Tow Hooks

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There are no tow hooks on the front end of my truck. Do I need to weld some on or is there a place for them. Help I'm new.

2001 24V,4x4,LB,QC 250 miles

 

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There are mounting holes under there, as well as two existing bolts that are re-used if you get the Mopar hooks. The instructions for the Mopar hooks also have you drilling two holes in a crossmember (3 mounting holes in the hooks, but only 2 existing ones in the crossmember).

I put the Mopar hooks on a couple of weeks ago - took about an hour.



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2001 2500 4x4 QC LWB ETH/DEE SLT+ Tow Pkg 3. 54 LSD, Shift-on-the-fly, Patriot Blue / Agate

 

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Thanks DonS, I assume you got them from the dealer.

Originally posted by BrentMW:
There are no tow hooks on the front end of my truck. Do I need to weld some on or is there a place for them. Help I'm new.

2001 24V,4x4,LB,QC 250 miles

 

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I had the same problem. I purchased the MOPAR kit and put them on myself. The instructions were good and the skill level required was not high. Lots of time on your back under the front end of the truck. It took me less than 2 hours on my 2000 Ram.

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Chuck
2000 Quad Cab 2500 Auto w/4:10 rear end.
Rigged to tow a 5th wheel.

 

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Brent-

Actually, I got them from my dad. He put a hitch on the front of his Ram, and can't have both. I presume that he got them from the dealer.

Instead of drilling a hole in the crossmember when he installed them on his truck, he opted for drilling a new hole in the tow hook's bracket, so that it matched up to where there was already a 3rd hole in the crossmember (he's been trying to avoid drilling/cutting his truck). That saved me a little time.

 

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He did get them from the dealer Don. You might add that you didn't have to cut the openings in the air dam because he gave that to you too!

 

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Brent,

There are some good pictures & tech on the hooks here: http://www.ecpe.vt.edu/~dfritz/Ram/4x4/tow_hook/tow_hooks.htm

 

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also a good price source. . beats the dealer most of the time by 15-25 %
www.mopar4less.com



[This message has been edited by willyslover (edited 01-03-2001). ]

 

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My experience with moparforless.com is that I can typically get the same price here in town at the local Dodge dealer. And yes I made sure last time I called for a quote to tell them I wanted the "internet sales" price. If fact, I told the receptionist and the parts guy.

Just my experience.
Ryan

 

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I also installed a set of Mopar tow hooks on my rig. I didn't have to drill any holes to mount these (non-Sport truck),so I'm not sure why Don had to do any drilling,all the trucks have the same crossmember.
The price is a bit high for a set of tow hooks,but these are mega tough... well worth the price.

-Mike

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'00,2500QC,4x4,LWB,Dark Garnet,6spd,3. 54lsd,SLT,DD stage II,Psychotty air,Jacobs ebrake,Isspro pyro & boost gauges,2wd-low,Airoquip fuel lines,Smittybilt nerfs,BFG 285/75 AT's,Midland cb,Clarion 6-disc changer,10-level PM3,Reese 5th-wheel hitch

 

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Originally posted by MikeR:
I also installed a set of Mopar tow hooks on my rig. I didn't have to drill any holes to mount these (non-Sport truck),so I'm not sure why Don had to do any drilling,all the trucks have the same crossmember.

Well, you wouldn't HAVE to drill any holes to install them - you'd only drill the holes if you wanted to install all three bolts that hold the bracket to the crossmember. The directions that came with my hooks (P/N 82202863) say:

'8) Using hole in tow hook mounting bracket as a guide, drill 1/2" hole in frame crossmember. '

If you wanted to avoid any drilling, you could leave out that 3rd bolt - don't know what that would do to the hooks' 5500# capacity, though...

BTW - my truck is also a non-sport, but that should make no difference.

 

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Instead of going with the OEM hooks I went with the front mount reciever hitch which you can install a clevis hook, service step, bike/sports rack, winch or trailer ball mount into and it has a tow strap on both ends that you can hook to as well. Search the other posts and you can find a picture of another members rig with a front mount.

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'99, 2500, QC, SLT, LWB, 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 3. 5xlsd, tow pac, HD tcase, tow mirrors, camper pac.

Alias: Martin Allen Bursell (posted per guidlines)

 

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I agree the front receiver is the way to go. If you don't like all the extra things that the receiver allows you to do (bike rack, step, ect) the receiver is still better IMO. The reason being that when using a clevis in the receiver the force is distributed equally (or close to it) to both frame rails. With the tow hook you are jerking on only one frame rail.

I know the frames on our trucks are strong, but why take the chance of tweaking the frame. Unless you are going for the 4x4 looking tow hooks, the receiver makes more sense to me.

 

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I installed ALL bolts and they aligned perfectly. Sounds like there are different versions of the tow hooks.

Now Mopar mud flaps, that's a different story.

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David Dressler
2001 Driftwood 3500 Quad Cab 4x4, 155 inch WB, HO Cummins (ETH), 6-Speed (DEE), SLT+, 3. 54 LSD, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Heated Leather, Sliding Window, Jacob's E-Brake, Rhino Liner, VDO Vision (pyro, boost, engine + diff. temp. ), Weather Guard Diamond Plate Saddle Box, Tork Lift camper tie-downs, Mag-Hytec, Mopar Tow Hooks, AND functional Halo light!
Bigfoot 3000 10. 11 Slide-in Camper. "Do it in a Dually"

 

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Maybe you're on to something,dresslered. Could be an earlier P/N box or something.
I don't have my invoice anymore so I can't check the P/N's. I used all the bolts that came with my kit(except for the sport reinforcement brackets),and my instructions didn't say to drill anything. The holes were all there for the three bolts on each side.

-Mike

 

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I too installed all bolts with no drilling required. If I recall, the instructions indicated drilling may be required on earlier year models(?)


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'01 2500 SLT+, QC, LWB, 4X4, 3. 54s, AT, SPA guages, Alpha Liner, every option but running lights!

'98 DUCATI ST2 "Bombed" 944CC with Ducati Performance Carbon Fiber Exhaust, F. I. M. Chip, K&N and "modified" air box.

 

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I had a 99. 5 and had to drill one hole for each hook, I traded it for a 01. 5 and was able to bolt the hooks right on with no drilling.
If I was to do it all over again I would have went with a reciever in the front.
See Ya
Chris

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2001. 5 2500 Intense Blue Sport 285-16 BFGs mounted on 8x16 Baja
6 speed 4:10 limited slip heavy duty everything, Cab lights, Xenon flares, Linexed Nerf bars, Linexed OTR bed, Brush/grill guard,
no heated seats or leather.

 

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Whatever you do, I would suggest that you not weld the hoods on. I've seen some nasty, dangerous breaks with welded tow hooks in the past. The heat must weaken the hooks or change the temper. Use good quality, grade 8's for best results. Torque the bolt to spec for the diameter of the bolt.

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01. 5 ETH/DEE QC, 2500 4X4, 3. 54 Everything but leather