Expeditionware Backing Plate

[User]

I saw those plates on EE.com ... Do we really need them ? What are they made for ?

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/backingplates/

Thanks !

[fivespddisco]

Originally Posted by User

I saw those plates on EE.com ... Do we really need them ? What are they made for ?

https://www.expeditionexchange.com/backingplates/

Thanks !

On an arb bumper maybe on the back of a D90 I dont think so. They are for extra strength

[stolenheron]

i mean for $10...a little extra protection couldn't hurt.

[Buddy Lee]

They are easy enough to make just buy some 1/4" or 3/8" steel plate at a hardware store and drill some holes in it. Most people I know have comparable stuff in the garage already.

It is a good thing to have on a back of a recovery point if you actually plan to use it. It distributes the force of the pull more evenly across the back of the attaching surface and makes it less likely to rip out.

I would have trouble paying $10 for something I can make for $2 but other then that I think having a backing plate is a good idea for a recovery point that is going to see actual use.

[User]

Originally Posted by Buddy Lee

They are easy enough to make just buy some 1/4" or 3/8" steel plate at a hardware store and drill some holes in it. Most people I know have comparable stuff in the garage already.

It is a good thing to have on a back of a recovery point if you actually plan to use it. It distributes the force of the pull more evenly across the back of the attaching surface and makes it less likely to rip out.

I would have trouble paying $10 for something I can make for $2 but other then that I think having a backing plate is a good idea for a recovery point that is going to see actual use.

That's what I tought ....

Thanks !

[toyota_jon]

I would strongly recommend that anyone who actually uses their recovery points to use a backing plate. story: i pulled some recovery points off a 01 3/4ton dodge CTD (can you say BEEFY?) i put them on discodude's rig. i used a flat washer on each nut side (two bolts per side) and called it good. While on a recent outing to eagle rock he got VERY sideways in a washout and had to be winched sideways. while the hooks held well enough to get the rig back on all four, the stress pulled the rear bolt straight though the frame leaving a nice star pattern, now his frame jingles with a taco washer inside lol. a backing plate would have prevented this. remember rovers are heavy, and stress builds quick.

[fivespddisco]

Originally Posted by Buddy Lee

It distributes the force of the pull more evenly across the back of the attaching surface and makes it less likely to rip out.

.

If you look the back plate is not bigger then the recovery point. I my mind it will not help much more then a set of washers because you are not gaining any surface area.
Now if you make the back plate bigger all bets are off.

[roverandom]

Yes bigger is better but the advantage over washers is that the plate has a larger and stronger (3/8" or 1/4" or so) surface area than a washer. But if the bumper is set-up correctly and is made strong enough and attached with high grade nuts and bolts you should not need them anyway.
I agree that $10.00 + shipping is too much to pay for 50c worth of metal with holes in it. Wow, do these aftermarket guys know how to make a buck or what!

[Buddy Lee]

Originally Posted by fivespddisco

If you look the back plate is not bigger then the recovery point. I my mind it will not help much more then a set of washers because you are not gaining any surface area.
Now if you make the back plate bigger all bets are off.

Given the perfect pull at an exact 90' angle from the mounting surface. I would say your theory has a little bit of merit. Providing that the washers are large enough to make up the same surface area as the backing plate and that they are just as thick and won't deform.

But because such situations do not really exist I will point out the error in your logic. Using a solid backing plate even if you pull at an angle the force of the pull is going to be distributed across the entire surface area of the backing plate. Not evenly but you would still have to pull the entire backing plate through the mounting surface before it would release. Now given the same situation with 4 washers if you're pulling at an angle the force will be placed on the furthest corner from the pulling direction. exerting a lot of force on just the single washer and if it's not thick enough causing it to deform and resulting in even less surface area and a cone shape which will then be much easier to pull through the surface.

Just my .02