Just installed mine today.
I was at the junkyard yesterday looking for an entirely different part, and one of the Explorers I looked at not only had the original tow hooks, but someone had already snatched the front bumper cover, so they were right there for the taking. I hadn't brought my impact wrench as I wasn't expecting to need it, but to my surprise I was actually able to get them off with my standard ratchet, and something had told me to bring my telescopic magnetic pickup, which made it a cinch to retrieve the anchor plates from inside the frame (since there was no bumper cover). Both shackles, anchor plates, and bolts were just over $10 with tax - $0 out of pocket since I had a credit from a returned part a while back.
The installation wasn't super easy. I tried getting the anchor plates in by only removing the 2 lower bolts on the bumper cover, but it just wasn't happening. Tried to just unbolt it since it technically shouldn't have been that difficult, and both of the 10mm bolts (well, more like screws with bolt heads) sheared off due to corrosion. Fortunately, loosening the one side (and the lower bolts) gave me more than enough room to just drop the anchor plates into place without actually removing the bumper cover. It was easy actually mounting the hooks. I used a thin screwdriver to align the bolt hole in the anchor plate over the opening in the frame, started the rear bolt by hand, slipped the tow hook on, started the front bolt, then just zipped all 4 in with the impact wrench.
It finally looks complete. I didn't like the filler plates in the bumper where it was obvious something more useful should have been, and I appreciate the ability to easily hook up to the front end just in case. Now I just need to replace my old worn out recovery strap.