5th Gen 4Runner Recovery Points

Jade Winching @AlphaFoxtrotDesign on Hells Gate

Factory & Aftermarket Recovery Points: What Is & Is Not a Rated Recovery Point on the 5th Gen 4Runner?

During an off-road recovery, and in a technical sense, all recovery points must be mounted to the frame of the vehicle. This allows you to connect and pull from your snatch strap, recovery rope, or winch line in a safe manner. Failure to utilize a true recovery point may result in broken parts or injuries to bystanders.

Recovery is one of the most important areas of off-roading. Understanding where your recovery points are located and knowing how to use them correctly is the difference between making home safe at the end of the day and/or getting stuck on the trail for longer than you bargained for.

In this post we are going to cover the factory recovery points, factory tow points, aftermarket recovery points, frame-mounted points, cross member mounted points, double shear, single shear, welded vs. non-welded, bow shackles, soft shackles, types of recoveries, and much more.

If you were wondering what Toyota considers a “recovery point” and what they consider a “tow point” we also cover that in this post. We dug deep to bring you guys the most accurate information online when it comes to recovery points on the 5th Gen Toyota 4Runner.

Front Recovery Points

What are factory tow points and tie-down points? Are they safe for recovery?

Luckily you have many recovery options from the front of your vehicle. None of them are necessarily cheap or easy, but you do have quite a few options. Recovery points are designed to take the load and stress put on recovery components (bow shackles aka d-rings, soft shackles, winch shackles, etc.) during a recovery. This is why tie-down points and emergency tow points technically do not suffice as snatch points.

Keep in mind there are two types of off-road recoveries; one where the vehicle needs to be snatched or yanked (non-tensioned kinetic energy strap/rope) and one where the vehicle needs to be towed (pre-tensioned non-kinetic strap or chain). There are many differences between the two and choosing the right type of recovery depends on the situation at hand.

Before we get too deep into types of recoveries, let’s first look at the actual recovery point options on the front of the 5th Gen 4Runner. 

Emergency Towing Eyelets

Toyota calls them “Emergency Towing Eyelets”, not referred to as “Recovery Points” by Toyota.

Before we jump into this one, many people have a different opinion on whether or not these points are safe for recovery so we’re going to be as literal and as technical as possible with this one.

From the factory, the 5th Gen 4Runner comes equipped with a set of non-rated tie-down/tow points welded to the crossmember. The majority of car manufactures put at least one rated recovery point on the front and rear of the vehicle. That means this point is rated for a certain breaking strength or WLL (working load limit). The WLL is typically engraved onto the recovery point or called out in the owner’s manual. This is not the case when it comes to the 5th Gen 4Runner. You’ll notice there are hooks welded to the cross member in the image above. No WLL markings, nor does Toyota call out a WLL in the owner’s manual.

So what does Toyota say?

The Toyota owner’s manual states that they are emergency tow points and referred to as “Emergency Towing Eyelets”. These are not designed for use as an off-road recovery point where shock loading your d-rings or soft shackles will occur. These points are not rated, and are only there for when the vehicle is being delivered as a new car, or in the case of an accident, to be towed or tied down to a tow truck bed.

“If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be temporarily towed using cables or chains secured to the emergency towing eyelet(s). This should only be attempted on hard-surfaced roads for at most 50 miles (80 km) at under 18 mph (30 km/h).” – Toyota

So while you can “tow” from this point, you cannot and should not “snatch” or “yank” from these points.

If you are unfamiliar with tow straps vs. snatch straps and their differences, check out this post on recovery straps.

So how should you proceed?

With that being said sometimes you have no other alternative other than to snatch or yank from this point. If you are to recover from a tow point, you should simply tow the vehicle out of its stuck position using a tow strap. Do not attempt a kinetic recovery with a snatch strap or kinetic recovery rope with a metal D-ring or soft shackle connected to this tow point.

We recommend buying rated aftermarket recovery points like the ones from ARB USA, APEX Overland, Ironman 4×4, Treaty Oak Offroad, or any other frame-mounted double shear WLL rated recovery points. If you’re stuck deep in sand, mud, or snow and “towing” to become unstuck will not suffice, then proceed with “yanking” at your own risk.

I have never seen any factory tow points fail under yanking and shock loading kinetic straps/ropes (and I have seen about 10+ years worth now) but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. Again, these points were not designed to take that kind of stress so why risk it? If you do find yourself in a situation where you MUST use those tie-down points as kinetic snatch points, I would first try to locate a winch as it would be much more controlled than any type of yanking.

I have seen many people with bow shackles mounted to their tow points and although they work as tow points and to be towed from, they are not technically “recovery points”. Do yourself a favor and buy a WLL rated recovery point if you plan on being snatched from the front or get an aftermarket bumper with gussets welded to steel.

Aftermarket Recovery Points

If you’re serious about wheeling your rig, upgrade your recovery points.

Frame-Mounted Recovery Points

Not ready to make the jump to a full-width bumper? No problem. Many companies I just mentioned above have the perfect solution; WLL rated frame-mounted recovery points. These recovery points bolt directly to the frame with double shear, triple, or even up to four mounting points seen in the Ironman 4×4 recovery points. The Ironman 4×4 recovery points also come with a listed WLL (11,000 lbs) and can fit 7/8″ screw pin bow shackles and soft shackles. It’s an easy bolt-on mod and most of them can be installed without taking off your front bumper.

Front Bumper

Another option for front recovery points is an aftermarket bumper. Something like a LoPro or a full-width front bumper would be a great option. They are definitely not the most budget-friendly option, but they offer safe and secure recovery points to snatch and tow from. Bumpers are great because you can also run a winch which is the most important recovery tool one can carry.

Hidden Winch

Speaking of winches, if you don’t choose to run an aftermarket front bumper, you can always run a hidden winch. Hidden winches are great if you are looking to keep your weight down while still adding a ton of off-road functionality and performance. If I had a daily driver and weekend warrior rig, I would highly consider running only a hidden winch and something like a high clearance cut for the life of the build.

Rear Recovery Points

Depending on the situation, sometimes a recovery from the rear of the vehicle is the best option. Much like the front, there are a couple of different ways to safely recover from the rear of your 4Runner.

Unlike the front of your truck, the rear has a couple of recovery points. On the driver’s side frame rail on the back of the 4Runner, you’ll see a “D-shaped” eyelet similar to those in the upfront.

One of the differences is this eyelet is much thicker than the one in the front. Another important difference is this point in the rear is double shear with grade-8 bolts. Double shear means there are two bolts that would have to shear simultaneously in order for them to fail during a snatch or yank recovery.

Rear Tie Down Hook

Typically, tie-down points will be single shear (one bolt) because they are not intended to take large amounts of shock loading. In the case of the 4Runner and on the front, the eyelet is welded directly to the outside of the crossmember. After seeing quite a few snatches from this eyelet in person, I would feel comfortable snatching from it in a pinch (that means I have ZERO other options), but after too many yanks the welds will weaken over time causing a failure (potentially).

The rear eyelet just gives you more peace of mind knowing that it’s larger in diameter, is double shear and finally, rests in line with the frame rail (it’s not sitting directly on the fascia of a crossmember).

Toyota doesn’t refer to either of these points as “Recovery Points”. The front is referred to as an “Emergency Towing Eyelets” and the rear is a “Hook Sub-Assembly” and “Tie Down Hook”. 

Adding Secondary Tie Down Hook

Pictured is Toyota part number 51095-60030. It’s also referred to as the Hook Sub-Assembly Right Rear (passenger side). Shown here being mounted with a bit of red/permanent Loctite. This is being bolted to the frame with two grade 8 bolts just the same as the driver side. This is recommended for anyone looking to run dual recovery points in the rear without buying anything “aftermarket”.

By adding this recovery point, you make it easy to connect a bridle to both points which is a really nice tool for offroad recovery. It’s also nice having a recovery point on the passenger side because you open up the opportunity for a safer pull, depending on the position your vehicle is stuck. Sometimes in a stuck situation, pulling from the passenger side is the best option. If you add this recovery point in addition to hitch receiver recovery point, you are really set up for recovery points.

This is an incredibly simple modification anyone can and should do to their 4Runner.

Factory Rear Recovery Point

• Hook: 51095-60030 Hook Sub-Assy RR
• Bolts: 91642-81235 Hook Sub-Assy Bolts

Hitch Reciever

One of the safest ways to recover from the rear is to use the hitch receiver recovery point. Factor 55 makes an awesome Hitchlink 2.0 and Agency 6 makes a great Shackle Block. Both are USA-made products. This method connects both sides of the frame so the load is essentially divided.

This handy piece of recovery equipment plugs into the hitch receiver and then is connected to a strap using a shackle; Bow Shackle aka D-ring or a soft shackle. Since the hitch block and shackle both have a WLL, this is a safe recovery method as long as you stay within load limit boundaries.

In order to use the hitch effectively, it’s important you use the proper tools during the recovery process. Just make sure the equipment you buy is clearly indicated with a WLL marking. Do not use any tow straps, snatch straps, recovery ropes, or winch lines without a WLL.

Hitch pins are another alternative method to recover a vehicle from the back. It’s important to note that many hitch pins will not have a WLL marking so proceed at your own risk if you are attempting a recovery using a hitch pin. Nonetheless, hitch pins are definitely a viable option when it comes to recoveries for a couple of reasons. For starters, hitch pins are double shear. Secondly, they plug directly into the hitch which is mounted to the frame in another four points. If you are looking for a hitch pin for recovery, look for a grade-8 hitch pin or class 3, 4, or 5 – that is 5/8 inch in diameter. 

Hitch pins class I and II are not designed for weight distribution. For a recovery situation, you want hitch pins with class III, IV, and V. If the hitch pin you are buying does not have a class associated with it, do not buy it. – Guide to Hitch Pin Recovery

Single Shear vs Double Shear

How much stronger is double shear over single shear? The simplest equation to find the average shear stress for a double shear is τ_ave= F/2A (τ_ave being the average shear stress). You’ll need to know the tension force applied (F), the material thickness (A), and for other equations, you’ll need the pin thickness (d).

With that being said, using a standard 5/8 hitch pin and the weight of a 4Runner (6,000lbs), the shear stress of a double shear should come out to 9,778.48 pounds per square inch. Given that the amount of tension force is that high, the amount of stress on a double shear is roughly 9,800 pounds.

Why is that number significant? Let’s do the same thing but for single shear and see if there is a difference. The equation we’re going to use for single shear is going to be τ_ave= F/A. With the same hitch pin and the same amount of tension force (yes, 6,000 is a lot), we get 19556.95 pounds per square inch. Now, this doesn’t mean that a shingle shear can withhold that much weight, but what it does mean is that in a shingle shear application, there is that much stress on the bolt or pin.

All this simple math confirms there is less stress involved with double shear over single shear.

What Not To Do

Pictured: Using a screwdriver to connect a tow strap to the hitch receiver. 

As I mentioned above, there are some things you definitely should not do when it comes to recovery. Safety should be your #1 priority when it comes to any kind of recovery. The reason is pretty obvious… recoveries often have a lot of dangerous, if not lethal, forces at work.

Hitch Reciever Loops

Pictured: Tow strap hooked to a hitch receiver loop. Not a good idea. 

Hitch receivers are a great way to recover a stuck vehicle from the back; however, the little loops off to the side of the receiver should NEVER be used for recovery. Those loops are meant for safety chains for towing trailers and are very weak so they will break and or bend under any load at all. Do not recovery from these points; that includes snatching, yanking, and/or towing.

Ball Hitch

Hitch balls should also not be used in a recovery.

Ball joints use a single shear mounting point, which we learned is much weaker than using double shear. The ball will not withstand the horizontal load that is present during a snatch or yank. Additionally, there is nothing for a strap to lock onto or into.

Looped around the side of a ball will force the strap to creep up and around the ball forcing it to fly off. People are still doing this and it blows my mind. Do not recovery from these points; that includes snatching, yanking, and/or towing.

Tie-Down Points

Tie-down points should be avoided when it comes to recovery. Stock 5th Gens don’t really have any recovery points upfront, just the tie-down points. If you’re in a pinch and need to use these points, they will most likely hold up, but I would definitely use a winch or a strap with no slack on it. If you bend one of these points during a recovery, I would avoid using it in the future, and to be on the safe side, just invest in some rated recovery points in the first place.

Can you snatch and yank vehicles from this point? Yes. Will it work? Yes. Would Toyota recommend it? Probably not.

Do not recovery from these points; that includes snatching, yanking, and/or towing. If you do so, do it at your own risk.

Final Thoughts

I think it goes without saying that you should avoid tying any straps to anything. If you have to tie your strap around something, chances are it was not made to recover from. This includes stingers on bumpers, b-pillars, sliders, etc. That also includes looping straps around your suspension components like lower control arms, tie rods, CV axles, steering knuckles, factory skid plates, etc.

Know Your Recovery Points

It’s important to know where your recovery points are before you go get stuck. The last thing you want to do is accidentally hook up a snatch strap to a tie-down point and send it flying to the next county over.

Again, we recommend buying some actual WLL rated recovery points for the front of your 5th Gen since Toyota only includes “tie-downs”. It’s best to be prepared for any worst-case scenario.

Are you prepared to get yanked out of mud, sand, snow, or a deep water crossing? Are your recovery points able to withstand countless recovery attempts? If you answered no to both of these, then it’s time to invest in some rated recovery points if you’re serious about getting into off-roading.

If you’re reading this right now, and you have ZERO recovery points, the best item to buy would be a hitch-mounted recovery point like a Factor55 Hitchlink 2.0 or an Agency6 Shackle Block. Easy, affordable, durable, both made in the USA and they work great for recoveries.

Good luck everyone! Just use your common sense and rated recovery points and you will be just fine!