Tow hook placement - bad?

[westwind77]

I was curious if people noticed that the tow hooks are not designed very well, at least their location? Well, on the SR5 & Limited, I know the trail has different bumpers allowing easier access. We have to physically remove a trim piece to be able to access them or to lessen the damage that will be caused. If you do get stuck in the sand/mud and someone needs to pull you out have you looked at the angle?! It WILL damage the bumper because of the angle. I looked back at older pics of the 4R's and you can clearly see the tow hooks from the front. I do not plan to do hard core offroading, but I will take it on very soft beaches. Curious if anyone else noticed this?

 

[ralphpolo88]

I was curious if people noticed that the tow hooks are not designed very well, at least their location? Well, on the SR5 & Limited, I know the trail has different bumpers allowing easier access. We have to physically remove a trim piece to be able to access them or to lessen the damage that will be caused. If you do get stuck in the sand/mud and someone needs to pull you out have you looked at the angle?! It WILL damage the bumper because of the angle. I looked back at older pics of the 4R's and you can clearly see the tow hooks from the front. I do not plan to do hard core offroading, but I will take it on very soft beaches. Curious if anyone else noticed this?

I haven't looked at the angle or anything like that, but I do know about that trim piece you're talking about. When I got mine, I had those pieces sitting in plastic in the back seat and couldn't figure out what they were for. Anyways, I put one in, then decided to remove it because it didn't make any difference in appearance in my opinion. They were a pain in the butt to remove, I can't imagine what it would be like trying to remove if you were stuck or something.

 

[Titanpat57]

I know at least on the TE...there's only one tow hook in the rear (drivers side)...for a Trail machine? I mean....musta been a flatlander designed that!

The plan was when I did the horns over the break was to reroute the exhaust out the side in preparation for the another tow hook, but there's a hanger welded right where the the bend needed to be, so it threw a wrench into the plans.

So once I figure how to change the exhaust the other hook will defintely be going on. Access is fairly good otherwise.....no obstructions.

 

[charlier180]

I was curious if people noticed that the tow hooks are not designed very well, at least their location? Well, on the SR5 & Limited, I know the trail has different bumpers allowing easier access. We have to physically remove a trim piece to be able to access them or to lessen the damage that will be caused. If you do get stuck in the sand/mud and someone needs to pull you out have you looked at the angle?! It WILL damage the bumper because of the angle. I looked back at older pics of the 4R's and you can clearly see the tow hooks from the front. I do not plan to do hard core offroading, but I will take it on very soft beaches. Curious if anyone else noticed this?

The real question here is the Purpose of the hook for towing a stuck 4Runner out of mud/sand or it is simply for anchoring a 4Runner down to a flat bed tow truck or car carrier. That might explain the location, angle, etc.

 

[Uneek]

The real question here is the Purpose of the hook for towing a stuck 4Runner out of mud/sand or it is simply for anchoring a 4Runner down to a flat bed tow truck or car carrier. That might explain the location, angle, etc.

:iagree: Only the Tacoma with the TRD Off-Road package specifically mentions having a tow hook. Check the owner's manual, IIRC on the 4th gen, it says they're tie-downs and not for towing.

Here's a thread where it was discussed before. No concrete info on if they can or can't be used for towing. Funny video there too.

 

[westwind77]

The real question here is the Purpose of the hook for towing a stuck 4Runner out of mud/sand or it is simply for anchoring a 4Runner down to a flat bed tow truck or car carrier. That might explain the location, angle, etc.

Interesting point. Given this is suppose to be a very capable offroad SUV I would assume it would have tow hooks, but I guess they figure it will never get stuck! If these are only meant for tie downs, can I mount a set of tow hooks somewhere on the frame? Did they make then aftermarket for the 4th?

 

[oakjefferson]

Bump, would love to know where the best spots are on a 5th gen for recovery,

Thanks

 

[brockeverly]

The answer is simple, its not a tow hook.

 

[oakjefferson]

The answer is simple, its not a tow hook.

Good to know for sure. The rear is obviously easy enough with a shackle and hitch adapter, but what about the front on a 5th gen SR5? I've been searching these forums for 30min but no luck, just a lot of gripes (justified) about the tow hooks being tie downs only. Best not to tow from the fromt, but curious on a 5th what the worst case scenario would be

 

[brockeverly]

I have a front hitch installed that have tow hooks, that is the best and easiest way.

 

[brockeverly]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/87282-breaking-news-about-front-trailer-hitch.html

 

[Ryan_S]

Sorry for the noobness… but the factory "tow hooks" are welded right to the frame. What about them indicated that they are not strong enough for recovery?

Seems stupid to have a 4wd "trail" "off road" vehicle without useable recovery points. Further those would be the kind of thing that is easier to get right from the factory, as opposed to aftermarket.

 

[1engineer]

Interesting point. Given this is suppose to be a very capable offroad SUV I would assume it would have tow hooks, but I guess they figure it will never get stuck! If these are only meant for tie downs, can I mount a set of tow hooks somewhere on the frame? Did they make then aftermarket for the 4th?

I used them to pull out several bushes a few days ago. Held up fine.

 

[Intruder]

All three hooks (on the TE at least) are recovery points. I've used all of them many times to either recover another vehicle or to be recovered. A hitch shackle is really handy to have since you don't have to crawl underneath the truck as much. Always remember to recover forward whenever you can as it's easier on your drivetrain.

 

[2UZ]

The hooks are not recovery points. Recovery points should be located at the ends of the frame horns and result solely in tensile forces. The front hooks are located on the bottom of the radiator mounting bracket well below the actual frame rail.

One looks underneath reveals not only the moment created at the joints when yanking on them but just how thin the steel is as well.

Have a look for yourself.

 

[1engineer]

The hooks are not recovery points. Recovery points should be located at the ends of the frame horns and result solely in tensile forces. The front hooks are located on the bottom of the radiator mounting bracket well below the actual frame rail.

One looks underneath reveals not only the moment created at the joints when yanking on them but just how thin the steel is as well.

Have a look for yourself.

And the 5th gen bashing continues. "Solely in tensile forces?" Jeez what a joke. How do you know where a recovery point should be located? In the past I have used the front of the frame, the rear, the side and pushed, pulled, pried and wedged anything I could to recover and get recovered. So technically, anywhere there is something that can be hooked and not do permanent damage is a recovery point. For the record the front loops are located underneath the frame by about 4" and attached to a crossmember that is welded to the frame. Another function of this crossmember is radiator support. It is fairly substantial and I have used these loops to pull with no issues. Could you bend it? Sure you could. You can also bend the frame rail or crossmembers if you are not careful.

Let me know when you get a tow hook mounted directly in the center of a frame horn and are pulling in a direct line with the frame's longitudal axis. Then and only then will you have a pull "solely in tension" with respect to the frame rail. Anything else will cause a moment around something. I'm suprised you didn't say anything about a V8.

 

[Antman]

And the 5th gen bashing continues. "Solely in tensile forces?" Jeez what a joke. How do you know where a recovery point should be located? In the past I have used the front of the frame, the rear, the side and pushed, pulled, pried and wedged anything I could to recover and get recovered. For the record the front loops are located underneath the frame by about 4" and attached to a crossmember that is welded to the frame. Another function of this crossmember is radiator support. It is fairly substantial and I have used these loops to pull with no issues. Could you bend it? Sure you could. You can also bend the frame rail or crossmembers if you are not careful.

Let me know when you get a tow hook mounted directly in the center of a frame horn and are pulling in a direct line with the frame's longitudal axis. Then and only then will you have a pull "solely in tension" with respect to the frame rail. Anything else will cause a moment around something. I'm suprised you didn't say anything about a V8.

Love this guy!

 

[Ryan_S]

love this guy!

+12345!!!

 

[2UZ]

And the 5th gen bashing continues. "Solely in tensile forces?" Jeez what a joke. How do you know where a recovery point should be located? In the past I have used the front of the frame, the rear, the side and pushed, pulled, pried and wedged anything I could to recover and get recovered. So technically, anywhere there is something that can be hooked and not do permanent damage is a recovery point. For the record the front loops are located underneath the frame by about 4" and attached to a crossmember that is welded to the frame. Another function of this crossmember is radiator support. It is fairly substantial and I have used these loops to pull with no issues. Could you bend it? Sure you could. You can also bend the frame rail or crossmembers if you are not careful.

Let me know when you get a tow hook mounted directly in the center of a frame horn and are pulling in a direct line with the frame's longitudal axis. Then and only then will you have a pull "solely in tension" with respect to the frame rail. Anything else will cause a moment around something. I'm suprised you didn't say anything about a V8.

What 5th gen bashing? They're on the same place on the 4th gen. It also explicitly says that they're not for recovery in the manual. Mr. Engineer.

 

[1engineer]

What 5th gen bashing? They're on the same place on the 4th gen. It also explicitly says that they're not for recovery in the manual. Mr. Engineer.

In the manual they are identified as "emergency towing eyelets" on page 555. On page 607, titled "If the vehicle becomes stuck" at the bottom of the page it states "If the vehicle remains stuck even after these procedures are performed, the vehicle may require towing to be freed."

With that said, any sane person would evaluate in a given situation whether the front eyelets were or were not the best place to hook. As I said above, any point you can hook to and get recovered without doing any damage is a recovery point.