riggersxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- middletown, new york
just lifted the xj its got the front factory bumper I need to put a tow hook any any thoughts where's a good place thanks
85xjwoody said:I have my stock front bumper and a front hitch and lost only a little clearance. It even acts as a protective skid for your engine and lower part of your radiator. I would highly suggest getting a hitch over tow hooks. Much more durable than tow hooks and instead of pulling from one side of your jeep you are using both sides of the jeep which makes it much more stout. I purchased my drawtite hitch for 128.00 from a local drawtite dealer. Tow hooks will cost you around 75.00 to 100.00 so I would spend the little more money for something more reliable. If you would like a picture of how mine looks and being used let me know. The front hitch is not compatible with the front engine skid plate if you have one or were thinking of getting one. Any more questions let me know.
Kim.
91 Jeep Project said:I wouldn't go as far as to say a hitch is more "reliable" than tow hooks. And when you do pull you loop the strap through both hooks and then back through the open end, so you are still "pulling" on both sides..............:lecture:
A hitch is another option, although he was asking about tow hooks...........:cheers:
85xjwoody said:Don't get me wrong, tow hooks get the job done but my hitch is rated to have up to 9000lbs of winch pulling on it which in my opinion is to much for even both tow hooks to support. I have used my hitch alot and have even had a warn 12000lb winch have to strap to a tree and then pull me out when a warn 9000lb winch could not get me out. There are so many uses for a hitch versus tow hooks. Why not spend a little more money and get something that is more versatile and will last longer in bad stuck situations. Tow hooks will bend under that much pressure, I have seen this in person.
Kim.
91 Jeep Project said:I'm not negating a hitch as an option. But you are just spewing crap about tow hooks. C4x4 tow hooks have the same mounts that they use on their winch bumpers. A hitch is not gonna be any stronger than that. And what the hell were you doing that a 9k winch couldn't get you out? And just another thought. A receiver shackle mounted to a hitch is no stronger than a hook. If you bend a hook, you will be bending the shackle as well. And if your hitch is only rated to 9k, how did you use a 12k winch and not break anything? (These are rhetorical questions)
End point, a tow hitch is an option. But there is NOTHING wrong with a good set of tow hooks.......... :lecture:
85xjwoody said:.......a front hitch has more options for it than tow hooks for just a few more dollars. It barely shows at all and does not take away much clearance at all. :wave:
91 Jeep Project said:End point, a tow hitch is an option. But there is NOTHING wrong with a good set of tow hooks.......... :lecture:
Straps aren't designed or intended to be used that way, so you're asking for strap failure. And doing it that way results in the strap pulling the hooks inwards toward each other, and the brackets aren't designed to resist that.91 Jeep Project said:And when you do pull you loop the strap through both hooks and then back through the open end, so you are still "pulling" on both sides..............
Eagle said:Straps aren't designed or intended to be used that way, so you're asking for strap failure. And doing it that way results in the strap pulling the hooks inwards toward each other, and the brackets aren't designed to resist that.
I don't know about in your part of the country, but I'm 61 years old and have been around Jeeps for more than 50 of those years, and I have never yet seen anyone use a strap the way you're describing. It doesn't sound very safe to me.
x2clay said:Rusty's towhooks come with the bracket and all the hardware to install them. You can have them on in less than an hour and they work great.
clay