Has anyone ever tried these as recovery hooks.

[mfpdm]

I picked these up today at the JY. Came off a 01 Ford Explorer.

 

 

I held them up to an XJ while there and they would fit pretty good. Sitting them on the frame they were below the factory bumper and stuck out about 3 in front of it. I know you would need to reinforce the frame to mount them and put a tie in across to the other frame to strenghten it for side pulls but these things are pretty stout. I've got the factory hooks but I may try to use these. Might use them in the rear as well but a lot more modification would be needed there.

 

:cheers:

[Darren]

I always liked the design of the Ford tow hooks. You better get them on there and show us some pics! :thumbsup:

[Pete M]

The loops look solid, but I hope those bolts are bigger than they look in the photos. I'd probably drill them out for some bigger sized grade 8s. (and reinforce the crap outta the frame of course :D )

[jpdocdave]

i have at least 4 of those laying around, maybe not exact but really close, i haven't been able to find a use for them. they suck because its a fixed loop, not like a d ring or clevis where you can open the loop to use a strap. i suppose you could just use a clevis to secure the strap to that hook.

[mfpdm]

The loops look solid, but I hope those bolts are bigger than they look in the photos. I'd probably drill them out for some bigger sized grade 8s. (and reinforce the crap outta the frame of course :D )

 

Yep, they would be replaced. They are 9.8's so just a little over grade 5. The rings themselves have plenty of room for larger bolts. :thumbsup:

[glundblad]

I am not sure. Anything that says FORD may negatively impact the performance. :smart:

[freakjeep93]

:agree:

[jpnjim]

i have at least 4 of those laying around, maybe not exact but really close, i haven't been able to find a use for them.

 

x2,

I've had some laying around for a while,

they look cool, but never ended up doing anything with them.

 

The bolts look small because the things are so huge.

 

 

 

The bad part is building the brackets to the frame is the tough part of doing XJ/MJ tow hooks,

 

and starting with an oversized/oddball hook isn't gonna make designing the bracket any easier.

 

If your not building a custom ft bumper (with long, well thought out mounts),

using the standard bracket design, patterned after the OEM brackets is probably still the best way out there to put hooks on an XJ.

 

I'd start with some of those brackets, and go from there.