We all know the frustration of feeding a thick 7/8″ soft shackle through a standard D-ring hole on a hitch receiver recovery point. Most of the standard hitch-mounted recovery points are designed with an opening for a D-ring or bow shackle, and are not typically wide enough for a soft shackle, especially when that soft shackle has a sheath around it. They either don’t fit or they get stuck when feeding them through.
Modern recovery setups have shifted toward soft shackles for good reason. They are lighter, typically safer, and far easier to work with compared to old steel D-ring hitch blocks.
As more drivers shift to soft shackles, the need for hardware designed specifically around them has grown.
A soft shackle receiver solves the weak points found in traditional blocks and gives you a smoother, safer, and smarter connection point at the hitch. They are purpose-built for today’s gear, reduce wear on the shackle, and eliminate the downfalls found when using soft shackles on recovery points designed for D-rings.
Let’s jump in and see what this unit is all about.
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Find it online:Â
- A6 Soft Shackle Block: Check Price
- A6 Soft Shackle: Check Price
Table Of Contents
What Makes This Different?
Traditional hitch-mounted recovery points are designed for d-rings/bow shackles, which have narrow openings for a shackle pin.
Typical bow shackle pins are around .8″ – 1″ in diameter, which means most recovery receivers have an opening designed for just over 1 inch.
There is nothing worse than being in a recovery situation and having your tools and equipment not work together.
This new soft shackle receiver from Agency6 features a wider opening and has a smooth contour designed specifically for soft shackles.
Reduces Shackle Wear
If you’re using soft shackles on standard recovery receivers, you should consider the potential wear that causes.
Soft shackles rely on evenly distributed load across a smooth surface. Any sharp edge, tight radius, or abrupt transition creates a high-stress point that can flatten the fibers or cause abrasion… which over time weakens a soft shackle, making future recoveries unsafe. The Agency 6 soft shackle receiver solves this by using a wider opening, larger radiused edges, and a fully machined interior profile that lets the shackle settle naturally under tension.
Instead of the shackle bunching, pinching, or rolling over a sharp corner seen on a standard steel receiver block, the radius opening provides a consistent bend radius through the entire pull and from every angle. This reduces heat, friction, and prevents fibers from getting damaged during consistent yanks and pulls.
The whole point of this wider beveled opening is to provide less material friction/fatigue over time, and ultimately, a more user-friendly block for soft shackles.
Materials, Strength & WLL
Agency6 is known for quality. This unit is made of 6061 T6 aluminum construction and CNC-machined right here in Roseville, CA.
The block has been tested and proven with a marked 19,000-pound WLL (Working Load Limit), which is more than enough for the types of recoveries our small to medium-sized trucks need.
Vehicle Fitment and Compatibility
The block fits all standard 2-inch receivers.
You can fit a larger 7/8 inch steel shackle on this unit, but when I tested a 3/4 shackle, the opening on the mouth of the bow portion proved to be too small.
If you plan on using a bow shackle on this unit, just make sure you bring your 7/8 shackle, not your 3/4 shackle.
Acts Like a Hitch Skid
Another added benefit of a hitch receiver-mounted recovery points in general is that they act like a hitch skid.
When you drop into a ledge, crest a rock, or drag your rear end through steep departure angles, the block becomes the first point of contact instead of your bumper or hitch.
The solid aluminum body takes the hit and slides over rocks, protecting the rear end of the vehicle from sharp edges and trail damage.
It’s not the main goal of the product, but a simple way to add a bit of protection when you don’t have a full bumper.
Size and Hole Specs
Here are the specs on the opening and overall length:
- Contour opening length: 1 7/8″
- Actual opening length: 1 3/8″
- Contour opening height: 1 1/2″
- Actual opening height: 1 1/8″
- Length: 7 1/2″
Final Thoughts
We tested this product on the Rubicon a few weeks back, and in classic Agency 6 fashion, it performed exactly how you want recovery gear to perform… flawlessly. Zero issues, zero hangups, and zero wasted time fighting stubborn d-ring pin hardware.
If you want a dependable, low-maintenance addition to your recovery box, this is an easy win.
The ability to feed a soft shackle straight through the wide opening is a huge upgrade compared to wrestling with stubborn bow shackles and frozen pins or feeding a soft shackle through a tiny opening.
You get cleaner rigging, quicker setup, and a receiver that works great with the soft shackles. For anyone who uses soft shackles often, this is one of those no-brainer pieces that just works.
Started using one of these a few months back. Def nice having a shackle block designed for a soft shackle. Easier, faster, better on the soft shackle.