Are our tow hooks strong?

Taleen The Titan · 02-05-2007, 03:54 PM

well just like i said, how strong are our tow hooks in the front. the reason i ask is becuase my friend got his yukon stuck the other day and his tow hook busted. also the frame ripped where it is bolted to. and our titans tow hooks are not big(almost the same size), i looked at my friends f-150 and they look alot beefier. what ya think?

**chunko** · 02-05-2007, 03:59 PM

Warning...Our tow hooks are meant for others to tow us out, not to pull other people out. The truck doesn't handle pulling in reverse too well.

That said, I've never heard of Titan tow hook breaking. If it ripped a hole in the frame, well the tow hook wasn't a factor.

Taleen The Titan · 02-05-2007, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adavis99

Warning...Our tow hooks are meant for others to tow us out, not to pull other people out. The truck doesn't handle pulling in reverse too well.

That said, I've never heard of Titan tow hook breaking. If it ripped a hole in the frame, well the tow hook wasn't a factor.

yes, i tried to pull him out in reverse, the tires didnt even really spin, so i stopped because i figured it was bad for the whole truck. i also had my locker on and it was soft sand.

**chunko** · 02-05-2007, 04:33 PM

General unstucking advice:

Quote:

On 4X4 vehicles, whether the pull is made from the front or rear, the effort should be applied to the tow hooks. To apply the effort equally to tow hooks, a sling should be used between the two hooks and the effort applied to the sling. A chain is the best item to use as a sling. It's a good idea to have a tow hook on each frame rail in order to pull evenly instead of on one rail.

Tow straps with hooks should not be used. The hook could come loose from the stuck vehicle and become a dangerous projectile towards the towing vehicle. Straps with looped ends should be used with the loops placed on the hook. Hooks should have retaining clips to keep the strap from sliding off. A towel should be placed over the strap between the vehicles to keep it from snapping back if the strap breaks.

By chance were you pulling on just one hook?

**konigfritz** · 02-05-2007, 04:36 PM

yeah DO NOT TOW someone out in reverse Especially if you are in 4WD> known to cause front diff. to explode. And always use both hooks if at all possible. That is ALOT of strain on one tiny part of the frame. if you spread it out over the two it is much safer.

**loufish** · 02-05-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

On 4X4 vehicles, whether the pull is made from the front or rear, the effort should be applied to the tow hooks. To apply the effort equally to tow hooks, a sling should be used between the two hooks and the effort applied to the sling. A chain is the best item to use as a sling. It's a good idea to have a tow hook on each frame rail in order to pull evenly instead of on one rail.

Tow straps with hooks should not be used. The hook could come loose from the stuck vehicle and become a dangerous projectile towards the towing vehicle. Straps with looped ends should be used with the loops placed on the hook. Hooks should have retaining clips to keep the strap from sliding off. A towel should be placed over the strap between the vehicles to keep it from snapping back if the strap breaks.

I'm not a fan of chains because I snatch people out with a strap, but I would always try to use both hooks for all of the above reasons, and not just for the Titan...Think the F-150's hooks are beefy, check out one of the SuperDuty ones...

Taleen The Titan · 02-05-2007, 07:22 PM

ya i know the super duty's are crazy, but i was just talkin about 1500's. i didnt know that pulling in reverse in 4x4 was that bad for it, hope i didnt mess it up, but then again i didnt force anything for long at all. and yes i did pull from both of my hooks.

red_rider_elsinore · 02-06-2007, 01:50 PM

Is pulling out in reverse bad for all trucks or just the titans?

**DeadRiver** · 02-06-2007, 02:38 PM

harbor frieght has tow straps on sale this week, i was going to buy one and do some pulling, but now that i've read this thread i might just keep it for 'emergencies'

**konigfritz** · 02-06-2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red_rider_elsinore

Is pulling out in reverse bad for all trucks or just the titans?

not really a good idea for most trucks. But mainly in 4WD. The front diffs aren't really designed for that much stress in reverse.

**loufish** · 02-06-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

harbor frieght has tow straps on sale this week, i was going to buy one and do some pulling, but now that i've read this thread i might just keep it for 'emergencies'

Remember, tow straps are not the same as snatch(don't you love that word...)straps. If you're going to get a strap to pull you out, it's worth the extra money to get a good one. Mine is rated for 30,000 lbs, 3" wide and 30' long.

Learjet · 02-06-2007, 06:50 PM

the hooks are strong, unless you hook a chain to them with slack and then take off. Then, it will rip the hook off like you described.

Taleen The Titan · 02-06-2007, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learjet

the hooks are strong, unless you hook a chain to them with slack and then take off. Then, it will rip the hook off like you described.

ya that is what happened, we had the f-350 and it tried to yank the yukon out, it didnt do jack to the f-350, but ripped the hook off the frame of the yukon hahaha

bigjimbo · 02-06-2007, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loufish

Remember, tow straps are not the same as snatch(don't you love that word...)straps. If you're going to get a strap to pull you out, it's worth the extra money to get a good one. Mine is rated for 30,000 lbs, 3" wide and 30' long.

+1 ...ive had several HF/Walmart Straps snap....buy a good one.

**walleeme** · 02-06-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigjimbo

+1 ...ive had several HF/Walmart Straps snap....buy a good one.

Watch that Chinese junk!
You get what you pay for.