Factory Tow Hooks

[Diesel Gunner]

I would be interested in anyones experience with adding factory tow hooks to a 2001 sport truck. Does the front bumper have to have holes cut in it ? Is there an aftermarket supplier that has a better set up?

I was shocked when I found out that they wanted 139 bucks for them at Dodge. I would prefer not to install a different bumper but may be forced to if I install my winch up front. My plan was to put the winch in the rear and hooks on front.

 

[GFoley]

If I was already planning on a front winch, skip the hooks now, go for a good bumper/mount set up and add aftermarket hooks then. I too was put off by the cost of OEM hooks. I have installed a Warn Trans4mer winch mount w/ guards. I'll continue to use my clevis since I can mount it at either end now.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Hooks

Thanks, GFoley. What I really want to do at this time though is just mount hooks on the front and mount the winch that I have in the rear of the truck. The winch that I have is only an 8000 pounder and would serve me well there. You know, to retrieve other vehicles without wasting the clutch. Then, a while down the road put a larger unit on the front. My truck already bottoms occasionally on the front axle while traversing very rough terrain (stock suspension). I cannot say that I am really excited about adding huge amounts of weight to the front end. I also do not want to lift the truck because I use it to tow a 26' travel trailer and don't believe that is a wise proposition.

Right now I would just like to have a reasonable place to hook up to in the case that I get brain fade while off-roading and bury myself. I know that it can happen. Espscially with those stock Michelin M&S tires. I haven't been stuck with them yet, but they sure dont dig like the mud terains I have on my old Ford.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I'm moving this over to the 2nd gen forum where it will get better exposure. Another option you may consider is to put a front receiver hitch on your truck instead of the tow hooks. Draw tite makes a bolt up front 2" receiver that's about the same price as the factory tow hooks - approx $130. Then you just get a clevis or a hook that plugs into the receiver. That's what I did on my truck and the thing I like about it is if I ever have to pull at the front I'll be pulling on both frame rails, not just one (so I'm less likely to pull the frame out of alignment.

 

[JHansen]

Second the receiver hitch idea!

I've got a Hidden Hitch front receiver hitch mounted on my 2001 Sport. Yeah, you've gotta trim the front fascia (and some of the metal behind it ) but you're gonna have to cut on your fascia to mount the hooks too. There's a pic of my truck-albeit small and poor quality in my Reader's Rigs photo album-click on the link below my name to get to the album and then scroll through the pics. I'd be glad to answer any questions you've got about the install.



Jason