Is it absolutely necessary to remove the tow hooks on a Dodge Ram 1500 in order to install a Bull bar?

 

If you have to remove them, I'll buy them off you.

Let me know.

 

no. I have the westin bull bar and was able to keep my tow hooks installed. The bull bar came with two different mounting brackets, one for trucks with tow hooks and one for trucks without them.

 

I am confused. Looking at the Westin web site, here is the installation application chart. It has pictures and states: "NOTE: Factory tow hooks cannot be reinstalled with this application".
http://www.westinautomotive.com/page...ts/75-1027.pdf
This is for the Westin Ultimate Bull Bar. Are you absolutely sure about what you have?

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/members...b-4x4-slt.html

here is a link to the pics of my truck with it installed. It is the westin ultimate bull bar. And mine came with the two different brackets like i said. I bought mine this summer and it could have been changed since then but I doubt it.

 

I have the westin ultimate bull bar on my truck as well and didnt have to remove my tow hooks.

 

Your towhooks look unusable in the pictures. Looks like the strap would be pressing against the bull bar if you used them.


But beyond that, the directions he linked to are for a 2500/3500 which has a completely different type of towhook - so he is looking at the wrong directions since he has a 1500.

 

You sure are confused, those are the directions for a bull bar that fits 2010 and up 2500/3500, not a 1500

 

They are useless unless you are pulling at an angle from the front. I left them because i didn't want to have them just sitting on a shelf in my garage taking up space.

 

It turns out, jayman84 is correct. I called Westin, they said the bar comes with brackets that let you retain the tow hooks. I told them though that it states in bold on there web site that the tow hooks must be removed. The rep said it was not correct. Another question I have is, what exactly is the purpose of a Bull bar? Is it just for looks or other than the two fog lights you can get for it, does it serve a real purpose for your truck?