Factor 55 Rope Retention Pulley first look

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James Langan

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Factor 55

 

 

 

 

Factor 55 UltraHook With Rope Guard

UltraHook With Rope Guard

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James Langan

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Factor 55

 

ARB Differential Breather Kit

ARB Differential Breather Kit.

It’s not news that oil and water don’t mix, but if it happens inside a driveline component and you are unaware, the results will eventually be catastrophic. The factory differential breathers on late-model Rams are raised slightly, to near the top of the tires, which is good enough for most folks. Hopefully that would be plenty for me too, as I’m not a fan of playing in deep water or soupy mud. However, it has happened before, including an unfortunate loss of forward progress that lasted hours. Being an ounce-of-prevention guy, I chose to be proactive regarding keeping the H2O out of my gearing lubricants.

For decades I have extended the breathers for driveline components using small, inexpensive air or fuel filters, but a few years ago ARB introduced a most tidy aftermarket solution that I’ve used since. Employing the same filter as their 12-volt air compressors, ARB makes a neat aluminum manifold into which their filter and extended vent lines attach. Vent tubing and fittings are also supplied, and the kit retails for $72.

Aluminum manifold block and air filter.

For the 2017 Ram/Cummins 2500 Pack Mule with Hallmark flatbed camper, I mounted the ARB manifold at the top left of the engine compartment, similar to my 2014 Ram, but I drilled a new hole this time. Using the OE rubber vent hose as my start, the rear axle breather line was extended using ARB’s plastic vent tubing, first inside the Hillsboro flatbed frame, then along the truck frame under the cab and up into the engine compartment. The front differential vent was extended the short distance from near the left front shock, and the transfer-case breather was raised from atop that gearbox into the engine compartment. A trained eye might notice the ARB Differential Breather Kit as aftermarket, but it’s very tidy and clean.

Low, factory vent hoses/caps can get clogged with goop, snow, or ice, causing housing pressure that can lead to leaks. Mounted in this spot, the filter just clears the closed hood.

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James Langan

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ARB USA

Factor 55 Rope Retention Pulley, RRP.


Factor 55’s, Rope Retention Pulley, RRP, first look at the 2019 SEMA Show.

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James Langan

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Factor 55

 

Factor 55 HitchLink And FlatLink MultiMount

Trilogy of Factor 55 FlatLinks.

The founder and man at the helm of Factor 55 is an engineer with an aerospace background who creates and tests everything right here in the USA, at Boise, Idaho. Factor 55 continues to design and manufacture what are arguably the best Closed System Winching™ and recovery products available. Cutting-corners, and making stuff cheaper or offshore is not an option.

Filling the Pack Mule’s two hitch receivers on the front Buckstop Truckware bumper are two Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0 recovery shackle mounts to facility vehicle recoveries. Key features include:

– Using a receiver as a recovery or tow point

– Lightweight precision CNC machined 6,000 series aluminum

– Weighs only 1.9 pounds. Steel versions weigh up to 8 pounds

– Rated at 9,500 pounds

– Ultimate failure at 51,000 pounds

– Fits standard 2-inch receivers

– Fits common ¾” screw pin shackles/D-Rings

– Anodized or powder coated for oxidation protection

– $80

Two HitchLink 2.0 for the receivers on the Buckstop front bumper.
Warn EPIC D-shackle in a Factor 55 HitchLink 2.0 to facilitate Closed System Winching™. Secured with a BOLT Lock.

Oscar The Pack Mule retains the factory Ram 2.5” receiver in the rear, so for the first time I am able to use Factor 55’s HitchLink 2.5 product in the back. Additional features of the HitchLink 2.5 include:

– Will accept both ¾” and 7/8” shackles

– Can be oriented inside the receiver, vertical or horizontal, depending on need

– Eliminates a receiver sleeve to downsize and downgrade a receiver to 2”

– Rated at 18,000 pounds, with Ultimate Failure at 69,000 pounds

– $120

HitchLink 2.5 for 2.5” hitch receivers, is rated for working loads of 18,000 pounds.

The FlatLink MultiMount ($200) was introduced at the 2017 SEMA Show, but it took me one year to add this fantastic winch line shackle mount to the end the Pack Mule’s Warn synthetic rope. With few exceptions, the hooks supplied with otherwise top-quality winches have been substandard since the introduction of recreational self-recovery winches. According to Factor 55, many are only rated for a working load of 4,000 pounds and will fail around 16-18,000 pounds, though some let go as early as 11,000 pounds. Yikes! (The EPIC Hook on my Warn M16.5ti-S was rated for 18k.)

FlatLink MultiMount allows winch pulls from two directions.

All of Factor 55’s shackle mounts correct the common hook deficiency, while also facilitating Closed System Winching™ techniques for additional safety. My MultiMount was ordered with the optional Rope Guard ($50), which protects the synthetic rope from impacts, abrasions, and UV exposure. Features unique to the FlatLink MultiMount include:

– Designed for difficult off-camber vehicle recovery scenarios, where two different winch pull directions are often necessary

– Oval Hole opening connects to the pin ends of 7/8” and 1” screw-pin shackles

– Two additional shackle pin-mounting holes provide secure shackle attachment points for multiple pull directions. The center hole provides a secure conventional center pull shackle mount point eliminating shackle side-loading forces at the MultiMount interface

– Winching with a bridle arrangement is possible by using the two outer shackle pin mounting holes in combination with common bridle rigging

– The MultiMount may be folded flat against fairlead surfaces when stowed, resulting in minimal impact to vehicle approach angles

– Maximum Load: 16,000 pounds

– Ultimate Strength: 40,000 pounds

All Factor 55’s winch shackle mounts are designed to fit snug against winch fairleads and avoid the damage often caused by traditional hooks and rigging.

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James Langan

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Factor 55

Factor 55 Soft Shackles, Kinetic Rope, and 3/4″ Crosby Shackles.

Factor 55’s 10″ and 20″ Soft Shackles, Kinetic Rope, and 3/4″ Crosby Shackles, at Overland Expo West 2019.

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James Langan

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Factor 55