Okay I know that this does not have anything to do with hot rods street rods or even cars but I have to find a biased group to ask. I do alot of off roading with a full size Bronco, it weighs around 5000 lbs (approx.) and I need to attach tow points to it, for club participation. I have a set of "D" rings that are rated for 15000 lbs. The clubs rules say that the tow points need to be at least rated at 1 1/2 times the weight of the vehicle, so my "D" rings are definatly going to work. Now the question, Should I weld the brackets on or bolt them on?? Different ppl say different things. I know that the weld will break before the it bends and that a bolt grade 5 or 8 will bend before they break, and that is a major point that alot of the other ppl have said to make the bolts better than weld. My thoughts are that when you build a roll cage, you weld it together, and they can stand a tremendous impact without breaking. I have been part of a pit crew for a local track before and have seen the roll cage bend before the weld breaks (which I know is supposed to happen) but if a person thinks of it, a Dirt track car weighs around 2300 lbs (??) and going at 90 mph and blows a tire and drives the car into a wall, you don't see welds break. So if I do weld on the attachment points am I asking for trouble?? should I go with the others ideas and just bolt them on?? I have to think that when my 5000lbs bronco is stuck in the mud that the mud will act like a vaccuum holding it in. or over a rock....... I am at a loss and any ideas would be appreciated.