Expe Tow Hooks?

[Robb]

Hey Guys!

I took my dad's Expe out the other day and took a clance at the front tow hooks. Me Like! The hooks mount to the bottom of the frame rail and stick through an opening in the bumper valance. My X has a similar valance opening and I think it lines up about at the bottom of the frame (the truck isn't here to directly look at), but I think it may work. I know on similar Xs with the valance, there is the problem, with mounting tow hooks on the side of the frame, of the valance getting in the way. This should locate the tow hook in front of the valance.

What do ya think?

Robb

 

[Alec]

You'll probably need to get long grade 5 or grade 8 bolts to go through the frame, but if it all lines up, go for it!

 

[JoshC]

I was thinking the same thing Robb. I've got a set up at the shop off of a 99 F150 that are like that. We are going to put them on another F150 we have, but i think they'd be great. I put them to good use on my truck and i like the design really well.

Happy trails!!

 

[Alec]

Just keep in mind that to use closed tow hooks you'll need something like this:

Tow straps with hooks in them are a

 

[taxx]

you can get short grade 8 bolts in there. You just have to take off the bumper and fish the nuts around with a screw driver.

 

[Robb]

Yea, the use of clevises would be a given, that is fine with me. I don't quite trust open tow hooks.........a little bit of slack, and the bad boy can fall off. But why go through the whole frame to mount? Bolting through the bottom should be plenty of support, and that is how they came stock.

Robb

 

[kontinu1]

where did you get the shackle from, and how do you hook to it, i've been thinking of gettting a tow hitch , reciever shackle, it goes in like a tow ball hitch would. Would you use a tow strap with hooks or a tow strap without hooks, how does it work? if anyone could take a pic of the setup i would appreciate it.

 

[Alec]

Never use a tow strap with hooks. Straps can break and then you have a heavy hook flying at your face or window.

Hitch reciever clevises are available at 4 Wheel Parts, that's where I got mine:

Dead Link Removed

Just unscrew the clevis, put the loop of the tow strap around the horseshoe, then reassemble it. Some people also just insert the hitch pin through a tow strap stuffed into the reciever and don't use a clevis.

 

[Robb]

This is what they look like on an Expe:
Dead Link Removed

 

[kontinu1]

thanks alec a lot, looks good, here i go again spending more money, I just tell myself "I NEED THIS" it should come in handy. I just mounted 2 front tow hooks and i've used them about 4 times already(2 weeks). I just got a hi-lift jack still waiting to use that

 

[JoshC]

Originally posted by Alec
Some people also just insert the hitch pin through a tow strap stuffed into the reciever and don't use a clevis.

I had a 93 Explorer years ago and i got hung up once and did this, ended up having to torch the pin off the hitch cause it was bent so bad!

Another thing i was going to mention to you Alec. On my hitch, like you have, i got some 1x3/8" stick metal and welded it to the back sides of the hitch then went to the inside frame rails of my explorer and bolted it to each side with grade 8 bolts. I was just scared of bending it out or bowing it with some hard pulls. I've got a tow hook on the back, but you never know.

Happy trails!!

 

[Mikes95XLT]

Originally posted by Alec
Never use a tow strap with hooks. Straps can break and then you have a heavy hook flying at your face or window.

Where do you attach a tow strap without hooks? Cause I've seen the spot to attach the hooks, but where would you put the one's without hooks?

 

[Alec]

use a clevis on a closed tow point or have an open tow hook.

 

[Mikes95XLT]

I don't have any kind of clevis or anywhere to put one.... what if I just used like a hitch ball in the spot in my bumper and put the strap around that? Or would I bend my bumper or something?

 

[Alec]

I think you misunderstood.

I meant never use a strap with hooks attached to the strap. Use a strap with loops at the ends.

Of course you need tow hooks!!!!

 

[taxx]

Originally posted by Mikes95XLT
I don't have any kind of clevis or anywhere to put one.... what if I just used like a hitch ball in the spot in my bumper and put the strap around that? Or would I bend my bumper or something?

don't pull from your bumper. it isn't designed to support the weight of the vehicle like that. You can get a hook in the rear right there on the bottom of the frame rail.

 

[Mikes95XLT]

No I got that part....

But I dont have either tow hooks or a clevis or anything like that. I only ask because I have thought about buying a tow strap before but dont know how to really attach it without tow hooks etc....

 

[Mikes95XLT]

Originally posted by taxxman2k
don't pull from your bumper. it isn't designed to support the weight of the vehicle like that. You can get a hook in the rear right there on the bottom of the frame rail.

So you are suggesting I buy a clevis hook and attach that down to the frame rail, and then I can attach the looped strap there? Cause I know exactly where you're talking about, but you guys said not to buy a strap with hooks....

 

[Alec]

Install tow hooks

 

[Mikes95XLT]

I want to... it might be a summer project for me. If I buy a brushguard will that interfere with the installation of tow hooks?