-- [ From: Ned Worcester * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --
Realizing that you are talking 97's . . . On my '95 I have put in a
crossmember between the frame horn's behind the bumper, Off of that I have
2 aftermarket tow hooks, the black 10,000 lb'ers that you can get anywhere;
I also have 2 2" receivers to mount a winch from. I never liked the single
receiver mount winches, they put too much torque in one place. My brush-
guard/push-bar is also on receivers so that I can remove it when I don't
want all that stuff up there. I just swap them around as needed.
I've got the same arrangement on the rear to use the winch to the rear, and
to store the brush-guard when I've got the winch mounted on the front. The
front and rear receiver also give me the option of having a really secure
anchor point to use while winching from the opposite end. The only hitch
(pun intended) is that the receiver mounted winch really impacts the
approach/departure angles. I kept the winch tray and mount low so that The
tailgate would not hit the winch if it;s on the rear. I didn't want a nice
winch shaped imprint if some yahoo opened the gate.
I use the truck for Search and Rescue, so that I had to really thing out the
setup which would work best for me.
-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
Date: Thursday, 11-Sep-97 04:42 PM
From: Steve Lowe \ Internet: (slow@primenet.com) To:
dakota@ait.fredonia.edu \ Internet: (dakota@ait.fredonia.edu)
Subject: Re: Splash Guard question
On Thu, 11 Sep 1997 08:37:00 -0700, you wrote:
>At 10:08 AM 9/11/97 -0600, you wrote:
>>
>>
>> Can you give me details on the installation of the tow hooks? What
kind
>>of bumper do you have ( SLT or SPORT ) did you have to remove the bumper..
.
>>did you have to make any cuts for the hooks... what did they attach to...
>>where do they come out... etc? Thanks.
>>
>>
Here's a repost of my install...
I finally got enough time off of work to install my Mopar Tow Hooks. It
was very easy and took about four hours due to breaks and figuring out the
instructions. The instructions were missing 6 of the 16 steps but we didn't
need them anyway. I had to unplug the fog lights and remove the bumper/lower
air dam. The plastic splash shield was also removed and had to be notched on
both sides to clear the brace to the cross member. The Mopar instructions on
cutting the splash shield are wrong, and we did much less cutting then they
suggested. I did deviate from the instructions and placed three screws on
the forward edge of the splash shield after it was re-installed, due to the
fact that the two forward plastic plugs could not be put back in. I did have
to drill two 1/2" holes in the lower cross member to brace the bracket and
it was marked so on the instructions. I think that the newer trucks have
these holes from the factory, but mine didn't.
The hooks look great. They are almost right up against the airdam as to not
decrease approach angles and are very sturdy. 4,500 lbs. per hook ought to
be enough to pull any Chevy out of my way, heh.
I cannot remember who asked, but you could have a two inch square receiver
tube custom welded to the lower cross-bar and mount a hitch ball there. I
would not mount a winch on it though, as the steel is too thin. My dad's
neighbor is a welder and he said if I ever wanted to we could redo the mount
with heavier stock and mount a removable winch on it, but I think I'll stick
to a rear-mount for a winch. It would be fine for moving a trailer around
though.
I took some pictures and as soon as I get them back I'll post them on my
web site for you all to see....
Steve
97' Dakota, CC, 4X4, 5 Speed, all the goodies 'cept anti-lock brakes, Mud
Flaps, spare-tire lock, Step-Shields, EVSII Alarm, Gibson Single 3" Cat-Back
Tow Hooks....
-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
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