I want to mount 2 stainless steel D-ring shackles on the front of my 78 F250 4x4. I want them to be mounted around the frame horns but i have no clue what they would mount to... I dont want to put a receiver hitch up front and mount the D-ring to that. my question is what can they mount to up front? would i have to make my own mout some how?

 

I'm in the same predicament.

You'll have to mount the shackles to the frame somehow. Have you considered sandwiching the front bumper btween a blacking plate welded to the frame and the shackle mount?

Or, cut a hole in your bumper and weld a tab to the frame. You will need a really good weld lest it rips off and is hurled towards whatever your truck might be strapped to... like the guy trying to pull you out . ... That wouldn't be good.

 

there is basically no front crossmember on our trucks. I don't think its a bad idea to have a machine shop make you one (should be cheap) and weld on those shackles to that. even a moderate tug will be around 10,000 lbs of force. You want it mounted to something stout. And the way the frame horns are from the factory, if the force isn't centered its liable to bend the frame.

 

Concur with hasteranger above. A crossmember (or spreader bar as it is called on hot rods) is needed to keep the horns squared up.

I thought about mounting them outboard of the frame with an angled bar back to provide triangulation when it is pulled. Even then, I'm not sure if the bumper can withstand that kind of force so a stronger framing just for the D-ring might be the ticket. In the end, it seems alot of work just to hang a couple of shackles. Hence, it's been low on my fabrication to-do list.

 

I would make a crossmember that had the receiver mount hidden behind the license plate.

Josh

 

This build thread by 75F350 might give you some ideas. The front attachment point is outlined on pages 4 and 5.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ge-pics-4.html

 

You still have a few options if you dont want a receiver hitch up front. You could do a custom fabbed bumper up front.


or even



and put some D rings on them.

 

the factory bumper isn't strong enough to tow off of. So why bolt something to the factory bumper that you want to bolt a tow hook to?
and the winch bumper is probably overkill. You just need a piece of maybe 3" square steel stock, 1/8 or 1/4 (mine is 1/4 but probably overkill) to fit the front frame horns. Bolt it in from the bottom and put leaf spring mounts below it and you get a free inch or two of lift up front...

 

the front D-rings will be purely for looks. If i am ever stuck or need to be recovered from somewhere i will a a receiver hitch mounted D-ring out back...i just like the look of 2 D-ring shackles up front. so where would be a good place to mount them?

 

uhhh. bolt them to the hood? who cares if its just for looks?

and btw you can't use a receiver mounted anything for recovery.

 

 

Looks great chase.

I am making something similar for my hghboy. 2x4x1/4 rec tubing. Will extend just below the front bumper with tow hooks and receiver. Also fabing up some tube nerf bars.

Doug

 

thats really nice looking, chase. My crossmember will look similar. Only not quite as sexy.