Leaf spring tie down points…

[RacerX]

I’ve been struggling to keep axle straps integral. They always seemed to find a bolt, corner, random metal to poke a hole through the middle of the strap. I tried fire hose, but the front, passenger side just has too much junk in the way for that to fit.

I did a bunch of searching and settled on copying, but improving a design found on the internet.

I based my design on this…




However, I improved the design and reinforced the tab area. I’m very happy with the final product. 1/4” plate steel, 1/4” round stock welded back to the first bolts.



The u-bolts weren’t perfectly aligned, so I had to do a bunch of custom fitting with a rat tail file.

The more hardcore off-roaders would probably destroy these in the rocks, but my Jeep doesn’t see anything more than easy-moderate trails and ice cream runs. These should make my life a lot easier at the front axle. The rear has plenty of space to continue using the axle straps through fire hose though.

Hope this gets folks creative juices flowing to find and fabricate a solution!

 

[CHRIS_WNC]

Cool. I’m trying to come up with bolt on tabs for tying down my mower. I’m trying to avoid weld-on for some reason. Lol.

CHRIS

 

[RacerX]

I would have used weld on tabs… if the passenger side of the axle had any space at all to work with!

I’ll go weld on if I bet replace the rear axle housing. (not likely since it’s already an upgraded Dana 44!)

 

[OutLore]

Back when I did towing... the rule was if the wheel is still structurally sound, you strapped down by the wheels, which allowed the suspension to still move, therefore lowering the chance of straps working loose. We used specific straps designed to wrap around the top of a wheel... Just a thought.

 

[Gray]

Pretty cool idea. Doesn’t work for me being springover. I use small straps over the axle then to the tie down. Sometimes a chain over the pumpkin then back down underneath the housing.