I've seen that front loop break a few times.  Each time it was caused by a tow truck driver using it to help secure a van to the truck.  However, that's mostly a downward force and quite dissimilar to normal use.

Sometimes I wish I would've taken pictures of all the dumb connection points I've seen tow truck drivers use on Vanagons.  A broken tow loop is nothing.  How about large rips in the undercarriage where they hooked their chains... Or a broken CV after they attached the rear chains to the axle shafts... Or a plethora of bent front suspension parts due to the chains being hooked up around them or even directly to them.  I learned a long time ago to check the van before they start unloading.  Once it's on the ground, you own it and whatever damage they may have done.

Cheers, 

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of miguel pacheco
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 10:43 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Place to mount shackles?

Back to reality.....Mr Squirrel has made it pretty clear just how aggressive
he intends to get. Clearly that 'sheet metal' is adequate for his needs. I
can safely guess that most of the people on this list will find that front
loop more than adequate. I don't know just where I might fall into a 'study
group,' if one ever was created, but I can safely state, judging by this
conversation, that I've tested this little loop more than enough to have a
damned good opinion of what it can do. I've used it and never wondered what
it's limitations were. I've just put it to work and it has never failed. Not
like a damned fool, tearing away, shocking the works and so on. That's how
you break anything. In any case, I've pulled many embarrassed 3/4 ton pick
em up trucks out of the snow banks, with my little old Syncro, over the last
25 yrs in Colorado....with that little loop in the front. So here is my
science. Go and try to break it........I have.
Miguel

Controversial, revolutionary signature line removed as requested........