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Although, it does take experience to know which hardware to use to get unstuck. I've seen so many people attach a recovery strap or winch directly to the Jeep's underbody. This is asking for bad news!
The frame of a Jeep Cherokee is a uni-body, and attaching a recovery strap or winch line to it is just asking for trouble. After a hard pull you could be left with a bent frame, which is very EXPENSIVE to have replaced or bent back into position. Also this could leave your frame weakened and prone to other problems.
Luckily, that's where Jeep tow hooks and front hitches help. Both have their pros and cons, some suitable for different situations. Here are the essentials you'll need to avoid getting stuck and the headaches that come along with it. Jeep tow hooks
To simply put it, Jeep tow hooks are hooks that you bolt to the front of your frame using heavy duty brackets. Jeep tow hooks make great recovery points when your stuck in a hole or ditch. They only hang down slightly from the front of your vehicle, not nearly as far down as a front hitch. Not only do Jeep tow hooks function relatively well, they look very agressive (if looks matter to you!)
Pros
Cons
If you don't plan to off road much, and just need something for emergencies, Jeep tow hooks should be right for you. BUT, if you may off road anytime in the future, it would be very wise to pay the extra $20 or so and get a front hitch. Here are the best two sets of Jeep tow hooks on the market. The Custom 4x4 Fabrication (C4x4) Jeep tow hooks are considered, from my experiences, the better of the two sets because of an extra metal support on the brackets and they're are of higher quality.
The name says it all. This is what I use as a front recovery point, you can check out my install article here. A front hitch is essentially a hitch for the front of your vehicle. Some brands hang down low on the front of your vehicle, while others tuck up nicely under the front air dam. A front hitch can be used to get unstuck on the trail or can even help to maneuver a large object, such as a boat or camper. The front hitch offers a great center tow point, and some also have loops to the right and left for akward side pulls when you're stuck.
Pros
Cons
In my opinion, if you plan to off road a lot at anytime in the future, this would be a great investment. Most all hooks will bend or break with repeated use, but hitches will generally last a life time. In addition, if you purchase a front hitch with the side loops, you're essentially adding tow hooks to your vehicle for free. Draw-Tites are considered to be the better front hitch because they tuck up very nicely behind the Jeep's front air dam, it's hard to tell that they are even there. The Hidden Hitch is an equally good hitch, but it hangs down lower and may get stuck on obstacles on the trail. These two front hitches get my recommendation:
*NOTE* When visiting the site for the Draw-Tite Front Hitch, click on "Front Mount" on the center of the page to pick the year and model of your vehicle.
Just as important as the hardware you use to pull yourself out is the strap that will connect the two vehicles. If you want to learn more about recovery straps, such as how they work, how to use them, and how NOT to use them read this. |
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