Other/Misc: How-To: Install a rear tow hook
#1
How-To: Install a rear tow hook
Alright so I forgot to take a picture of the tools needed but basically you need:
a drill with metal cutting bits in various sized up to 7/16" (I would recommend one size larger as well 25/64")
motor oil (to lubricate your drill bits so they dont break and/or start fires)
a flat blade screwdriver
a small sharp blade (I used a leatherman)
So first you get a package from Powell Motorsports
Open it to find these pieces inside
I went out and bought some 2" grade-5 bolts because the supplied 1" bolts would require bumper facia modification to make the plate fit thru the bumper
Next you need a spacer to pull the hook away from the bumper, I used a 5/8" nut
Here's the hardware assembled
Pull the grill off the passenger side of the bumper, it takes a little persuasion from a screw driver
Mock up where you want it
Mark it, I used a map marker from work but a generic sharpie would work too
Drill em out, start small I do mean small. I started at 1/16" and worked up to 25/64", using about every 3rd bit. Go slow, you should have it going fast enough that it wont get stuck but no faster. I bent/broke a drill bit going too fast. Also dip your bits into a small amount of motor oil every so often to keep them from heating up as quickly.
Once you get done drilling it'll look like this
Now drop your bolts in
Then one at a time put your spacers in on top of the mount
Tighten everything up
Now take your grill and place it infront of the mount and figure out the location of the hole you need to cut
I marked mine with the same marker and cut it with my leatherman, dont use a dremel as it just frays the plastic and doesnt get clean cuts. Plus this stuff is soft plastic.
Slip it back over your base plate and clip it in
Insert the supplied grade-8 bolt with anti-seize
And thats it
I'd like to thank John at Powell Motorsports for his exceptional customer service and well made product.
EDIT: I have been told that the washers are supposed to go on the topside up next to the bolt head. I will be fixing that today.
a drill with metal cutting bits in various sized up to 7/16" (I would recommend one size larger as well 25/64")
motor oil (to lubricate your drill bits so they dont break and/or start fires)
a flat blade screwdriver
a small sharp blade (I used a leatherman)
So first you get a package from Powell Motorsports
Open it to find these pieces inside
I went out and bought some 2" grade-5 bolts because the supplied 1" bolts would require bumper facia modification to make the plate fit thru the bumper
Next you need a spacer to pull the hook away from the bumper, I used a 5/8" nut
Here's the hardware assembled
Pull the grill off the passenger side of the bumper, it takes a little persuasion from a screw driver
Mock up where you want it
Mark it, I used a map marker from work but a generic sharpie would work too
Drill em out, start small I do mean small. I started at 1/16" and worked up to 25/64", using about every 3rd bit. Go slow, you should have it going fast enough that it wont get stuck but no faster. I bent/broke a drill bit going too fast. Also dip your bits into a small amount of motor oil every so often to keep them from heating up as quickly.
Once you get done drilling it'll look like this
Now drop your bolts in
Then one at a time put your spacers in on top of the mount
Tighten everything up
Now take your grill and place it infront of the mount and figure out the location of the hole you need to cut
I marked mine with the same marker and cut it with my leatherman, dont use a dremel as it just frays the plastic and doesnt get clean cuts. Plus this stuff is soft plastic.
Slip it back over your base plate and clip it in
Insert the supplied grade-8 bolt with anti-seize
And thats it
I'd like to thank John at Powell Motorsports for his exceptional customer service and well made product.
EDIT: I have been told that the washers are supposed to go on the topside up next to the bolt head. I will be fixing that today.
Last edited by YelloEye; 02-28-2010 at 12:06 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
#4
Thanks
Function is my primary motivator for getting these, we dont have any good tow points that wont bend/break the body panels. I'll be installing the front one in the near future.
Also, Powell Motorsports is making a spacer as well so you dont have to buy the nuts.
Function is my primary motivator for getting these, we dont have any good tow points that wont bend/break the body panels. I'll be installing the front one in the near future.
Also, Powell Motorsports is making a spacer as well so you dont have to buy the nuts.
Last edited by YelloEye; 02-28-2010 at 12:52 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
#11
http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts..._strength.html
The 3 at the base are grade5 7/16" and the hinge is a grade8 1/4".
Pretty sure the bumper will permanently deform before this thing does
Last edited by YelloEye; 02-28-2010 at 01:11 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
#12
Senior Member
chrome moly tube tig welded to steel plate? it will risk bending bumper beam before it pulls off, but in an ideal world would rather not bend bumper beam if the car is in a gravel trap. So my guess it will not break at the tube.I got maybe 30 cars running around with bolt on tow hooks mostly corvettes, never broke one...and a number have visited the gravel trap...
cap screw 3/8 actually and all cap screws are grade 8. Northvibe and Rallyracer have grade 8 hex head 3/8 pivot bolts.
I'm working on figuring out a solution to that problem.
So long as the welds are good (which they are) im good, I refer you to the bolt chart
http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts..._strength.html
The 3 at the base are grade5 7/16" and the hinge is a grade8 1/4".
Pretty sure the bumper will permanently deform before this thing does
So long as the welds are good (which they are) im good, I refer you to the bolt chart
http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts..._strength.html
The 3 at the base are grade5 7/16" and the hinge is a grade8 1/4".
Pretty sure the bumper will permanently deform before this thing does
Last edited by qwikredline; 02-28-2010 at 01:13 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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#16
chrome moly tube tig welded to steel plate? it will risk bending bumper beam before it pulls off, but in an ideal world would rather not bend bumper beam if the car is in a gravel trap. So my guess it will not break at the tube.I got maybe 30 cars running around with bolt on tow hooks mostly corvettes, never broke one...and a number have visited the gravel trap...
cap screw 3/8 actually and all cap screws are grade 8. Northvibe and Rallyracer have grade 8 hex head 3/8 pivot bolts.
cap screw 3/8 actually and all cap screws are grade 8. Northvibe and Rallyracer have grade 8 hex head 3/8 pivot bolts.
#17
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it all depends on what you want...my front hook just hardly clears the lower lip of the fascia, drives me crazy not wanting any scratching of the fascia...so know what you mean. Also there is a lot of drift in these cars for front fascia/crash bar mounting car to car...its amazing but its almost (ready?) half an inch .....
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#20
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the plan ifyou dont space the tow hook down, is to fit flush to bumper bar, and the hook folds down in the slot and fits in. The OP wanted to space it down. He can lock it horizontal, or put some helicopter tape on the paint (what we do for some apps)
it all depends on what you want...my front hook just hardly clears the lower lip of the fascia, drives me crazy not wanting any scratching of the fascia...so know what you mean. Also there is a lot of drift in these cars for front fascia/crash bar mounting car to car...its amazing but its almost (ready?) half an inch .....
it all depends on what you want...my front hook just hardly clears the lower lip of the fascia, drives me crazy not wanting any scratching of the fascia...so know what you mean. Also there is a lot of drift in these cars for front fascia/crash bar mounting car to car...its amazing but its almost (ready?) half an inch .....
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Well you can tighten the bold on the end it that should help hold it in whatever position you leaving it. Could it loosen up over time from driving around...most likely but then just tighten it back up.
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