Tow hooks or other recovery options

[jeep_canuck]

I have a 77 Cherokee, NT.

I need to mount recovery points on my truck before I take it off into the boonies. I could try without 'em, but that don't seem too safe . . .

I can't see any mounting locations on the frame for tow hooks. Am I just not seeing them? Or do I need to drill the frame (something I don't want to do due to lack of expertise, tools, space, etc . . . )

Are there alternatives to mounting tow hooks on the frame?

What do you all recommend?

[desert_freak]

I'm building a bumpers with D-shackles and 2" receivers for my hard core rig but if you have a tow hitch that is a great recovery point for the rear. There are some great 2" receiver inserts that have a d-shackle on them or you can in a pinch, insert your strap into the receiver and insert the pin, just don't yank it too hard :rolleyes: for $40 get the receiver insert.

I mounted a tow hook on each frame rail in the back of my J10 (no rear bumper or tow hitch) and used existing holes!

The front is defineately a little more complicated, but others will probably chime in with ideas.

P.J.

[dnixon]

The only way that I have seen is to cut your bumper and weld/drill into the mounts and use a spacker of some sort to drop the hook down far enough... Sorry...

[Chris Brown]

This is of no help, but...

I saw a page last night, where the guy had a pickup and mounted some eye bolts through the bumper. He said this were used with concrete and had a 10,000 pound load rating. He had all kinds of pictures, but now I cant find them.

Lots of help, huh?

[Millerluck]

Here's how I did mine.

Heavy wall tube with plates on ends with taped holes. Tube fits behind bumper and has the same hole pat as the bumper.

http://www.gladi8r.com/Larry_tow_bar.htm

Then bars poking through bumper. With D rings on the front.

Thanks Gladi8r for hosting these pics still. :D

Later

Larry Miller

Easy to copy.

Good luck.

[ November 14, 2002, 07:31 PM: Message edited by: Millerluck ]

[LHopper]

On my 78 WT I used a 4"x 1/4" channle put the hook on the channle, and added that to the bottom of the front frame. I did have to drill the frame, and bold it up.

[BIGYELLOW78J10]

The eyebolts are on my rig. I have "tested" them, but my tests are far from scientific. I hooked up to a big tree stump and gassed it. Didn't pull up the stump, diddn't break the bolts, didn't pull off the bumper.

The eyebolts are 1/2" diameter with a shoulder. Rated for 2600# working load, no word on ultimate load, but I would assume 2-3x for a fastener of this type.

I will only use the eyebolts as a pair with a nylon strap inbetween, and so far I have not had an opportunity to use them. I consider them to be a temporary option and should be used with great caution. However, their rating is somewhat consistent with towhooks on the market. I fear the bumper bracket may be the limiting factor.

I would like to bolt a length of structural tubing across the frame at the front crossmember, drill ad sleeve through this and the crossmember and install a 1" or greater shouldered eyebolt.

But I am a fan of using the things I work with daily. The 1" bolts are used in fall safety systems designed to catch and arrest the fall of a 300 lb worker from various heights. Quite an impressive bit of metal.

An idea I have liked better involves a length of chain and a few chain repair links. Search for that one. The chain is wrapped over the frame rail and front x member.

Good luck,

Daniel

ps the pics are on my jeep site below

[Chris Brown]

Hey Big Yellow!! Thanks for the help with the e-drive stuff. Yeah, that was your site. I looked all over my history and could not find it.

I think this is a pretty slick set-up.

CB

[CowKiller]

i went to an army surplus store and bought 2 500000lb rated hooks of a duce and a half. bolted on on the outside of the frame in the front, in the passenger side. in the rear i bolted it staight to the frame, but ended up taking it off and but receiver threw bumper.

also have 2 d rings hanging of each side framerail in the rear

[gp_frk]

Larry you wouldn't happen to have a set of prints for that set up would you?

[LHopper]

No, I don`t have any prints, but if you get 4"X 2" x 1/4" channle at lesed 4" for each hook. Drill and tap for the hooks and drill all the way throught the 2" sides, [I used 1/2" bolts 4-1/2" long] then the frame drilled to match on the front, and your set.
Not to bad I have used them with no problems. Good luck; Larry

[jeepguzzi]

I kind of stole Millerluc's idea and took it in a different direction. I made a whole new bumper, but maybe you can modify these to work with a stock bumper. The thing to watch out for is that the shackles might make contact when they move. Mine just nicked the tow hook bracket on full flex. Spacing them out from the frame and using longer tubing might clear them. I used 4" x 3" x 1/4" tubing that I cut diagonally to make the two brackets. I have a piece of 3" x 2" structural tubing between the framerails with 1/2" plate welded onto the end of it and drilled and tapped to bolt the tow hook brackets onto. I don't know if I'll ever use them, because I also made the bumper with a receiver hitch and a tow point.

Here is a close up: http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/jeeps/files/Misc-Pictures/towhooks.jpg

[ November 16, 2002, 07:21 AM: Message edited by: jeepguzzi ]

[andy d]

iirc Kenal's web site has the diagram for the chain loops wrapped around the front x-member

[jeep_canuck]

Okay, I think I have figured out what I want to do . . .

I'm thinking about getting hold of maybe two or three all-purpose clevis hooks (shackles?), and attaching them to my Cherokee through existing mounting holes in the frame.

What do you think? Might this work, or is this just about the dumbest thing you've heard of?