1980 and older - Front tow hooks

[nofeartruckin00]

Alright, what are people using on 1980 and older trucks for front tow hooks? The 81-91 front frames seem different, so the bolt holes on those tow hooks don't line up with anything I can see. What options are out there for a '79 pickup?

 

[dyeager535]

There were factory tow hooks for the pre-'81 stuff, but probably a bit harder to find.

Not many folks that are serious about wheeling use the stock hooks, you can find many examples of hooks ripped through the bumper because of the load applied to them. They will easily handle pulling full size cars out of ditches (for example) but are just not made to handle a 5000lb+ truck being jerked out of mud.

 

[pauly383]

I am with Dorian . I prefer something solid . I upgraded to a real bumper made for wheeling , with shackle mounts . I am never going back to hooks . A shackle is made for what we use them for , and hold the straps better .

 

[dremu]

Alright, what are people using on 1980 and older trucks for front tow hooks? The 81-91 front frames seem different, so the bolt holes on those tow hooks don't line up with anything I can see. What options are out there for a '79 pickup?

The factory hooks for 73-80 are nice and beefy ... but as pointed out, the mounting points leave something to be desired. For serious recovery work, a real shackle on a real mount point woudl be best.

-- A

 

[jamber2541]

when I had my 76 and 77 k5s I used aftermarket tow hooks bolted to the frame, all I had to do was drill a couple of hole on the frame and they really worked great

 

[Grim-Reaper]

The factory hooks on the newer dodge trucks kick ass.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-2006-Dodge-Ram-Tow-Hooks-2500-3500_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6763QQihZ010QQitemZ200032179274QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[Metrodps]

I searched under "tow Hooks" and got these.....

1973-80 Chevy GMC tow hooks. Blazer, Jimmy, pickup
Item number: 170034516307

OR these!
CHEVROLET, GM TOW HOOKS for Trucks, Blazers, Suburbans
Item number: 200031791787

CHEVY FRONT TOW HOOKS N/R eBay Item number: 270034751788

 

[Jimbo*]

Those are the 88 up new body style tow hooks. I've seen several of that style broken off where the hook meets the shank.
Jimbo

 

[Jimbo*]

I've got a set of those, I agree, they are killer. I don't want to trust them though, as they are a casting, not a forging.
Jimbo

 

[dremu]

Those are the 88 up new body style tow hooks. I've seen several of that style broken off where the hook meets the shank.
Jimbo

The bottom pic is the new style.

The first pic is the 73-80 ones -- as I said, decent, though the attachment points aren't great.

The middle pic, I donno. Might be 73-80's with hardware, hard to tell from the pic.

-- A

 

[Metrodps]

My father had a construction company back in the 70's and 80's that built the subdivisions before any houses and all we did was take a hook like these cut the part off where you put the chain and welded them to the front lower part of the frame in front.

Then on the rear of all our trucks we had pintle hooks.

Both worked great as I had a habit of burying our two wheel drives in the mud. We pulled them out using big Allis Chalmers 745 wheel loaders and never lost a hook!

 

[nofeartruckin00]

Sounds like there are a few options, thanks guys. Rear recovery isn't a problem, I have a class III hitch in the rear (attaches with 6 bolts to the frame) and have a solid 2" block with a hole for a 3/4" pin shackle, I believe is made by superwinch. I have the aftermarket type hooks that bolts to the frame with 2 holes (jeep style I guess) sitting in the garage. Maybe a crossmember between the front of the frame ends would be best for the recovery point.