explorer sport trac 3" BL tow hook solution

[--weezl--]

as a lot of people know, when you do a body lift on most vehicles (especially fords) the tow hooks give clearance issues with the front valence, today at the junk yard, my buddy (who has an 02 sport trac) and i happened upon some tow hooks which we were planning to make fit, however, after test fitting them, we found they fit in the stock mounting place, using the 2 stock mounting holes! the hooks are off of an s-10 blazer, i am not entirely sure the year though... the hooks are this style, they fit perfectly, almost like they were made for this exact application! and best of all, they stick out just far enough, and are about 1/2" off of the front valance so they look perfectly stock!

and if i remember correctly, this is pretty well the donor vehicle, a 96 blazer

also stole the trailer hitch off of a 91 style 4 runner, and based on a very quick measurement, it's within 1/2 inch of a perfect match for the sport trac

 

[Nfuriate]

Any chance you have a picture of what these look like installed on the lifted ST? Losing my tow hooks is one things that's always kept me from a body lift.

 

[MidnightRebel07]

I will this spring whenever I get a chance to weld the brackets stronger to the frame because the factory stamp welds ripped away from the frame a couple years back when I was pulling stumps and my buddy crossed the straps instead of putting them on like I showed him.

 

[darkside1k]

i notched the lower part of the bumper on mine to reinstall the tow hooks.

 

[darkside1k]

 

[MidnightRebel07]

With the S-10 tow hooks you don't have to knotch the bumper cover and they look stock.

 

[coco944x4s]

with the s-10 hooks you loose the strength of the full hoop design. Didnt you ever wonder why Ford made them that way in the first place???

 

[03whtexpsprt]

tow hooks

I pulled a set of ford factory tow hooks off of a 01 exp. sport and i have a 03 exp. sport....i was wondering if the tow hooks from the 01 will fit my 03 as much of anything will becuase they are the same body style......it didnt come with them and i want a set on there for when i off road and such...called the dealer and they said that they werent to sure and they said the new set for my year would be $100.00 +.....screw that i paid a tenth for the ones i pulled off at the junk yard!!!!!!!

 

[MidnightRebel07]

Yep, they'll fit. The mounting brackets should be there just need the bolts from the '01.

 

[ramren16]

I pulled a set of ford factory tow hooks off of a 01 exp. sport and i have a 03 exp. sport....i was wondering if the tow hooks from the 01 will fit my 03 as much of anything will becuase they are the same body style......it didnt come with them and i want a set on there for when i off road and such...called the dealer and they said that they werent to sure and they said the new set for my year would be $100.00 +.....screw that i paid a tenth for the ones i pulled off at the junk yard!!!!!!!

not to be mean but why didnt you just go try and install them before asking your question you could have even looked and could tell if they bolt on if you took them off your old sport

 

[03whtexpsprt]

@MidnightRebel07...If you mean the curved L brackets/ spacers...yeah I pulled those as well....I pulled everything off the one that was at the junkyard... the bumper nut.....the bolts...the L bracket/spacer...the top stamped nut...and of course the hooks...and its all ford stamped....not to bad of deal if you ask me....

@ramren16...A: I was still in the process of sandblasting/priming and painting them.....if you know anything about that...its a little difficult to test fit em when all of that is going on....and B: If you would have read my post I said in there that when I contacted the dealer they said that they werent sure if they would fit......and C: I didnt get these off my old sport....i got them off of one at a junkyard...

 

[MidnightRebel07]

You should be good to go then when you get them painted.

 

[ramren16]

@ramren16...A: I was still in the process of sandblasting/priming and painting them.....if you know anything about that...its a little difficult to test fit em when all of that is going on....and B: If you would have read my post I said in there that when I contacted the dealer they said that they werent sure if they would fit......and C: I didnt get these off my old sport....i got them off of one at a junkyard...[/QUOTE]

i know all about the sandblasting process just did it to my old winch. dont call the stealership for that kinda info they dont know sh*t all they want to do is sell you new parts.