Towing w/o factory hooks??

[DocDetonancour]

I had the misfortune of getting stuck in deep snow and my "lot truck" came w/o tow hooks A road patrol came along and offered to tow me, but when I crawled under my 04 I couldn't find anyplace to hook to w/o causing major damage. How much are the factory hooks and are they hard to install? Does anyone know of any other option to make the RAM towable w/o the factory hooks. Seems someone on here said to have a grill guard we can't have the tow hooks anyway? Seems to be a lot of cooling and plastic under the trucks and no clean place to grab the frame. thanks for your help, Doc

 

[Prairie Dog]

The factory hooks are about $120 and are a PITA to install but, they are very strong and well worth the money. The instructions tell you to remove the bumper - I worked around it and thats what probably made it so hard.



Scotty

 

[coobie]

Tow Hooks !!!

My truck (2500 Ram ) did not come with the hooks. Dealer charged $200 installed coobie:{

 

[Tony T.]

Covers for the tow hooks

Do the new tow hooks come with new plastic covers with slots already cut in the plastic to slide over the hooks after install, or do you have to cut slots in the orginal ones. I tried one day to remove the plastic covers, and the screws holding them on just kept turning like somthing was striped out. Only tried two of the screws though.

 

[DF5152]

took my hooks off since i installed a warn light bar replaced the hooks with a front receiver. the hooks were nice but i probably would have never used them they were recessed to far into my sport bumber for my liking.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Man I'm glad I checked the $44 "Tow Hooks" box on my order sheet

I figured it was a cheap substitute for 4x4, and knowing I would most likely be the towee versus the tower



Vaughn

 

[DocDetonancour]

? for DF5152

Great looking truck! did you have to remove the bumper to install the warn? How tough were the tow hooks to take off? What can you hook to now if you need a tow? Thanks, Doc

 

[DF5152]

yes i removed the bumper to install the receiver it was quite simple there are some pictures on my web page. now if i need a tow i just slide a draw bar in the receiver with a clevis on it. the receiver is designed for warns remote mount winch system so its an excellent snatch point

 

[klenger]

I was going to order the factory tow hooks for my new one, and thought that I could get them for $44, but then when I changed to a 4WD, I found out that I need to order the protection package at $80 to get them. I didn't want the extra weight of the skid plate as I never go off-road, and I have never needed to tow hooks. Hope I don't regret it someday.



kl

 

[coobie]

Tony t.

When the dealer installed my hooks the plastic cover stays off. No new covers,over the hooks. coobie

 

[Tony T.]

Re: Tony t.

Originally posted by coobie

When the dealer installed my hooks the plastic cover stays off. No new covers,over the hooks. coobie

OK! Thanks for the come back. I did'nt know for sure, or not if the covers would fit back after a install (altered). Have not been close enough to one with tow hooks to notice. Thanks again

 

[JMarhofke]

There are "oval" slots in the frames that are used for tie downs during transportaion. These slots are also used for "recovery" and or transporting on a "flatbed" truck. The most common "hook" used with these slots are called a " T " hook, or

a " mini J " hook. They can be used with chain's or straps, and

are inexpensive. The can be found at towing supply companies, such as A. W. Direct. ( Tow hooks are still nice to have )



Jim

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by JMarhofke

There are "oval" slots in the frames that are used for tie downs during transportaion. These slots are also used for "recovery" and or transporting on a "flatbed" truck. The most common "hook" used with these slots are called a " T " hook, or

a " mini J " hook. They can be used with chain's or straps, and

are inexpensive. The can be found at towing supply companies, such as A. W. Direct. ( Tow hooks are still nice to have )



Jim

I have found them alongside the interstate where they fell off the car carriers. If you know someone that works for the Highway Department, I'll bet they can locate you some.



Dean

 

[klenger]

JMarhofke



Thanks for the tip. What kind of store or online site would sell those? Would a tow truck have those?

 

[y-knot]

Try this, Dorian at Buckstop might be able to help. They sell there winch mount bumpers compleat with tow hooks that bolt to the frame. Mine came in a generic brown box, I don't think they were any Dodge part. But if he has access to Tow Hooks that fit, like he must. Maybe he would be willing to sell them, and I would bet his price is alot cheaper then Dodge's. It is worth a shot.

 

[sellisrulz]

I went with the Warn front receiver. $140, and quite simple to install. 3 bolts per side hold on the front bumper, Weighs less than 100 lbs. I did the whole job myself. Removed bumper, mounted reciever, drilled holes in frame, re intsalled bumper.

2 hours max, and thats becuase I kept reading the directions over and over to make sure i didnt miss anything. Sublte, stout, and extremely versatile. Throw the winch in when needed, bike rack, tow clevis, trailer hitch, hitch haul. . you name it...

better than hooks any day. My 02

 

[JStieger]

I think the stock hooks are pretty stout!



Check out my post in the off-roading forum from last August:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80452

 

[sellisrulz]

I agree the cast steel hooks from the factory are very stout. Rated at 5500lbs each (i think). I had them om my 2000 Off Road gasser. Problem is, hooks are hooks, and can pretty much only be used as hooks. Which is why I went with the warn front receiver, many more uses and options. I like having a winch, but dont like it permanently mounted out front. I once had a winch on the front, and nosed into a ditch (different vehicle). Now my winch stays securely in the tool bok, out of sight, out of the weather, and if I need it front or rear, I have it.

 

[DocDetonancour]

Oval slots?

Where are the slots that are used for transportation? thanks, Doc

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I made a front receiver hitch, probably similar to the Warn. I prefer pulling from the center of the frame, rather than one corner. As noted in another post, such a hitch is versatile; you can put in a ball mount and spot a trailer into a tight place. You can put a nylon pull strap into the receiver and hold it with the 5/8" pin.