well some people don't want a hitch set up for the front of their dakotas like myself. and i also have no desire to cut up my front bumper. i do however want to utilize the factory holes where there should already be a hook or a shackle at. we had actually discussed making both kinds. i can tell you this wont be 15 dollars.

 

went up there today and may also be making a front skid plate as well. incase you haven't read before the front hooks for the dakota that used to be sold as a dealer upgrade was a hook set up and a piece to tie both ends of the front frame together for added strength when pulling from an angle. i didn't really like the round tubing or square tubing ideas that were thrown out and we did come up with a possible front skid plate idea to tie the front frame together.

just have to see if it is financially feasible.

 

Oh, I'm not disagreeing with you in the slightest. I think it's an excellent idea, I'm only pointing out to some that there are some very inexpensive alternatives. I would suspect if this guy is good and the piece is high quality, it just may be out of a lot of guy's price range.

If this guy is good, you're gonna have a hell of a nice looking and functional mod on your hands.

I've taken my welder out and done quite a few things and have made quite a few mods out of steel as well as taken a punch press and brake to some sheets of stainless and diamond plate for mods myself...

 

well this guy is good however i am tring to keep him in the direction of simple and cheap as possible. there is a pretty good chance that this will cost to much for people to be interested so as we get closer to taking it from paper to metal we would have a better idea then. i already had a let down today when i found out the price of a sheet of 4x8 1/4 plate steel was higher than we anticipated.

 

What price are you getting? I have a place up in Georgia I get some from that is very competitive. Although I can save on the shipping when I'm up there cause I have a buddy who makes cookers and smokers and I can usually just add the odd piece I need to his order and not pay shipping.

I haven't bought sheet steel in about two years, but I bought a couple of pieces of 4x8 aluminum diamond plate not long ago in .080 thickness for $82 which KILLED most other prices I've found.

 

1/4 4'x8' plate steel was $300.50 a sheet. i still have to call a few more places. we were looking at this steel for the skid plate. i am not sure if it needs to be this thick but as a skid plate i guess you want it thick. plus the skid plate would act as aditional bracing for the frame ends. (i know i just took a bunch of steel to the scrap yard and they were buying it at 10.50per 100lb's so the price of steel is up right now)

the tow hook mounts are going to be thinner steel so that it is about the same thickness or a little thicker than the frame.

 

Yeah, I actually texted my buddy right after I posted earlier and his immediate reply was "steel is up".
But he'd pay $228.50 for it and he buys decent quantity, depending on cooker orders he'll get anywhere from one truck delivery every two weeks to two trucks a week from the place he buys from in Savannah.
So I'd say $300 a sheet for a qty. 1, single order is probably about right...

 

1/4in for a skid plate is great but not needed for anything less of rockcrawlers or HD trucks. 3/16in I would say is best for a street/trail truck. Heck 1/8in is just fine too with support, it may dent but I guarantee it will not rip through. The frame is probably 1/8in.

Factory skid plates are 1/8in with tons of reinforcement ribs. I beat the hell out of my skid plates tons of scrap marks and a small dent or two but holding darn strong.

Edit:I forgot your going to connect the tow hooks together, for that 1/4in would be best.

 

yes 1/4 would be best but i was going to find out what the 3/16 cost too. i had just forgot to find out when i called the other day. i actually think 3/16 would be strong enough to tie the front together. specially since the frame steel appears to be 1/8 thick.

either way 300 a sheet is a pretty steep price when i am tring to get something made cheap enough that normal everyday dakota drivers on a budget could afford. and if it was up to the guy doing the fab. these things would be really beutiful hooks and cost a lot if i let him go at it with free rain.

as of right now i am having these designed around a stock wrangler type of hook with the 2 bolt holes. simplicity and cheap.

 

fornicate that dude! i know you said you didnt want a front receiver but sometimes you just got to be practical. we used to install the curts on the front of daks all the time when i worked at the dealership. bought them locally at a truck accessory shop for like $119. they tie the frame together just like your wanting to do. mostly we installed them for winches. heck for what your talking about spending a guy can buy the receiver and a off brand 8000 lb winch and not have much more in it than your materials.