I have a 76 F250 4X4 and i was wondering what people have done for recovery/tow hooks on the front of the truck. I dont see a way to mount them to the frame unless i mount them to the side of the frame because of the front leaf springs. The PO (I assume, it doesnt look stock) has a piece of angle iron from one rail to the other and bolted it between the rail and the leafs. I was considering building something similar but a little thicker that i could mount some hooks to. Any ideas or something i am overlooking?

 

Upper pic (lower) shows tow hooks (D0HZ-17A954-B right/left) mounted to frame rails on 1973/77 F500 (same: 1970/79 F500/750) / Obsolete

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 5 = 800-543-4959.
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Lower pic shows tow hooks (D8TZ-17A954-A right & D8TZ-17A955-A left) mounted to frame rails on 1978/79 F100/350 / Obsolete

MCDONALD OBSOLETE PARTS CO. in Rockport IN has D8TZ-17A954-A right side = 812-359-4965.

 

Here is what the PO of my blue truck came up with, works great for pulling chebbies out. lol

2nd pic is a cheap way to put cheap hooks on the under side of the frame rails. It was again a PO deal and you can see the bend where he should of used 2 bolts. That is a 79 Parts Bronco in the 2nd pic.

That style of tow hook in the 1st few pics can be found in a JY on the front end of 98/99 and up Expeditions and I am sure Excursions/Super Duty's/F250's ect.. for fairly cheap. I buy every set I see in my local JY.

 

Both of the hook options above look pretty unsafe to me. I don't like the loading put in the vertical one, and the horizontal one needs 2 bolts for sure. I bought hooks off of a late 80s early 90s blazer/s10. They come threaded but I drilled out the threads to use 1/2" grade 8 hardware. The front hole is the factory bumper mount, I drilled the back one.

 

I never really like the hook style for recovery points, as the chain would always seem to fall off at the best time.

I found the newer style ford trucks (2000's?) had this loop style that bolted to the bottom of the frame and hung under the bumper and look almost stock. Drill a couple of holes, and use the nut strip and it's done!