Homemade Tow Hooks... DONE. (with pics)
#1
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
![Default](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I finally got my towhooks made. Actually they are tow loops... I am not too fond of the factory tow hooks, IMO they are too close together, and the hooks look weird, especially with no plastic insert. To me they werent worth any where near the $125 they are selling them on e-bay for.
So I decided to make my own... I used some weld on d-rings rated at 10,000 pounds and welded them to a piece of 1/2" plate. Then I drilled the three holes to mount it to the frame, painted 'er up, took the bumper off, bolted 'er on, put the bumper back on, and cut the plastic insert to fit around the loops.
Bumpers off.
![Name: 0702110026.jpg
Views: 3809
Size: 111.6 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103816d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702110026.jpg)
Bar is on.
![Name: 0702111727.jpg
Views: 8463
Size: 162.4 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103817d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702111727.jpg)
![Name: 0702111739.jpg
Views: 2737
Size: 152.9 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103818d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702111739.jpg)
My welds... probably rated at about 50 pounds each so i stacked them good![Icon Teeth](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_teeth.gif)
![Name: 0702111750.jpg
Views: 2322
Size: 83.8 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103819d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702111750.jpg)
Holes cut in the valance... I know, I know not perfect
![Name: 0702115826.jpg
Views: 2184
Size: 125.6 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103820d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702115826.jpg)
Mounted
![Name: 0702121611.jpg
Views: 8024
Size: 153.2 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103821d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702121611.jpg)
Side view. I know theyre a little crooked... I didnt tack the one side enough before I started laying beads. MINOR
![Name: 0702121641.jpg
Views: 2255
Size: 154.0 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103822d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702121641.jpg)
Closeup
![Name: 0702121651.jpg
Views: 2198
Size: 77.4 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103823d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702121651.jpg)
Other side
![Name: 0702121703.jpg
Views: 2221
Size: 185.3 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103824d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702121703.jpg)
I will probably never use these things, but if I do, hopefully they hold. And if not, at least they wont come flying at me!!!!
So I decided to make my own... I used some weld on d-rings rated at 10,000 pounds and welded them to a piece of 1/2" plate. Then I drilled the three holes to mount it to the frame, painted 'er up, took the bumper off, bolted 'er on, put the bumper back on, and cut the plastic insert to fit around the loops.
Bumpers off.
![Name: 0702110026.jpg
Views: 3809
Size: 111.6 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103816d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702110026.jpg)
Bar is on.
![Name: 0702111727.jpg
Views: 8463
Size: 162.4 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103817d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702111727.jpg)
![Name: 0702111739.jpg
Views: 2737
Size: 152.9 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103818d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702111739.jpg)
My welds... probably rated at about 50 pounds each so i stacked them good
![Icon Teeth](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_teeth.gif)
![Name: 0702111750.jpg
Views: 2322
Size: 83.8 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103819d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702111750.jpg)
Holes cut in the valance... I know, I know not perfect
![Name: 0702115826.jpg
Views: 2184
Size: 125.6 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103820d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702115826.jpg)
Mounted
![Name: 0702121611.jpg
Views: 8024
Size: 153.2 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103821d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702121611.jpg)
Side view. I know theyre a little crooked... I didnt tack the one side enough before I started laying beads. MINOR
![Name: 0702121641.jpg
Views: 2255
Size: 154.0 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103822d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702121641.jpg)
Closeup
![Name: 0702121651.jpg
Views: 2198
Size: 77.4 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103823d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702121651.jpg)
Other side
![Name: 0702121703.jpg
Views: 2221
Size: 185.3 KB](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/attachments/3rd-gen-ram-general-discussion-non-tech/103824d1501411323-homemade-tow-hooks-done-with-pics-0702121703.jpg)
I will probably never use these things, but if I do, hopefully they hold. And if not, at least they wont come flying at me!!!!
#7
Trending Topics
#9
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
![Default](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
thanks guys! Makes me feel better that someone thinks my welds are ok.
The bike is a work in progress... I'm converting it to supermoto. Its a xr650r bored to 680 with cam and some other goodies.
It should be done soon. Maybe I will post some pics when its done... but since this is a dodge forum, I will park the truck in the background.
oh, and the hooks took me about 3 weeks to make but thats because I was slackin'. all in all i have about 4 hours into them and about $35.
The bike is a work in progress... I'm converting it to supermoto. Its a xr650r bored to 680 with cam and some other goodies.
It should be done soon. Maybe I will post some pics when its done... but since this is a dodge forum, I will park the truck in the background.
oh, and the hooks took me about 3 weeks to make but thats because I was slackin'. all in all i have about 4 hours into them and about $35.
#10
![Default](https://dodgeforum.com/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Welds look better than my popcorn machine(fluxcore junk)
Do you think you have enough room to get the tow hooks around them without beating up your bumper? I always thought the hooks were on the close side to the painted bumper.
At any rate...You saved yourself $150 and now have closed loops instead of open.
Do you think you have enough room to get the tow hooks around them without beating up your bumper? I always thought the hooks were on the close side to the painted bumper.
At any rate...You saved yourself $150 and now have closed loops instead of open.