Tow hook strengh for fullsize

[Rot Box]

I'm trying to mount tow hooks to my 91 F350 (for some reason a full size 1ton is sold without that option...) and its a royal pita. I can't seem to find a solution here as the frames on these trucks are really goofy and the shackles are in the way up front. I'd like to keep the front bumper and not cut it up.

Here's where I'm at: If you look at the pic the yellow circles show where the 3/8" bracket bolts through the frame using 1/2" bolts. The two blue circles show where the bumper bolts to the bracket. I'm thinking that if I can put longer bolts through the 2 blue holes and physically bolt a plate to the front of the bumper with a hook/shackle welded to the plate I can make this pretty simple and clean looking. My question is do you think this will be strong enough? I'm not going to winch it up waterfalls (lol) or anything just looking for a strong attachment in case I slide off the road in the snow or something Any ideas?

Andrew

 

[Badger]

Hooks should always be directly mounted to the frame. So no that would not be strong enough. How about a picture of the bumper still attached to the frame and a possible picture of the frame horns to be able to see what your options would be.

 

[Rot Box]

Bummer oh well. Its really hard to describe in words, but if you look at the frame horns the bumper bracket bolts to the outside of them then wraps around the front of them. If this were not the case I would mount the hooks to the front of the frame and just cut a hole through the bumper. Right now it looks like I'll have to make something similar to this: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/556910845aBXcMR

Edit: In the bottom pic the frame rails sit flush with the outlighned light blue part of the bracket.

 

[Badger]

If you want to keep it as stock looking as possible I would make a slit cut in the bumper/mount right next to the frame mount, then i would pass a piece of steel through the slit,weld that to the original mounting plate. Then use the original bolts along with the middle hole. Even then I would want more then 3 bolts a side for a 3/4 ton truck. So you would have a shackle mount instead of hooks.

The only issue I would see with what I'm describing is the rivets for the front hanger....But going on what I said about wanting more bolts. You could possible drill out the two front rivets and replace those with bolts.

 

[jeeper]

I would be VERY interested in what you decide to do. I have a 94 f350, and run into the no hook problem all the time.. I usually hook my chains around the shackle So far I haven't ripped them off, but a few times I have been nervous

 

[Rot Box]

I think I've found a solution. I'll post up tomorrow (have to modify some stuff at work tonight) and I'll have you guys tell me if you think it will be enough. I never thought it would be this much trouble to put hooks on anything, but in reality unless I want to destroy the front bumper there aren't a lot of options for this truck :-\