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[TheKim]

I tend to think of them as earrings/nose rings. I would never get them (or tattoos), but if other people like it, more power to them. Ain't no skin off my hide.

That's a good outlook for most things in life.

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[toymaster]

I'll go lawyer on you and say "it depends". I've ran shackles on my JK since building it. They are there when you need them. I go with black and use rubber shims on the bolt so they don't move going down the road. Weathering? these are thick steel and usually galvanized, or at least coated, no worries on deterioration for decades.

Fast forward 15 years and I have changed over to soft shackles, not leaving those hanging. My bronco bumpers, exped-one, came with chamfered mounting tabs. No need for shackles, nor their weight.

My thoughts on recovery gear is that if you don't have it with you, it does not do you any good. Having a bag of high quality goodies don't do a damn bit of good sitting at the house. I like to have things where I need them. Same thing with a receiver mounted winch, what are the chances you'll be carry that inside your cab when you need it?

So, if your recovery plan/gear requires the use of the steel shackles, leave them in place.

 

[timhood]

wow, tough crowd here. not sure what the sun is going to do to a powdercoated piece of cast/forged steel, but my feeling is shackles are another heavy thing in a recovery bag/box and the truck carries it just fine.

That said, I don't have mine on because i put one on the front mod bumper and it would have rattled like crazy, so until I get some urethane isolators I'll leave it in the recovery box.

The sun is not a problem at all. But humidity, salt, etc. do fun things to unprotected metal parts, such as the threads, which are bare. If you've ever dealt with a seized bolt, you wouldn't want to have to deal with that again. But then again, for those who just put them on for a look, they won't have to worry about it. The easy answer is, if rust is a problem in your area, it will be a problem for this.

 

[Beachin 74]

I always left them on. You know where they're at, leaves more room in the vehicle to a small degree, and they won't beat you in the head in a rollover.

 

[dejones64]

I have the modular bumper. Painted my rings eruption green to match and I leave them on all the time. I may never use them but I like the look, better than the empty holes.

Mine came with thick rubber washers/spacers, so no rattle. I also painted my Bronco letters eruption green and added pocket/bumper lights, so it's not like they look out of place or stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[MFP2241]

Keep them in your recovery bag.

 

[Tricky Mike]

as the threads, which are bare

Sometimes, sometimes not. Mine have painted and very coarse threads, should be fine for years.

 

[Jdyount]

If they're just going to be there for show they're nipple rings and a complete waste.

If you're actually going to use them then I'm all for leaving them on. I have a set of GearAmerica shackles that I never take off. They're designed to stay on, have a security screw to lock them on and isolators to keep them for swinging.

I use them with soft shackles, just makes things a lot easier in a recovery situation. What I don't want is to drop a shackle pin in the mud or have to mess around with stringing a large soft shackle through a small recovery point.

I wheel a ton so it makes functional sense, 100%. They are color coordinated too, but because I USE them the paint is starting to show some wear...

 

[vrtical]

I leave mine on, but they are coated, locking, and don't rattle. They also have been used and I am out of space under the rear floor. The rest of the stuff that I would really only use ever off road is in a to go pelican case.

 

[Adrenalista]

I don't listen to music at all in my vehicles so if the shackles rattled all the time, it would drive me crazy. If there's a way to keep them tight with no rattle then I would go for it. You can hear Jeeps with shackles coming from miles away.

I have rubber gaskets (isolators) between shackle and metal. No rattle and no free swinging. It’s a little extra support. Gotta keep them perky.

 

[Combustion_King]

I don’t leave mine on at all, because it gives the all done up mall crawl look- IMO.

They will go one when I need it. What if I need a soft shackle? Now I have to remove the other one.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

You look like a poser and they will likely get stolen. Keep them in your gear bag until you need them.

 

[Gluestick]

I was on the fence until I read this. 1000% chance gluestick will be rocking nipple rings when I get home.

 

[351W-Bronco]

They are recovery gear, not decoration.
They are EASY to steal.
They can seize up if exposed to the elements over time.
They can rattle.

 

[Chrome_Pony]

I realize it's kind of frowned upon but I do it anyway. I keep soft shackles in my recovery kit so those never have to come off.

What bumper is this?

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