Tow hooks with 3" body lift

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tmurphss

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I have the 3" body lift on my truck, an '09 Sport 4x4 crew cab. As we know the tow hooks don't even come on the sports and after getting stuck a couple times I decided it was time to do something about it.

I started looking at the truck and I pulled off the black plastic piece in the bumper and noticed this nice rectangle of bolts and thought I could do something with that.

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I was thinking just a plate bolted on there and then some hooks onto it, but the plate on the frame was pretty thin so I decided to bring it all the way back down to where the stock tow hooks bolt to. I took some measurements and got some brackets made out of 1/2" and 3/8" plate.

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I took off the front bumper cover and then ended up taking the bumper all the way off to grind off the studs that are welded to it.

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I used a cut-off wheel on my grinder and cut the heads off of the studs, then smoothed out the holes with the grinder and gave it a quick coat of paint.

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From here out it was just a matter of bolting everything together. I will update and add my CAD drawing of the brackets next week(its on my work computer). Two things I would change if getting the brackets made are to lower the hook mounting tabs on the plate and/or make them slightly thinner up and down. The second thing would be to move the holes for the bolt in the back about a 1/4" further back and to the side, I had to drill them out. You can see in the finished pictures how these couple changes would make them fit better.

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huff2462

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Great job!

-
'13 RAM 1500 Big Horn, 5.7L Hemi, 8-sp trans, 4x4, 3.21 gears
 

White Beauty

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damn... you anywhere close to NB and wanna come help me do the same on my 2011 with a 3inch BL
 

mattman_13

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I'd like it better with d rings but that's just me and they probably wouldn't fit too well.
Awesome job however. There's a small market for those. I say make some up unpainted and make you some money lol
 

White Beauty

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I'm going to check my 2011 non sport and see if the same mounting point is visible behind my bumper.

What grade bolts did you use? I'd be tempted to weld the bottom mount with the single bolt in. Weld around the outside edge. Make it permanent

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk
 
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tmurphss

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It could be done with d-rings, just have the tabs come out far enough through the bumper. If I could make them I would do that, I had them made in a fabrication shop, I could see how much they would charge for a couple sets if people are interested. Could also check on just the main bent plate then people could add their own tabs for whatever type of hooks/rings they wanted.
 
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tmurphss

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I'm going to check my 2011 non sport and see if the same mounting point is visible behind my bumper.

What grade bolts did you use? I'd be tempted to weld the bottom mount with the single bolt in. Weld around the outside edge. Make it permanent

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

I used grade 8 everywhere except the bottom bolt, it was a pain to find, might order some online and upgrade.

As far as welding, you could, I just figured the stock hooks are bolted in these could be too.
 

White Beauty

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I appreciate the dwg, for me I think that is enough, based on all the data you have kindly supplied me and my mechanic brother I'm sure can build these!
 

Cruizer

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Very nice job. Wouldn't mind putting something up front like that on my Sport.
 

rwalk

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It could be done with d-rings, just have the tabs come out far enough through the bumper. If I could make them I would do that, I had them made in a fabrication shop, I could see how much they would charge for a couple sets if people are interested. Could also check on just the main bent plate then people could add their own tabs for whatever type of hooks/rings they wanted.


I would take a set if you could get them made
 

Wandell

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Great work man!
 

tkyle486

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That looks awesome man good job and great write up! I think you should sell these, I know I would buy a set for my ram!!!
 

DohCanadian

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I'd be interested in a set of these. I'm wanting to body lift but with all the snow here you never know when I need a set of hooks in the front if I go somewhere a tad too deep.
 
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tmurphss

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I didn't know this had been moved, I was looking for it and didn't see it anymore.
 
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