Tow Hooks.
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Tow Hooks.
I recently bought a set of tow hooks from the local 4x4 place and went home to bolt them on… I cant remember the name brand but they look like any other that I have seen. The trouble I ran into is they don’t match up with any bolt holes on the frame rails leading out to my bumper. I had assumed that there would be some generic/universial place to mount them. So does anyone have any advice on, adapter brackets, drilling holes or should I wait until I put a grill guard on and see about mounting them that way.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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-Ryan<o></o>
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> </o>Thanks,<o
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> </o>-Ryan<o
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Corinth, TX
I believe that one hole on each hook will match up to the frame, and you will need to drill a second hole for each hook. I haven't done this myself, but I'm 90% sure that's what I remember reading.
-Josh
-Josh
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DRILL, DRILL, DRILL! Thats what I did on mine. I placed mine right up against the bumper at the bottom of the frame. The holes were kind of tricky to drill as the part of the frame is corrugated. I took off the plastic bumper skirt instead of cutting a portion for access. Another option you have is to weld it on if you have a flat mounting surface on the frame.
Last edited by redrumybronco; Jun 10, 2004 at 02:44 PM.
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From: Alberta
I was going to put tow hooks on my 95f150 but it was to much of a pain and i was told to put shackles on so i did. Went to a welding shop for them to weld brackets on all 4 points of my frame with holes drilled through them so i can put the shackles on and off, it also looks alot cooler. Rated for 20 000lbs and my hooks were only rated for 10 000lbs i think. The welders around here are some of the best in the world due to the oil patch. It cost $80 Can for all 4 brackets to be fabbed and welded.
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Drill it is…was, or well, will be!
I had bolted one of the hooks on with one bolt and marked the second hole for drilling. I started in on it and about the time the outer edges of the bit got hold of the metal the bit seized up and the drill maid an odd noise and quit. So now I have a new…hammer I guess. I have got to replace the drill and then I can finish up.
Thanks for your advice and suggestions. Got any for a quality cordless drill...
-Ryan
I had bolted one of the hooks on with one bolt and marked the second hole for drilling. I started in on it and about the time the outer edges of the bit got hold of the metal the bit seized up and the drill maid an odd noise and quit. So now I have a new…hammer I guess. I have got to replace the drill and then I can finish up.
Thanks for your advice and suggestions. Got any for a quality cordless drill...
-Ryan
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cordless??? I dunno about that! Too much torque involved for drilling into the frame for me, I used a big heavy drill that I had to hold with both hands and knees, you want the kind of drill that is used to drill on 1/4" steel plate... not a drill you use to put screws on walls to hang pictures... It will save you time in the long run I think.
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From: West Texas
if you have cast tow hooks, good luck welding them yourself unless you are a pro. otherwise, line up one bolt hole on a solid frame rail and drill the secound hole. make sure to use good strong warshers to keep the bolts from pulling through your frame. it worked for me.
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skelator brings a good point about the use of washers... I sure used them too. You can see a pic of one of my hooks in my gallery but I would need to take the bumper off to take a pic inside the frame... I should have taken pics during the install... I know better now for future projects.