.

[Blazintrails03]

Yeah I did a quick search but I'm at work. Found one site with a couple horror stories. Probably not gonna use them. Just waiting for the Roadie face palm pretty soon haha.

[The Roadie]

Well, then - I hate to disappoint ya.





Use Cheap Chinese Crap in places that won't kill you or a bystander when it breaks.

Modifying CCC by drilling, welding or applying Bondo to it is just asking for trouble.

Are these the ones? I see them on sale for $10 INCLUDING the D-RING?!?!?!?!?! Definitely worry about an angle pull with this design.



Here's a Warn unit like I have to have some confidence in. At $50, it's not too expensive for what you might call on it to do.



I have to admit I own one of these hook puppies from when I was a noob. I can't even bring myself to sell it on Craigslist, let alone to a member here. Smittybilt makes 'em, but they're only $15, and NOT suitable to throw a strap or chain on. Might use it to drag a tree limb off a trail. But it's not worth the couple of pounds of cargo weight to even carry it around.

[Blazintrails03]

Yes those are the ones from HF and the one I got is the same as the Warn you pictured but it's smittybilt. I thought it was worth a shot a while back cause I picked up a couple 3/4 inch smittybilt shackles for maybe $8 each so I drilled out the hole one the HF reciever and the nervousness set in. Guess that just means I have extra shackles for anything in the future and yes before you say anything I planned on having multiples either way.

[mikekey]

I have a smittybilt and I feel pretty confident in it. Are you that cheap or that broke you can't spend $30? http://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-29312B ... t+receiver

[Blazintrails03]

I have a smittybilt and I feel pretty confident in it. Are you that cheap or that broke you can't spend $30? http://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-29312B ... t+receiver

I've since bought a smittybilt 3/4 shackle receiver to use instead.

I got is the same as the Warn you pictured but it's smittybilt.

got that covered

Just trying to figure out if these could be used as a back up in case something happened

But I was cheap enough to buy the open box warehouse deal and save myself $8

[HARDTRAILZ]

They are fine for light stuff like a lil stuck in snow or something. Not for trail use though.

[Cable810]

I have the Rugged Ridge one It cost me 29.99 on summit. Best 30 bucks I've spent in a while. I used it to tow a jeep for a short bit and when I need a tug to get unstuck.

[ErikSS]

I picked up one of these from HF myself. I plan to use it in the rear hitch as an anchor point when winching. I havn't done this yet, but it was my plan. I like the looks of the Warn best. So Mike, are you too cheap or broke to spend the extra $20 on the Warn? lol

[Moots1288]

I picked up one of these from HF myself. I plan to use it in the rear hitch as an anchor point when winching. I havn't done this yet, but it was my plan. I like the looks of the Warn best. So Mike, are you too cheap or broke to spend the extra $20 on the Warn? lol

lol... I'm 100% that all 4 of them are made in china. I'm on the fence about warn but it probably is as well.

[RyansTBLS]

My Uncle works for Warn, before they were bought 100% made in America. Now I think you're right, probably chinese.

[ErikSS]

I found a Great deal on the Warn one! $33.99 free shipping!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271206006702?ss ... 1438.l2649

[HARDTRAILZ]

I won't buy anything warn. My experience shows me they break like everything else but cost more. Kinda like Fox stuff...name makes it overpriced.

Neither is junk but I won't pay for a name.

[RyansTBLS]

I swear all of them have different ideas of rating systems. 10,000lbs straight back, or some to the side but none up, or up down and to the side, but don't actually get anywhere near 10,000 lbs.... so annoying! I believe the HF one is 10,000lbs if I remember it. Doubt it will snap but if used at an angle I'd expect it to bend and need to be replaced before heading out again. IMO.

[SomeOffPave]

First off let me state that I am pretty cheap and I do own some HF items.

If I am not mistaken the HF item you purchased is marketed as an ATV accessory, not an item for a pick-up or SUV. As RyanTBLS pointed out, anything from China that claims to meet any kind of spec cannot be believed. Knowing all this you should not carry them in your Trailblazer so you will never be temped to use them. Maybe you can use them as a mount for a DIY cargo basket or homemade camp table. If you want to split the difference in price between HF and Smittybuilt or Warn try shopping at Tractor Supply.

P.S. When I read the title of your thread I could not understand why you were drilling out shackles. It turns out you were not. In my mind "D ring" is what people who do know the word "shackle" say.
Grammer Police out.

[RyansTBLS]

I currently have the HF one, one of the main things I noticed when buying it, was that they were all different quality. And yes, it looks exactly like the ATV one. I found the truck one, and found the one with the best looking welds and thickest walls. It's probably fine. That being said, my smittybuilt is being eagerly awaited for, provided they figure out the address.

[Trail X]

If you can measure the cross sectional area for tear out, we can calculate a very approximate safety factor for you.

[ErikSS]

I was looking at mine today. It has the two flat plates welded seperately to the main plate... I'm wondering if I should attach them too eachother. Either sleeve them, or more simple, weld a little piece to the front face of them. Side pull with this thing does NOT seem like a good idea.

[Rob93]

I don't like how the eye on the harbor freight receiver is welded to the box tube which slides into your hitch. I have the smittybuilt others were talking about and I feel much better about it being that it is one piece, no welds.