Nilight Shackle Hitch Receiver 2Inch 45000 LBs Breaking Strength 3/4" D Ring w/Trailer Pin Heavy Duty Solid Recovery Towing Kit for Trucks Jeeps Off-Road

I keep a dedicated recovery point in the hitch of my truck, and the Nilight shackle hitch has earned that spot. It’s a compact, no-nonsense block of drop-forged steel that turns a standard 2-inch receiver into a reliable anchor for straps, ropes, or chains. After a few weeks of use—yard work, light recovery, and a salty highway run—it proved exactly what I want in a hitch-mounted shackle: strong, simple, and predictable.

Build and design

The Nilight shackle hitch is a solid piece of drop-forged steel with a rated working load of 11,000 lb and a 45,000 lb breaking point. That margin matters. You should always operate within the working load limit (WLL), but the high break strength adds confidence when shock loads or imperfect angles show up in real life. The receiver body is powder coated, and the included 3/4-inch D-ring shackle is also coated and electro-galvanized. Out of the box, the finish was even and free of thin spots and bubbles.

I appreciate two thoughtful touches in the design:

• Dual hitch pin holes. You can run the recovery point with the shackle “ears” vertical or horizontal. That flexibility lets you align your strap or rope with the direction of pull to avoid side-loading a shackle.
• Isolator and washers. Nilight includes a rubber isolator that snaps over the shackle and two plastic washers for the shackle pin. They cut down on clatter and keep metal from scuffing your bumper or swing-out.

A 5/8-inch hitch pin comes in the kit. It’s a standard, no-frills pin that matches the tough, utilitarian vibe of the block.

Setup and fit

Install is as easy as it gets: slide the hitch into a 2-inch receiver, choose your orientation, and run the 5/8-inch pin through. Tolerances on receivers vary; in my Class III truck receiver, the fit was typical—slight play both vertically and horizontally. The included isolator and washers tame some of the noise from the shackle itself, but the receiver-to-shank play can still rattle on broken pavement.

A quick tip: if you care about rattles or plan to leave it installed full time, add an external hitch tightener (the U-bolt style that clamps the receiver tube). Internal anti-rattle systems that rely on threading into a hollow shank won’t work here, because this unit is a solid block.

In the field

I used the Nilight shackle hitch for a handful of common tasks:

• Recovering a stuck truck from soft sand with a 30-foot kinetic rope and the included D-ring. With the block oriented to put the shackle in line with the pull, it handled a couple of controlled tugs without complaint. Everything stayed snug, and the isolator prevented the bow from smacking the bumper when tension released.
• Dragging downed limbs and a couple of medium logs around a property. With a chain and grab hook attached to the shackle, the setup took repeated, jerky loads. The shackle pin stayed put and didn’t bind; the washers helped keep the paint from getting chewed on the first day.
• Anchoring for a directional pull using a tree saver strap. The square edges and paint weren’t fussy, and the shackle threads engaged smoothly even with cold, muddy hands.

The practical benefit of this style of receiver anchor is straightforward: it’s stronger and safer than looping a strap over a ball mount, and it keeps the recovery forces on the receiver where they belong. The Nilight unit doesn’t pretend to be exotic—it just gives you a clean, rated place to hook up and pull.

Durability and corrosion resistance

After a week of road salt and a couple of muddy recoveries, the finish still looked good. As with any coated recovery hardware, the bow and the ears will show marks once you start working them against steel hooks, chains, and the like. That’s normal. The powder coat here seems harder than the typical bargain-bin finish; it took longer to show the first chip, and when it did, it was at a sharp edge—again, par for the course.

The shackle’s electro-galvanized layer under the powder coat is a nice touch. I wiped everything down after use; no flash rust appeared on the pin threads or the body. A dab of anti-seize on the shackle pin is worth the minute it takes, especially if you’re around salt or fine sand.

Ergonomics and usability

• Weight: it’s hefty, which is good for strength and stability, but you’ll notice it when you remove or install it. I’d rather have the mass than a hollow-bodied block.
• Shank length: the block sits a reasonable distance from the bumper, giving the shackle room to articulate without hitting the fascia on most trucks. If your receiver is deeply recessed, you’ll appreciate the clearance.
• Hardware: the shackle pin threads were clean and smooth, with a positive stop. No galling or gritty spots out of the box.

Limitations

A few practical caveats:

• Rattle: like many receiver-mounted accessories, there’s a bit of play. Plan on a hitch tightener if you’re sensitive to noise.
• Isolator durability: the rubber isolator is great with straps and soft gear. If you use chains regularly, it’s easy to nick. I remove the isolator for chain work and snap it back on when I’m done.
• Not a lifting point: this is recovery hardware for vehicles, not a rigging point for overhead lifts. Stick to the WLL and avoid shock loads whenever possible.
• No internal anti-rattle option: because the shank is solid, you can’t use the inside-the-tube expansion gadgets. External clamps are the way to go.

Value and alternatives

You can assemble a similar setup piecemeal, but the Nilight shackle hitch’s value is in the complete kit: a forged block, a 3/4-inch D-ring, washers, isolator, and a 5/8-inch pin, backed by a two-year warranty. There are lighter, billet-style aluminum receiver blocks on the market, and there are premium options with integrated anti-rattle features. There are also minimal solutions that simply use a hitch pin as the recovery point. In my experience, this forged steel block hits a sweet spot for price-to-performance: it’s likely stronger than most users will ever need, doesn’t require babying, and doesn’t compromise on the basics.

If you’re outfitting a dedicated recovery kit for frequent, high-stress use, you may want to add soft shackles and straps rated well above your vehicle’s gross weight, and consider a second shackle for snatch-block setups. The Nilight block plays nicely in that ecosystem.

Safety notes and best practices

• Align the shackle with the direction of pull by choosing the appropriate pin hole, and avoid side loading.
• Use the working load limit as your ceiling; the high break rating is not a license to exceed the WLL.
• Hand-tighten the shackle pin and back it off a quarter-turn so it won’t bind under load.
• Inspect the block and hardware after any hard pull; retire anything with deep gouges, bent components, or cracked coatings.

Recommendation

I recommend the Nilight shackle hitch for anyone who wants a reliable, ready-to-go recovery anchor on a 2-inch receiver. It’s overbuilt where it counts, the dual-orientation design is genuinely useful, and the included shackle, isolator, and washers make it quiet and bumper-safe in day-to-day use. Expect a little receiver rattle and plan for an external tightener if that bugs you; remove the isolator when working with chains. Those minor quirks aside, this is a stout, well-finished piece of gear that holds up to real-world use without drama. For most truck, Jeep, and UTV owners who need a trustworthy recovery point, it’s an easy yes.