Cheap Rear Tow Hooks...

[Juggernaut]

So I was tired of not having a rear recovery point, so here is what a friend of mine (Ceejus) and I came up with. He pulled these hooks off from the front of a S-10 Blazer/S-15 Jimmy at the local yank and grab for like $4. Here is what they look like.

The holes almost line up perfectly in the "frame" rail to be a direct bolt on, but not quite. So I opened her up just a touch.

Then I slipped/forced the back plate into the rail...

I got the holes all lined up and started threading the bolts.

Here is what it looked like all bolted up...

Finally, here is a shot from the back.

As you can see, these things tuck up in there nice and tight. I was pretty impressed with the outcome, especially for the price. I just ordered some shackle relocation brackets from H.D. Offroad, so they will probably be a quarter inch lower here shortly. It sure beats paying $160 for a hitch!

 

[Hammered]

Very nice... *Paging Typhoon* - This is your next mod.

 

[winkosmosis]

Do you trust them to not warp your uniframe?

 

[Juggernaut]

Yeah, I've got no worries. Obviously yanking on one of the rails isn't ideal, but I am usually just the trail running lame-o type. I figure they will work for now until I do in fact get a hitch. Besides, with those 1/4" plate shackle brackets soon going on, they will disperse some of the load more evenly on the rail. I can't wait to get my hands on those!

 

[winkosmosis]

What shackle brackets? You mean for the front?

 

[Juggernaut]

Nope. The shackle relocation brackets bolt to the unirail where a hitch would bolt to. My hooks will then sandwich the brackets to the rails. Since the brackets are 1/4" thick, they should help share the load.

 

[vincepru]

I would rather pull you out from your axle than risk ripping that hook out and having it fly at me... I would just save and get a hitch. Much safer.

 

[93gc40]

You don't need shackle brakets, you need to replace those inverted springs. I wouldn't use that hook set up, anymore than I would a simular setup if it was in the front. Get a reciever hitch at the JY.

 

[Juggernaut]

You don't need shackle brakets, you need to replace those inverted springs.

Haha, so true. The OME heavy duty packs will be here Friday, which will be going on with a whole lotta other stuff. arty:

 

[buzzbombxj]

I wouldnt trust those, not untill you had plateing on the frame or put it on a bracket to grab all the hitch holes on that side, hitches are cheap at the junkyard.

 

[fiyerbirdie]

Throw those hooks away. Do they hit your shackle bolt?

just my .02, but I'd politely refuse to pull you with those or be pulled by you with those.