After hearing the price tag on a set of OEM front tow hooks for the 2011 Durango, I set out to install my own set of aftermarket hooks. Total cost was about $25.00 (I had all the metal on hand). Total time was about 3 hours from fabrication to install. Lots of drilling involved, and I am not a patient man when it comes to drilling. Needless to say, I was pleased with the final product so I decided to share it with DF.

Firstly, make sure you have the threaded holes in the front of the frame. You will know where to look as they should be directly behind the two front grill covers on the lower grill. If you have them, remove the grill covers. Pull 4 plugs on the spoiler to give you some flex in the spoiler / bumper. Then there are 2 plugs holding each grill cover. Remove them. I had to use two of these to replace the ones I broke on the spoiler (they were different types???).

The hardest part was getting everything to line up as the frame is not centered with the openings. I knew this would be the case after I saw the diagrams of the OEM hooks. Turns out that 2 inch angle iron would give me enough drop to line up the horizontal, and a 3/4 inch spacer gave me a good vertical centering. The alignment is determined by the hooks you buy. I purchased tow keeper hooks on amazon. 10,000 lb.

Since I seem to be limited to 5 pics, I did some narrating on a few. Hope this is useful.

 

Looks nice. Hope you used grade 8 bolts.

 

I hope I don't get stuck...lol

 

Nice work! Looks like I have a new project.

 

Looks great! Nice job.

IndyDurango

 

GREAT JOB and nice detail... thanks for the info!

 

Great job and great forum.

 

Looks Great, nice writeup too!

 

Thanks, After i got my wife's 2011 durango stuck on wet grass and realizing tow hooks were a good idea, even if it has to be pulled on a rollback so the front cover isn't destroyed. I followed your lead ,but upgraded to 2x2x 3/8 thick ( 2x3x 3/8 would have been a better bracket since i had to angle the hooks on the 2x2). I also used 3/4 x 2 solid bar instead of the 3/4 tube. All materials cost $5 at metals supermarket in my area. I also replaced the bolts that came with the hooks(from harbor freight $14 )with 1/2x13 x3.5 long grade 8 and lock nuts. You will also need to buy (4)m10x1.5 bolts to bolt to the frame. If you use 2" blue painters tape to the frame where you want to match the holes you can use your dirty finger to get the impression of the hole locations to drill them(just remember to turn the tape upside down on the angle when marking it). I had to angle the holes for the hooks some to get it centered ( this is where 2x3 would have come in better than 2x2). All in all it is great and your detail for the design helped enormously. Couldn't be happier.
p.s. make your driver side 1st, so it can clear the trans. cooler line, then make the pass. side to mirror that so it looks the same.

 

does anyone know if 2011 jeep oem front tow hook bracket and hook will work on a 2011 durango? They look alike but I do not believe part number is the same.