Missing parts
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 18
Originally Posted by Breeze5
I thought my dealership would care about their customers but I guess not. Now I'm worried about getting warranty work done so I may end up dropping the whole issue. Now I'm wondering if I should have bought a Ford.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
Originally Posted by 1saxman
Over a freakin' tow hook? Nobody inspects for them on a trade-in. I agree you should have them particularly on a 4WD
but I agree, freaking out over 2 tow hooks missing is kinda strange. just look at it as a learning experience and move on. you know better for next time.
btw: this is in no way a dealership failing to do the right thing. Dodge, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan, or any other dealership would be the same way. it's a used truck and unless the bumper was damaged, I'll bet the OP was the first person to notice it was missing besides the original owner when he took his bull bar or grill guard off
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Spokane
Basing the purchase of a ford on whether it has tow hooks or not? Many trucks, 2wd, 4x4, import, domestic, whatever didn't come factory with tow hooks. It's just a luxury that most of the truck population has.
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
Funny, I bought a new 4x2 supercab end of July. Great deal, great truck, although it's my first Auto trans and it takes some getting used to.
While shopping trucks (my fourth Ford), the dealership had a Ford display touting the superior features of the Ford box frame and comparing their beefy tow hooks to others in their class.
On vacation, I discovered my STX is Hook-less.
I bought a 2003 Subaru and it wasn't 'til I got it home that
I found that it lacked keylocks on trunk and passenger doors.
Bought my 1st new car, a '83 Ford Ranger, and it wasn't 'til the drive home that I discovered that Ford, in their wisdom, had discontinued the wing windows, no big deal if you used 2 hands to roll up the window at highway speeds so it could find its way to the track.
Like I said, so far, great truck,(although I haven't located the plugs yet---I'm sure you still need those!)
Glad to have a resource like this to be able to find out that they can be retro-fitted, although I'll have to take a saw to my front trim.
JW
While shopping trucks (my fourth Ford), the dealership had a Ford display touting the superior features of the Ford box frame and comparing their beefy tow hooks to others in their class.
On vacation, I discovered my STX is Hook-less.
I bought a 2003 Subaru and it wasn't 'til I got it home that
I found that it lacked keylocks on trunk and passenger doors.
Bought my 1st new car, a '83 Ford Ranger, and it wasn't 'til the drive home that I discovered that Ford, in their wisdom, had discontinued the wing windows, no big deal if you used 2 hands to roll up the window at highway speeds so it could find its way to the track.
Like I said, so far, great truck,(although I haven't located the plugs yet---I'm sure you still need those!)
Glad to have a resource like this to be able to find out that they can be retro-fitted, although I'll have to take a saw to my front trim.
JW
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,849
Likes: 1
From: Seattle
Because the truckis a 4x4does not mean that it came with tow hooks as standard equipment. Tow hooks were an option, so the "missing" tow hooks may well have never been there to begin with. I doubt that someone would remove them for the heck of it.
Dan.
Dan.
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Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,537
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach, Ms.
Here you go starting bid $0.99 + $10 shipping
eBay Motors: Ford Truck Tow Hooks F85A-17A954-CA Super Heavy Duty (item 190250899364 end time Sep-16-08 12:32:32 PDT)
eBay Motors: Ford Truck Tow Hooks F85A-17A954-CA Super Heavy Duty (item 190250899364 end time Sep-16-08 12:32:32 PDT)
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
Thanks, RW---
I had assumed that they were basic, standard equipment, and didn't specifically look for them on my truck at the lot. I wondered if this was common.
My impression from the dealer display was that the hooks were integral to the frame and may have been welded-on. I discovered here that they're bolt-on and easily obtained.
I knew by looking at the valance that my truck never had hooks.
I just piggy-backed this old thread because this is where a forum search of tow hooks directed me.
JW
I had assumed that they were basic, standard equipment, and didn't specifically look for them on my truck at the lot. I wondered if this was common.
My impression from the dealer display was that the hooks were integral to the frame and may have been welded-on. I discovered here that they're bolt-on and easily obtained.
I knew by looking at the valance that my truck never had hooks.
I just piggy-backed this old thread because this is where a forum search of tow hooks directed me.
JW
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Louisville
I thought all Ford 4x4 F-150s come with front tow hooks?? If your truck has factory holes cut into the trim piece on the bottom of your front bumper, I would think the truck originally had the tow hooks. The trucks that lacked the tow hooks from the factory have a different trim piece on the bottom of the front bumper.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Louisville
Since this your first 4x4, I thought I would share...
You need to put your truck into 4x4 hi about once a month while driving on a straight away for about a block or so and then switch it back to 2wd. This will keep the 4x4 mechanisim under the truck lubercated. Some componets of the 4x4 system on your truck (like many other trucks with electronic 4x4 shift) will dry out and cause premature wear. It really sucks to take off in your truck during the first snowfall and find that nothing hapens when you flip that 4wd switch!
