tow hook ideas.
#1
tow hook ideas.
My car is low enough, and my trailer is tall enough, that I have to jack the back of the truck up to ease loading. This puts a lot of stress on the clutch, so I use my winch for loading. I'd like to put a tow hook on the car that pokes through the front bumper opening. Does anyone have any pics or ideas that might make doing this easier? I don't have a front bumper support so the front is wide open.
#2
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Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: tow hook ideas.
I've seen some good ideas in pictures but I've never fabricated anything up myself. I still take my driver door off and drive into the trailer.
#3
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Re: tow hook ideas.
that would be pretty cool.... also, maybe a tow hook might work? could crawl under there and hook the k-member.
http://www.hookswreckersupplies.com/...-HTS-92900.htm
you could probably make one of these?
http://www.hookswreckersupplies.com/...-HTS-92900.htm
you could probably make one of these?
#5
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Car: 1984 chevy camaro
Engine: 355
Transmission: turbo 350 2800 stall
Axle/Gears: 3:73 detroit locker posi
Re: tow hook ideas.
i have a tow hook coming out where a fog light/bumper cover inlays go on a 84 z28 bumper. i have it bolted and welded to front bumper support. but not having a support im not sure where to weld or bolt it to.
#7
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Re: tow hook ideas.
Check into the road race car thread. The guys that do a lot of competitive road racing often have tow hooks on their cars...
Here's BIG_MODS' car:
I've heard of guys putting them on the k-member. Would that work for you?
And here's Gman's tow hook, except he uses a strap, which might be cool for you since you could just keep it tucked out of the way and then pull it out when you need it
Also found this...
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...-mounting.html
Here's BIG_MODS' car:
I've heard of guys putting them on the k-member. Would that work for you?
And here's Gman's tow hook, except he uses a strap, which might be cool for you since you could just keep it tucked out of the way and then pull it out when you need it
Also found this...
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fabr...-mounting.html
Last edited by InfernalVortex; 03-23-2013 at 02:12 PM.
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#8
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Car: 86 TA, 91 B4C
Engine: 5.3, 4.8
Transmission: 4L80 4000, T56
Axle/Gears: 4.30 M12, 23.42 10 bolt
Re: tow hook ideas.
I cannot come up with anything that would not add weight. Otherwise, connecting to the impact bar mounts and a third point to the lower core support is what comes to mind.
#11
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Car: 84 Transm
Engine: 350 sbc
Transmission: t400
Axle/Gears: ford 9", 3.90
Re: tow hook ideas.
I welded a small hoop to the center of my wonder bar just for winching the car into the trailer. I also welded 2 small hoops on the rear axle at the backside of the LCA brackets to make it easier to strap car down in the trailer.
#12
Re: tow hook ideas.
wonder bar area! that's a great idea! i don't have one, but could fab one pretty easily. that'll be much lighter than having a bar spanning the front of the car on the frame horns. since i don't have a front sway bar, this should be no big deal. do you have any pics of yours?
i've been wanting to weld loops onto the rear of the car also, but hasn't been as big of a deal since i have axle straps for the back.
i've been wanting to weld loops onto the rear of the car also, but hasn't been as big of a deal since i have axle straps for the back.
#13
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Car: 84 Transm
Engine: 350 sbc
Transmission: t400
Axle/Gears: ford 9", 3.90
Re: tow hook ideas.
wonder bar area! that's a great idea! i don't have one, but could fab one pretty easily. that'll be much lighter than having a bar spanning the front of the car on the frame horns. since i don't have a front sway bar, this should be no big deal. do you have any pics of yours?
i've been wanting to weld loops onto the rear of the car also, but hasn't been as big of a deal since i have axle straps for the back.
i've been wanting to weld loops onto the rear of the car also, but hasn't been as big of a deal since i have axle straps for the back.
in the scrap bin. Works great and didn't add much weight.
#14
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Re: tow hook ideas.
Sounds like some race car stuff to me lol. Wonder bar area, i assume hooking up to there, you no longer have an air dam and does the winch cable clear front nose gfx if not a sport coupe? I guess you can cut a small portion of air dam out to pass a cable/hook
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Car: 84 Transm
Engine: 350 sbc
Transmission: t400
Axle/Gears: ford 9", 3.90
Re: tow hook ideas.
Actually, I have extended the air dam on mine. It see's plenty of street use and it helps it stay cool. The tow loop tucks up behind the air dam. It hasn't cought on anything since I welded it on a couple years ago. I just let the cable push up the air dam slightly as it goes into the trailer. No harm, no foul.
#16
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Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 5.3L
Transmission: Jerico
Axle/Gears: Aluminum 8.6 w/ T2R
Re: tow hook ideas.
I did a turnbuckle style loop as InternalVortex posted above, but if I did it again I’d probably do something like this:
=Just a solid piece of plate 3/16” or ¼” thick, use a hole saw and a metabo to make it. Making the ‘hinge’ required more fabrication than it might appear.
I have been pulled off track due to a shifter issue and my loop wasn’t big enough to fit the strap hook through and secure it. The hook would fit fine, but the strap needs to wrapped around the loop a couple times and hooked back to itself so it doesn't come loose when getting towed. NASA rules state the loop size and I’m smaller than that, now I know why they stated the size they did. If youre intened purpose is for trailer only and you can maintain tension at all times you won't have this issue.
If you are looking for more ideas do a google search then click on ‘images’. Plenty of poser r!cer stuff out there and a few real racecars.
=Just a solid piece of plate 3/16” or ¼” thick, use a hole saw and a metabo to make it. Making the ‘hinge’ required more fabrication than it might appear.
I have been pulled off track due to a shifter issue and my loop wasn’t big enough to fit the strap hook through and secure it. The hook would fit fine, but the strap needs to wrapped around the loop a couple times and hooked back to itself so it doesn't come loose when getting towed. NASA rules state the loop size and I’m smaller than that, now I know why they stated the size they did. If youre intened purpose is for trailer only and you can maintain tension at all times you won't have this issue.
If you are looking for more ideas do a google search then click on ‘images’. Plenty of poser r!cer stuff out there and a few real racecars.
#17
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
Re: tow hook ideas.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aaf-all60075
Welded these onto my relocation brackets and am ordering their longer one for up front. Either to kmember or to a bar across my frame rails, haven't decided yet.
Welded these onto my relocation brackets and am ordering their longer one for up front. Either to kmember or to a bar across my frame rails, haven't decided yet.
#19
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
Re: tow hook ideas.
came up in a google search not on summits site. I'm on my phone so I can't bring it up currently.
#20
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
Re: tow hook ideas.
http://www.racecartowhooks.com/rcth_006.htm
expensive option ^^^
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cee-3440
cheap option^^^^^
expensive option ^^^
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cee-3440
cheap option^^^^^
#24
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Car: 84 camaro Z28
Engine: 434sbc
Transmission: powerglide
Axle/Gears: moser 9" with 411 posi
Re: tow hook ideas.
i have to have a crash bar in the front because i run a fuel cell up front. so i ditched the factory front bumper support and i made the crash bar out of 1 1/4 inch tubing and some heavy plates. so i welded the tow hook to the crash bar. if you still have the factory support it should be fairly easy to weld one on. i hope to not have to use it but at least its there if need be.
this is the one i used
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cee-3440
this is the one i used
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/cee-3440
#26
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: SLOW carbed ls
Transmission: TH400 with brake, 8" PTC converter
Axle/Gears: moser 9" 4.11
Re: tow hook ideas.
Weld up a plate to the frame horn and some tubing to that hook
#27
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Car: 86 TA, 91 B4C
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Axle/Gears: 4.30 M12, 23.42 10 bolt
Re: tow hook ideas.
Exactly. If it is sawed off, plate it over, then bend or cut some angles to make it work for you. Only draw back is a bit extra weight.
#28
Re: tow hook ideas.
I've got the same problem and I'm looking for an idea that would work. I have an enclosed trailer and my doors don't come off, and probably never will. I use a chain that hooks to the factory tie downs on the box frame and my winch hooks to the center of the chain to winch the car in. I made a really nice loop on the K-member but you'd have to be Stretch Armstrong to reach it, seemed like a good idea at the time. I wouldn't trust just a long hook because if somehow the cable slacked the hook could drop off and away goes the car down the ramps. I don't have any bumper support and the horns have been cut off the frt where the bar mounted. I've welded a hook on the radiator support but the support is too flimsy and it will bend and then break the radiator if I try winching with it.
#29
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Car: 1984 Z28
Engine: Alky 360
Transmission: TH400, Freakshow 9.5"
Axle/Gears: 9" 4.71
Re: tow hook ideas.
I will try and get pictures of mine tonight. Similiar to Heavy Chevy's design, however I used a welded in bung for a 3/4" screw in eye hook (loop welded shut of course). I keep it in the tool box on the trailer then when I need to winch on, I just screw it in and snug down a jam nut.
#31
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Re: tow hook ideas.
No spot on a Firebird (no grille) to install a tow hook so I just bought a pair of
race ramps and done. The car drives on the trailer and with ease and you can roll if off..
BTW the ramps are alot cheaper than a winch, and by the time I rent or buy a mig welder, buy the metal, fab the metal weld the metal, paint the metal etc etc etc.
I suppose if you already have the equipment it's not a big ordeal.. BUT time is money too.
The ramps are quick & easy
race ramps and done. The car drives on the trailer and with ease and you can roll if off..
BTW the ramps are alot cheaper than a winch, and by the time I rent or buy a mig welder, buy the metal, fab the metal weld the metal, paint the metal etc etc etc.
I suppose if you already have the equipment it's not a big ordeal.. BUT time is money too.
The ramps are quick & easy
#33
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Car: 89 GTA
Engine: 6.0L Procharged
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 4.10
Re: tow hook ideas.
I used a 1/4" thick piece of aluminum, about 3" wide and 14" long. I removed the driver's fog light and bolted it to the bumper support. I just used it to winch my car onto the trailer, it works, but it would be much better to have the winch point in the center of the car.
#34
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Car: 1989 iroc z
Engine: 98 ls1, prcs, btr cam
Transmission: rkt56 6 speed
Axle/Gears: midwest chassis 9 inch 4.30wavetrac
Re: tow hook ideas.
sucks getting under the car, but if you have one welded to the k member you can easily reach it with the hood open.
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