REAR tow hooks

[CAC91]

OK guys, I've already searched for info of anyone talking about putting tow hooks on the back end of the Explorer. Does anyone out there have tow hooks in the back? Come on guys, the front end won't be the only place that you'll need a place for the strap, trust me... Any help is appreciated.

 

[leebo]

I triend to weld/bolt a pair onto the area where you'd put a hitch. Don't do this. I lost one hook from putting it there due to bad driving, I've got one on the other side mounted the same way that I wont use again. I'm going to drill into the frame and mount mine. It looks like the bumper will need to be removed but thats simple. I'm also thinking about getting lazy and just buying some shackles and putting them back there. If you have a hitch thats what I'd do.

 

[Alec]

Hmm, there are some holes in the rear bumper where you attach tow chains with the built-in tow ball. That should be able to support the weight of the truck if it's not stuck too badly, as it can support a trailer if the tow ball breaks.

 

[leebo]

you don't like your bumper do you??? Your not only pulling the weight of the truck+the force of what your stuck in, but there will also be a quick jerk(see mattadams;p) at the beging of the pull. On top of that I wouldn't want to try to guess the about of force put against you by what you're stuck in. You can't measure it....guess wrong and there goes your bumper.

 

[tiessen]

I have a regular tow hook (J**p style) bolted to a piece of 1/2" flat bar which is top to bottom on the outside of the frame and is angled down behind my shackle. The tow hook has 2 grade 8 bolts, the flat bar has 2 grade 8 bolts. I've used it twice and it's already bending. No more heavy use for it. The only way to go for solid use is a receiver hitch or custom bumper. Don't put peoples' lives at risk!

Cheers

Dale

 

[BigDave]

Cac91,

Do you already have a hitch installed? If so use the pin in the hitch with the loop of the tow strap on it. That's what I do. Then again, this is all moot if you don't have the hitch.

Dave

 

[Brett]

I've got a set of generic tow hooks mounted to the side of my rear frame rails. I had to drill 1 hole at about a 45 degree angle. I have Grade 8 hardware to hold it all together. The hooks are slightly hidden by the bumper, but still are eaisly available. So far I've used them 5 times w/o a problem, plus I've used them as tie down points when I've had to haul my truck on my trailer.

 

[RFR2212]

Brett--How hard was it to drill through the frame?
Pete

 

[Brett]

Pete,

It's not very hard to drill through the frame. Just make sure you have a good bit made to drill steel. I used a 1/2 inch bit which ran me about $14 at a local hardware store.

 

[Jim F]

I believe a receiver hitch is the best choice for rear pulling. Check out this thread regarding inserts for a 2 inch receiver hitch:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=16949

 

[CAC91]

Dave, no I don't have a receiver. I was just wondering if anyone had gotten around the tow hook dilemma without a receiver. I guess it's kinda tough to do.

 

[Brett]

No, it's not tough. It took me about 30 minutes to install mine. I'll try to put up some pictures later.

 

[Paul]

Chris -

I agree with Brett - - it only takes a few minutes to set up decent tow hooks on the rear of any Explorer.

For mine I used steel squared tubing (like receiver hitches are made of) as a drop down bracket below the bumper for standard GM tow hooks (part # 999866). The brackets were drilled and mount directly to the frame. The tow hooks ride about 1/2" below my bumper, offering a degree of protection, but not reducing the departure angle as much as mounting a standard reciever hitch.

If you are interested in some photos, let me know on this thread and I'll e-mail them to you.

Paul
'91 Sport

 

[CAC91]

Paul and anyone else, I'd love to see pictures of your setups if it's not too much trouble!

 

[Paul]

Chris -

I have some digital photos, but am probably the only guy left in America without a personal web site (so I can't post them on this board).

I'll gladly e-mail them to you, or better yet, if Brett won't mind posting them, I'll send them to him to post on this thread.

Brett?? I still have your e-mail address - - mind posting some photos ??

Paul
'91 Sport

 

[tac0meat]

while we are on the subject of tow hooks, are there any available for the front of 91-94 exploerers? im talking one that is strong as hell and completely bolt on and that doesnt cost an arm and a leg. any have one or know of one?

 

[Brett]

Hey Paul,

I don't mind posting them. Just send me an email with the attachments.

 

[GJarrett]

Here's my rear tow hook, thanks to Brett's ideas. You are looking from the left of the underside at my Warrior shackle and rear bumper bracket. In between is a well-used towhook mounted sideways on my left framerail. It sacrifices no ground clearance below the bumper and works great. I used it underwater and overwater on several different vehicles about ten times at the Slabs run in Texas last weekend. Thanks for the idea Brett.

I'll straighten the clip and paint it all black again tomorrow and it'll be as good as new.

 

[CAC91]

Gerald, that is a really clean install. I don't think an identical approach will work on my Explorer (91) because I don't have a body lift and the bumper hangs lower than the frame by a bit. I'll double check though cause thats what I was thinking of. Thanks

 

[GJarrett]

In that case you could hang it down instead of sideways, and the hook will protect your bumper and be dead even with the bottom of it. Be sure and put some kind of clip on it in front of the hook (maybe a stronger one) to help mitigate the hook catching and hanging up on stuff.