Tow Hook Installation

[Boaring1961]

Finished the tow hooks today and while it wasn't a difficult job it sure took a while. The hardest part of it all was getting the bumper aligned perfectly when I was putting everything back together. More my fault since I have a problem making sure everything is perfect, which took some time.

 

[Blakers]

I put tow hooks on my 03 and didn't have to remove the bumper. Just do one at a time so you don't loose the alignment of the bumper. The OEM tow hooks are not good for using a chain as you'll scratch the paint up on your grill and bumper with the chain, so I welded hooks to the sides of mine before I installed them.

 

[Boaring1961]

I'd have to say it'd be impossible to put them on my 2005 without taking off the bumper. I tried a few different ways and then talked to a Dodge tech and after he looked at it he said the same thing. Crap, I had to loosen the darn intercooler to and push it up just to get the bracket bolts back in place. Like I said not hard, but a time consuming process. I'm guessing the 2003 bumper is a bit different or maybe the frame is at that location.

 

[AH64ID]

It's been a few year, but I think it's impossible to put them on with the full support bracket without removing the bumper.

Chain is not ever recommended for recovery, it's far too dangerous.

 

[Boaring1961]

Chain is too expensive and heavy too. Do you want 100 feet of grade 8 chain floating in the back of your truck? Synthetic is the only way to go IMO.

 

[Blakers]

On my 03 I put the support bracket and all on without removing the bumper. As far as chains go, I carry a tow strap and a couple good-sized chains. Sometimes I need them all just to reach a point to hook up to a comalong, or to another truck or tractor or dozer to pull me out. Or for me to pull them out. I have used chains for 40 years and they are just fine. Whatever it takes when you are in a bad situation. I have probably a thousand pounds of tools, etc in my truck, so 100 foot of chain is not going to make that much difference. And the weight helps traction.

 

[AH64ID]

Anyone who knows the breaking strength of chain and the breaking strength of rope uses rope, it's stronger and safer. Go to some of the 4wd clubs and forums, chains aren't even allowed on sanctioned runs because of how dangerous the are. But hey it's your truck and life, just don't use them around other people.

 

[Blakers]

You're making me angry. I posted on this forum to help with suggestions about installing the hooks and it's gone downhill to critism on using chains. We farm, we have been in the excavating business, we have logged, we work in the oil and gas business and have used chains for generations. Long before anyone ever thought of making straps out of plastic. We have towed tri-axle dump trucks out of muddy lease roads and sites with chains for years. We tie dozers down with chains. We have chains that could pull a pickup in half. We don't use dog chains because we know those can break!!!

 

[mwilson]

You're making me angry. I posted on this forum to help with suggestions about installing the hooks and it's gone downhill to critism on using chains. We farm, we have been in the excavating business, we have logged, we work in the oil and gas business and have used chains for generations. Long before anyone ever thought of making straps out of plastic. We have towed tri-axle dump trucks out of muddy lease roads and sites with chains for years. We tie dozers down with chains. We have chains that could pull a pickup in half. We don't use dog chains because we know those can break!!!

I too have worked with chains doing everything that you do except for the oil and gas thingy. The old school chain thing is fine as long as the tow-er and tow-ee know what they are doing. I have towed stuck 18 wheel trucks with 3/8" chain before, one only, as you know has to be careful to not jerk the chain. Have used chains to hook a 16 yard dump body to a dozers winch so that I could dump the gravel without rolling the truck over in soft ground. A little hard on the nerves because for some reason I always seemed to be the schmuck in the truck running the dump body.



I learned the same way that I'm sure you did, if you screwed up you broke the chain and it went flying. I (if I was the tow-ee) used to duck down behind the truck's dash and hug the passenger seat until the chain hit the ground.



Sometimes you would find something on the truck's floor that you had lost a few months back while you were down there waiting for things to quit flying around. . That's always a good thing.





In my later years I learned about the straps and find them handy a lot of the time, sometimes though a chain still does better. I still have several 20' foot chains in the garage that I use from time to time.



The best thing with a strap to me is that you can get a little mite of a run when you are towing somone that has no idea what they are doing. A careful application of a 3/4 ton 4x4 CTD and a tow strap can bring the most stupid driver and vehicle out of a snowbank at a high rate of speed without harming the towing truck. Wheels turned the wrong way, still in Park, etc. . It really doesn't matter They are coming out of that snowbank, like it or not.



And straps can be broken too and go flying. I have done it, put one through the grill on the MegaCab one snowy Easter Sunday. I was towing another CTD with a 9' plow that was busting a road open. He would push as far as he could with me behind, as soon as he was stuck I would tow him backwards. Repeat, repeat.

Well on one stroke we got out of sync and that strap blew apart. I got the worst of it..... :{



My MIL lived a mile in on that road and she was stranded or we would not have been attempting such a thing.



So don't be angry, it is all in what you are used to. You and I learned about the do's and dont's of chains when it was the only option.



Mike.

 

[Blakers]

Thanks for the post Mike. I'm really not angry, but I just started feeling like an amateur being told over and over about the dangers of chains, etc. Most of the time now I use my tow strap to pull others out, or to get pulled out. But I carry the chains to extend the distance when the strap does not reach, or to tie my comalong to a tree or something substantial. I learned a long time ago when towing someone or being towed by a chain, it takes two operators who know what they are doing and know how to keep the chain taunt all the time. For long tows (and before straps existed) we used to tie an old tire between two chains, between two vehicles, to absorb the shock. Another thing I have learned, is if you are pulling hard on a chain (or cable) to throw someone's jacket over it to absorb energy in case it snaps. It really does work.

Blake

 

[AH64ID]

I'm not trying to come across as an attack on you, just pointing out the dangers of chains. I have seen too many bad situations from chains and will not be anywhere near anyone hooking two trucks with chains, IMHO it's just plain stupid. Off the cuff it would seem a chain is a better choice, but once you see what they can do and you do a little research it's easy to make the switch away from them.

Chains were designed for static loads, like holding things down. They are not for yanking on, and they are not designed to handle the impact.

Straps too can break, but it's much harder to break a strap and they carry a lot less energy when they break. A simple coat over a strap will stop nearly all of the energy from a break, not so much with a chain.

The stretch and give of a strap not only saves the trucks involved from damage, but actually increases the force on the stuck truck.

So while it's not a personal attack, I stand by my stance on chains, and won't be standing anywhere near if they are used.

1/2" Grade 70 transport chain has a working load of 11,300 lbs
3" tow straps are commonly rated at 30,000 lbs
1/2" synthetic rope is rated at about 30-36K lbs.