I guess my estimation of the strength of the kit was incorrect.
(I did always say to go custom though.) :)
The Adam Blaster
Two words, figure it out.....
>
>
>
> I've been reading this thread with interest, especially after my name
>came
>up.
>
>It's unfortunate that my friend Michael has been taken to task for
>repeating
>my description of the tow hook mount failure.
>
>I'm the one he heard it from.
>
>My opinion of the Dakota tow hook mount is that it is a poorly thought out
>add-on for a truck that was never designed to have tow hooks. That's my
>conclusion after installing the kit, using it and seeing how it can fail.
>
>If anyone wants to stop by and ring the bell we'll go out to the garage,
>inspect the parts, and I'll point out exactly what's wrong with the way
>it's
>designed.
> The mounting tabs that the hooks bolt to, are attached to the truck
>crossmember with only one bolt per side.
>
>Under enough load, the bolts, washers, and nuts ( the ones with the cute
>little handles welded on) will pull through the holes in the cross member.
>If you're fortunate, the rectangular tube won't pull completely through the
>air dam.
>
>As much as I respect Adam's opinion, the kit isn't that strong. The
>vertical
>braces are 1/4 inch thick and they will bend. The rectangular tube is 14
>gauge. It will bend and twist. Mine was distorted enough that it was
>necessary to cut it in half to get it off without further damaging to the
>truck.
>If I can find somewhere to post the pictures, everyone can take a look.
>
>At approximately the same time the somebody at Dodge decided that putting a
>hole in the air dam directly in front of the end of the frame so that hooks
>could be attached there, someone else decided that the hooks were not worth
>it and the kit was cancelled.
>
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Feb 06 2004 - 11:47:02 EST