If I take out the ball, do I have a recovery point?
 

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...1223082300.jpg

If I take out the ball, can I put a d-link through the ball link and use it for a recovery point? I imagine that'd be the strongest point there, not to mention it'd be easy to get to. I just bring this up on account that the hitch is already mounted, and swapping it out for a 2" receiver and getting a fancy d-link hitch would be expensive.

NO, the hitch like that is not ment for the loads a tow point is put through.. Including if you got pulled or did pull someone off center you'll pull that thing right off the Jeep..

Any way to tap into that hitch design for a recovery?

That appears to be a very weak "bumper" type hitch. You really need a class III for a decent hitch. Seriously. I wouldn't tow my snowblower trailer with that get-up the way it is now. Call around, I have seen nice frame hitches for abut $125 here installed for my XJ. REESE or DrawTite I think.

Do NOT use that for a recovery point. You WILL get hurt or damage something.

It mounts all the way back under the frame. More pictures will be available tomorrow.

what's a recovery point? that looks like it'll rip your bumper right off.

A recovery point is where you get your ***** pulled out of something you got stuck in.
Fast forward to the last 30 seconds to see the actual recovery.
As for that bit about the bumper being pulled off:
Edit: before people think I'm glorifying Land Rover, just remember: who's in the mudpit, and who's clean?

Edit 2: naughty, naughty. LR guy just threw the loop over the hitch. Shows what he knows.

It might mount way back on the unibody but that isn't the scary part. Do you honestly trust the single bolt... :dunno:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...untitled-1.jpg

Alright, more pics on their way right now.

I'm taking out the ball though, my plan was to put a d-link directly through where the ball is now.

I would say that you could tow little amounts with that, but by the looks of it no more then ooh, 700lbs. to be safe. So yanking someone out would kill that thing or rip the bolts out of the bumper and frame leaving you with a mangled mess. My advice is to get a cheap class III hitch for your jeep. BY no means use it as your only recovery point......there not designed for it but for a yank or two here and there its fine.

Alright, here's some more photos for you. The hitch is bolted directly to the unibody at 5 different points: two at each side, one directly behind the hitch. The hitch also bolts into the bumper, giving more tie-ins (granted, not as strong) into the bumper itself.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...p/hitch001.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...p/hitch002.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...p/hitch003.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...p/hitch004.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...p/hitch005.jpg

I still say no.

On what grounds?

Now that I see the pics you can tow more then that. Again thought its not designed for the lateral strain pulling someone out requires, if your pulling hard. A normal class III hitch for a cherokee will have 3 mounting bolts on each side of the unibody and none in the middle. Yours seems to be fairly strong by the looks of it. Thats all I will say since I have no idea what its rated for.

note: I used my dads hitch on his cherokee to pull our work van today up a hill and it weighs a heck of allot with tools in it. I just kept from yanking too hard on it.