Tow Hook Mounting

[bowtieman55]

could someone explain it to me/enlighten me a little on this mod? I don't really comprehend the instructions.
http://www.ifsja.org/tech/misc/towhook.html

*edit-thanks Pete

[Mack_T]

Looks like plans for a strengthening piece for the frame rail, which you would mount the tow hook to.

[83waggy]

cant help you with those but here is how i did mine, It mounts on the frame rail through the same bolt holes as the bumper (bumper mounts and tow hooks sandwich the frame) I used some big grade 8 bolts and 3/8 or 1/2" steel (cant remember exactly) theyve held great through snatch recoverys as well as winching it up a hill after it rolled.

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/white95disco/DSCN0027.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b151/white95disco/DSCN0028.jpg

[Bob Barry]

The reason for such a bracket is that, unlike most 4wd trucks that have open-channel front framerails, the front of the FSJ frame is completely boxed and triangulated, so there is no access for a nut if you mount a tow-hook to a front framerail. The '80-up rigs do have an advantage, as they have a bit of a frame-horn sticking forward to which the bumper mounts, and to which you can mount a recovery point. But the earlier trucks have no such advantage.

[bowtieman55]

I'm really having a time figuring out some of the dimensions of the plate that gets bent on either end. It looks as though it's 4" wide, but I can't tell how long it's supposed to be. Seeing as how you have to drill out that flat plate once it is bent, I guess there are holes already in the chassis?

[BRUTUS]

http://www.ifsja.org/tech/misc/pictures/towhook.jpg

The top left image is the spacer (two of them shown on the bottom left image). The top right image is the flat pattern for the "U" piece shown in the bottom left picture. He has already figured in the bend reduction for you (bend it at 2.50" and the leg of the angle will stretch to 2.75"). So you can make two of the spacers and one of the flat patterns, bend the flat pattern with a vise, torch and a hammer. Then assemble it.

Me personally, I don't like the design. The strap will have no problem slipping off the hook (unless you get a retainer clip with your tow hooks) and I don't like how it would twist the crossmember. That would put a lot of added stress on your front crossmember welds. Keep in mind that even though the front crossmember is pretty beefy for our rigs they were never designed to withstand a twisting force.

[ob1jeeper]

I'm really having a time figuring out some of the dimensions of the plate that gets bent on either end. It looks as though it's 4" wide, but I can't tell how long it's supposed to be.
If you enlarge the sketch, you can the way this one is drawn is to make it 7 1/2" long by 4" wide.


Seeing as how you have to drill out that flat plate once it is bent, I guess there are holes already in the chassis?
I doubt it. Seems you will have to drill the holes in the bracket and use them as the template to drill the front frame C/mbr.

Couple more things...
1- Unless you have access to a HD brake press to bend the "U" shape, this thing is gonna be difficult for us back-yard guys to get bent and retain any degree of dimensions...:o :confused:

2- You'll want to mock this up BEFORE you go to the trouble of making one, to ensure the hook will allow a strap under tension to clear the sharp edges of the front bumper BEFORE you discover the strap gets sliced by the sharp lower edge of the bumper when used...:(

[letank]

for those of us wo frame horn (76 and older, but 60ish w 327 have an extra reinforcement bar left to right, and i have seen some fancy welding jobs) we wrap a chain around the right side frame rail (for left hand drive, those w right hand drive would use the left side to prevent fubaring the steering box)

in your case "83 waggy" has the best solution

[Don S]

..

Jeep Jamboree USA© requires a front tow hook. The ones we attended were pretty tame or had by-passes. I did this quick easy install only to qualify for the rules. See PIC
http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10072/hook1.jpg (http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10072/hook1.jpg)
http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10072/hook1.jpg

We have attended the Jeep Jamborees at: Palo Duro Canyon, Y.O.Ranch, Ouray, and Canyon DeChelly.

My Best to all of Y’all‘uns….
Have a good one, ;) and CUL.. Don S..

[letank]

..

Jeep Jamboree USA© requires a front tow hook. The ones we attended were pretty tame or had by-passes. I did this quick easy install only to qualify for the rules. See PIC
http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10072/hook1.jpg (http://www.fullsizejeeps.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10072/hook1.jpg)


very good fix, and 3 leaves... so you added one leaf!

[bowtieman55]

Thanks! I appreciate everyone's input.:)