12 Screws/bolts, 8 plastic pop rivits, 1 hr = 2.5" clearance

[Canazes9]

Took a little time to remove the black plastic piece under my wife's 2013 SR5 T4R (it's actually 7 pieces). Gained about 2.5" clearance under the front bumper, probably would have knocked it off if I didn't remove it. Turns out there are two nice useable tow hooks up there once that plastic is out of the way...











When I took this picture I realized that the inner fender lining was left hanging. Probably wouldn't be a problem, but I decided to put the pieces back in that tied it back to the bumper trim:



Finished pic:



David

 

[limamike]

Took a little time to remove the black plastic piece under my wife's 2013 SR5 T4R (it's actually 7 pieces). Gained about 2.5" clearance under the front bumper, probably would have knocked it off if I didn't remove it. Turns out there are two nice useable tow hooks up there once that plastic is out of the way...


David

When I had my factory bumper I left that piece on. I did a *lot* of offroading with it, and I never came close to knocking it off. Just a comment for those who still have their factory bumper and might be concerned about this getting hung-up on something.

 

[TPatt88]

David I just did this to mine the other day while changing the oil. Improves the look at least I think. Plus, who wants to dig around the plastic crap if you actually need to get to the tow hooks??

 

[Canazes9]

When I had my factory bumper I left that piece on. I did a *lot* of offroading with it, and I never came close to knocking it off. Just a comment for those who still have their factory bumper and might be concerned about this getting hung-up on something.

Which piece are you referring to?

David

 

[limamike]

Which piece are you referring to?

David

The piece that you removed - the whole valance.

 

[Canazes9]

The piece that you removed - the whole valance.

I see. My wife's truck has only made a few minor off-road trips and several of the plastic pop rivit things were already sprung.

David

 

[limamike]

I see. My wife's truck has only made a few minor off-road trips and several of the plastic pop rivit things were already sprung.

David

Sounds like user error.

 

[Canazes9]

David I just did this to mine the other day while changing the oil. Improves the look at least I think. Plus, who wants to dig around the plastic crap if you actually need to get to the tow hooks??

Exactly. I don't see how it would be possible to use the tow hooks without the strap pressing into the trim piece, possibly cracking it.

David

 

[Canazes9]

Sounds like user error.

Agreed, trying to minimize any further damage - not everybody can be an off-road ninja.

David

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Those are not actually Tow Hooks... They're just for holding the vehicle down during transport. If you look at where and how they are attached, I doubt they'd survive any real recovery attempt. 4th gens have the same retaining loops and members in salt states have had rust eat away that radiator support bad enough to loose those without actually using them.

You also probably didn't gain as much clearance as you think, you still have the stock approach angle due to the factory bumper skin, the valence underneath the bumper was within that approach angle for the most part and unless you were trying to drive over logs and/or small obstacles you probably would never have hit it anyways.

 

[Canazes9]

Those are not actually Tow Hooks... They're just for holding the vehicle down during transport. If you look at where and how they are attached, I doubt they'd survive any real recovery attempt. 4th gens have the same retaining loops and members in salt states have had rust eat away that radiator support bad enough to loose those without actually using them.

You also probably didn't gain as much clearance as you think, you still have the stock approach angle due to the factory bumper skin, the valence underneath the bumper was within that approach angle for the most part and unless you were trying to drive over logs and/or small obstacles you probably would never have hit it anyways.

I didn't look that closely at the hooks - they appeared beefy enough at a glance. I'll have to get back under there and look more closely. As for the clearance, we'll have to agree to disagree. I had already bumped the plastic pieces in a couple of very mild sessions - I think running through some ruts at one point is where I popped the plastic rivits. I'm glad it's gone. I will check out the hooks more thoroughly though.

David

 

[Canazes9]

Those are not actually Tow Hooks... They're just for holding the vehicle down during transport. If you look at where and how they are attached, I doubt they'd survive any real recovery attempt. 4th gens have the same retaining loops and members in salt states have had rust eat away that radiator support bad enough to loose those without actually using them.

You also probably didn't gain as much clearance as you think, you still have the stock approach angle due to the factory bumper skin, the valence underneath the bumper was within that approach angle for the most part and unless you were trying to drive over logs and/or small obstacles you probably would never have hit it anyways.

Ok, so I went back and looked at the hooks again. They are welded into the frame and they appear plenty strong to me. I have no doubt those unfortunate enough to have to drive long periods in salted road conditions can sustain a great deal of damage to their vehicle, but that doesn't really have any bearing on my using them for tow hooks.

Just to be sure, I decided to peruse the Toyota manual and see what Toyota had to say about them. Toyota seems to believe they are suitable for towing:



Of course, they do specify that you have to remove some of those plastic bits to properly use them without damaging the vehicle...



Regards,

David

 

[phillyd2]

A nice trick if using them for any serious recovery is to run a shorter strap through BOTH and then connect it to your usual recovery strap with a D ring so the load is taken up by both tow hooks.

On my Limited when stock and the SR5 rental recently I knocked off the 'plastic tidbit' on my first trail dip. If it had not I would have just removed it.

 

[Canazes9]

A nice trick if using them for any serious recovery is to run a shorter strap through BOTH and then connect it to your usual recovery strap with a D ring so the load is taken up by both tow hooks.

Good tip, thanks! Would you use a recovery strap or a tow strap for running through both hooks? I'm thinking a short tow strap would be fine as long as a recovery strap was used for the pulling?

David

 

[phillyd2]

It's hard to find a recovery strap that short so most I know use a tow hook. I however mostly use 6' tree saver.

I would only use one tow hook only if the other was for some reason not accessible, such as buried in mud.

That said, those hooks have been used by Toy owners for many many years.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I do stand corrected, I must have been thinking of another vehicle.

But like I said, willing to admit wrongness when its proven!

 

[Canazes9]

It's hard to find a recovery strap that short so most I know use a tow hook. I however mostly use 6' tree saver.

I would only use one tow hook only if the other was for some reason not accessible, such as buried in mud.

That said, those hooks have been used by Toy owners for many many years.

Thanks.

I don't own a tree saver right now, have never had the need to this point. Sounds like a just found a good reason to pick one up...

David

 

[phillyd2]

I do stand corrected, I must have been thinking of another vehicle. I still am not 100% convinced they'd stand up to repeated abuse, that radiator frame support isn't too strong compared to other sections including the steel its made of.

But like I said, willing to admit wrongness when its proven!

I don't think you are completely wrong. There is a big difference between towing on pavement with limited resistance and yanking or being yanked out of trouble off road.

 

[phillyd2]

Thanks.

I don't own a tree saver right now, have never had the need to this point. Sounds like a just found a good reason to pick one up...

David

Nobody ever needs one......until they do. :hatsoff:

 

[Canazes9]

I do stand corrected, I must have been thinking of another vehicle. I still am not 100% convinced they'd stand up to repeated abuse, that radiator frame support isn't too strong compared to other sections including the steel its made of.

But like I said, willing to admit wrongness when its proven!

I hope to never use them (yeah right...), but if I do I will use phillyd2's suggestion to use a tree strap to distribute the load to both sides if possible.

I appreciate you input and discussion!

Regards,

David