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DannyDigital
03/13/2010, 04:59 PM
Are we supposed to have 2 tow hooks in the front or just 1? I see in a lot of pics you guys have 2...

I had to pull my buddies Taco out of some mud and realized I only have 1 hook on the passenger side. (I like to document everything...)

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/DannyDigital/IMG_3713.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/DannyDigital/IMG_3715.jpg
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m195/DannyDigital/IMG_3720.jpg

Pulled him out super easy, I just want another tow hook anyways...
VX KAT
03/13/2010, 05:05 PM
OEM includes 1 hook on front pass side as you found. There's 2 tie down points in front, and one on pass rear. What you're seeing in pics is the shackle/clevis hooks people have put on the tie down points, that's why you're seeing 2...see my pics. They're not true recovery points, they were used to tie down the vehicle for transport, but many here use them as recovery points. Some have reported they have bent them during use.

See my recent thread "recovery / snatch straps 101" I have some pictures of all of them.
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=17190&highlight=recovery+straps+101
navistar
03/15/2010, 12:42 PM
You can mount 2 tow hooks, the holes are there. I got an additional tow hook and had a machine shop cut it, flip it and weld it. Then had them powder coated.

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/TowHooks.jpg
Moncha
03/15/2010, 04:04 PM
You can mount 2 tow hooks, the holes are there. I got an additional tow hook and had a machine shop cut it, flip it and weld it. Then had them powder coated.



How's the strength and trustworthiness on doing this?
navistar
03/15/2010, 04:21 PM
I had the welding done locally at a high end machine shop. It looked perfect before powder coating. They didn't give me any kind of guarantee. I have never used the hooks for anything so for me it's just for symmetry.
DannyDigital
03/15/2010, 06:42 PM
Is it a VX tow hook or aftermarket? I was looking at a few hooks at harbor freight but nothing that looked like it would match up.
Moncha
03/15/2010, 07:22 PM
Its the OE hook, cut, flipped, welded, and so on.

Anyone else have input on doing this and the ramifications?
SPAZZ
03/15/2010, 11:52 PM
let me know?
DannyDigital
03/16/2010, 07:42 PM
Yesss. With bolts? How much?
SlowPro48
03/16/2010, 09:40 PM
DannyDigitalDude are you going to need all three? If not I'd like to get one and try what Navi did.

Sure would make it easier to tie the front of my shell down. Just use a piece of rope with a loop in the middle and one on each end... Automatic centering!
navistar
03/16/2010, 11:24 PM
How's the strength and trustworthiness on doing this?

Scott,

You make me pause and think. Would this tow hook ever cause someone to be hurt? As I said before, it's just for symmetry and it's solidly welded and very strong but is it completely trustworthy? No, nothing is. I would rather remove it than ran the risk. And that said, I am not encouraging anyone to do it without careful consideration. What would be the stress placed on this lone hook during towing: Tow truck tows VX out of a 30 foot ravine through the mud and across the asphalt to be loaded with all the wheels bent and locked up. :confused:
samneil2000
03/17/2010, 07:09 AM
If you left it stock and mounted it without modding, would it fit? I think it would just face the same direction as the passenger side, so it wouldn't look as good. But, it would be safe for use (providing the proper bolts are used to mount it).
SlowPro48
03/17/2010, 12:38 PM
Navi here's what you do - send me that menace-to-society tow hook you've fabbed up and, in exchange for the hook, I will create a mold of it and make a rubber tow hook for you. That way I get a hook that, although it might not withstand the shock of being yanked by a chain, would surely be capable of securing a 40 pound boat to the top of my VX - and you get a sense of symmetry without endangering the public! Deal?