I know some of the newer second gen models came factory with front tow hooks. I have a 96 Laramie that did not. Is there holes on the frame where I could do a quick swap from a 2001 that has em?

 

Dodge used to have a kit to add the tow hooks to 2nd gen trucks that didn't have them. The kit includes the metal brackets, the tow hooks and the fasteners needed to bolt them onto the truck. If you get those parts from the 2001 truck that has the factory style tow hooks, they will bolt right up to your 2nd gen truck. If your truck has the air dam on the front bumper, it will either need to be trimmed to allow for the tow hooks to protrude through it or remove the air dam completely. As an FYI, my '96 Ram 2500 4x4 is a Laramie optioned truck.

 

I think tow hooks only came stock on the Off Road edition trucks.... which makes them rather rare, and very hard to find.

 

Atomicdog is right. Dodge had an over the counter kit at the dealers to install tow hooks on the earlier Rams. Be aware the mounting brackets on those kits have different mounting holes than the brackets that came on the OffRoad editions. Your 96 will need the earlier style brackets. They are rare but do come up from time to time on ebay.

Here's a thread I put up about the differences a few years back. Look at the brackets and see which mounting holes would line up with your bumper brackets.

Tow hooks

 

Jimythefan (or anyone else), do you happen to know the part number for the tow hook kit that Dodge put out a while back? That will help folks to locate it. I threw my box away years ago and don't recall what the part number for the kit was.

 

I got the last kit in Chrysler's system about 8 or 9 years ago...........

Pretty much stuck with junk yards or ebay, looks like they are a pretty penny too. https://www.ebay.com/itm/15486443629...hoCIEsQAvD_BwE

 

Wow, I felt bad paying $100 for my set.

Adukart was nice enough to scan and post the directions for me. The brackets in the diagrams look to be the later style. The part number on the directions is 57883899 and they are dated 01/13/99 so that makes sense.

 

I got the same directions in my tow hook kit, but unfortunately, I believe that part number is for the 9 pages of directions. I ran that part number some years ago when I found my directions and wanted to know the part number for the tow hook kit. Unfortunately, that part number came back to that document and not the tow hooks.