Has anyone replaced their front tow hooks?

[Bill2014]

Wait - those are tow hooks? I thought they Were light mounts...

[Reloaderguy]

None of that even matters, the factory tow hooks exceed the strength of their mount. It only looks like they are frame mounted, the tow hooks and bumper mount to two sheet metal boxes. A high lift under the new shackle mount will pretzel the bumper and mount.

You're basing that on what? Those boxes ARE mounted to the frame, and they are not sheet metal. Bolts go into what is a cap over the front of the frame, then it wraps the frame and there were two additional bolts on each side into the frame. The winch is wedged on one side. My bumper came with a spacer plate to recreate this when I removed mine.

However, based on how they mounted, I do agree they could shift and pretezel the bumper with applied force.

Sure looks like stamped sheet metal to me. It's based on all the "why is my bumper bent" threads on various forums. The factory hooks are more than enough for how they are mounted.

[Reloaderguy]

http://www.ramforum.com/f158/adjusting_ ... oks-89968/

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/2013- ... cs/1924714

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/2013- ... ics/997282

[OffroadTreks]

Sure looks like stamped sheet metal to me. It's based on all the "why is my bumper bent" threads on various forums. The factory hooks are more than enough for how they are mounted.

I hear sheetmetal I think fender thin. But I guess by the technical def of anything less than .25 is "sheetmetal". But you said they aren't mounted to the frame, when they are.

But as stated, adjustment for aligning the bumper is built into the design, so yea, they'll move.

[Reloaderguy]

Your pictures clearly show the tow hooks are not mounted/bolted to the frame. The tow hooks are mounted to the bumper mounts which are stamped sheet metal. What do you think is going to happen if you extend the tow point and then lever it upward? Ram's HD tow hook mounts are total bullshit. Bolt all the forged, welded, and gusseted hooks you want, it'll probably perform worse.

The only way to improve the tow hooks is to replace the bumper.

[OffroadTreks]

Your pictures clearly show the tow hooks are not mounted/bolted to the frame. The tow hooks are mounted to the bumper mounts which are stamped sheet metal. What do you think is going to happen if you extend the tow point and then lever it upward? Ram's HD tow hook mounts are total bullshit. Bolt all the forged, welded, and gusseted hooks you want, it'll probably perform worse.

The only way to improve the tow hooks is to replace the bumper.

Oh well excuse me. Mounting them to a backing plate that mounts to the frame isn't the same. Are you an engineer by chance? You argue like one. It's not red, it's magenta! : roll: Semantics at this point when I've said the same thing 3 times.

But as stated, adjustment for aligning the bumper is built into the design, so yea, they'll move.

[Reloaderguy]

It's not semantics, Ram actually makes frame mounted tow hooks for other model trucks. They are made from welded forgings.

[DamageWagon]

It's not semantics, Ram actually makes frame mounted tow hooks for other model trucks. They are made from welded forgings.

Link so I can buy them

[Reloaderguy]

https://www.ebay.com/i/263015202127?chn ... 3972217015

[RustyPW]

Glad we don't have these problems with the 3G's.

[Bill2014]

https://www.ebay.com/i/263015202127?chn ... 3972217015

What are the chances that they will fit on the 2500 frame, specifically the Power Wagon. Doesn't list them as compatible...

[Reloaderguy]

I don't think they are compatible with a PW. They are not a direct bolt up on 2500/3500 trucks. I think you have to clearance a bracket and cut ports in the lower bumper valence.

[agpilot]

I don't think they are compatible with a PW. They are not a direct bolt up on 2500/3500 trucks. I think you have to clearance a bracket and cut ports in the lower bumper valence.

Yeah I had looked at this option as well. On cumminsforum someone tried putting these on a 2500. Will likely require welding to the frame as only one bolt hole lines up and not very well. see here

[verdesardog]

OEM tow hooks are not cast, they are forged.

[RustyPW]

OEM tow hooks are not cast, they are forged.

On the 3G's at least. The 4G's may be cast.

[Reloaderguy]

Do they look like a 3rd gen exhaust stud? If so they could be made out of play dough.

[13BlkPowerWagon]

Based on the pictures of those shackle mounts, there's no way in hell you're going to pull those things apart with a factory winch, and 1 or even 2 snatch blocks... There has to be over 2 square inches of weldment on there, and the gussets are bonus. Figure even with a fair quality weld, you'll get >50% of the tensile strength of a good weld. Assuming a 60ksi filler (most likely its 70ksi, which is almost standard), you've got at least 50k lb worth of support there... Meanwhile, the pin on your shackle is rated to 13,000lb.

The limiting factor on that is the shackle... Then the bolts holding it on (or the bumper/bracket, but I'm not even guessing on that). That hunk of steel and the welds on it are overbuilt by 5-10x.

And yes... I am a mechanical engineer.

[Easttnrhino]

Hey agpilot would you mind measuring how long the piece that the clevis goes in is. And did they bolt up okay? Thanks

[agpilot]

Hey agpilot would you mind measuring how long the piece that the clevis goes in is. And did they bolt up okay? Thanks

6" - from front to top of mounting plate

6" and 7/16ths overall length front to back

4.75" from the top of the mounting plate to the center of the hole

They bolted up fine, haven't put load to them yet. Will report back the first time I winch hard on them - probably next week or so.

[Easttnrhino]

Thanks

[Easttnrhino]

More question for agpilot is the plate with the holes that bolts down the exact size as tow hook that comes off. The reason I am asking I am also most likley going to put a randy ellis design light bar on also and it sandwichs between tow hooks and where they bolt down. Thanks for the info

[Bill2014]

More question for agpilot is the plate with the holes that bolts down the exact size as tow hook that comes off. The reason I am asking I am also most likley going to put a randy ellis design light bar on also and it sandwichs between tow hooks and where they bolt down. Thanks for the info

See - I knew all along - they are really light mounts

[TwinStick]

In some of the pulls/extractions that I have done, it would be helpful to be able to change the clevis' pivot point, to either up & down or left to right. Sometimes you just can't maneuver to be 100% dead on straight.

These http://pattonfab.com/?product=03-14-dod ... -tow-hooks would add stress for side pulls because they simply stick out farther & increase leverage, but if you added these http://www.ebay.com/itm/X-BULL-Trailer- ... 2054420320 You would be able to change the pivot points from vertical to horizontal if need be. Those are just an example, & i think the hitch pin hole is a little too close to the end.