I purchased a set of used OEM tow hooks from a member here on the forum , I found a tow hook DIY here but I did a couple things different to keep the hooks from hitting my bumper and to open the gap a bit more to make it easier to install a strap .
My truck : 2014 4x4 QC EXPRESS with painted bumpers.
This is how I did it .
First I painted the exposed area of the hooks with VHT Roll bar and Chassis paint.
Next I removed the black plastic bumper insert for measuring and for cutting the holes for the hooks to protrude through.
I started with a much smaller hole , took a couple attempts to get it right .
REMOVAL IS NOT REQUIRED IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE MY MEASUREMENTS.
ADVICE ON CUTTING , if you use a heat gun to warm it up it cuts really , really easy with a sharp xacto knife . Be careful don't heat too much , start off on low for about 10 seconds max .
Both sides cut the same ! Easy to cut while installed , I actually finished cutting mine while installed .
I wanted to install the hooks with the opening outward , but due to the design of the hooks and how they install from the inside and things being in the way when I installed them with the hooks opening outward they wer contacting pretty good on the bumper without the insert installed .
So I installed the opening inward , I believe this is how they are supposed to be mounted because the way the bumper is shaped .
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actually with the steel bumpers ( which are made for hooks) I think they go outward . They are functional either way.
Even inward the hook was aprox .030" from the bumper so I modified the brackets a little to lift the hooks up to have it up off the bumper aprox 5/16ths of an inch .
Bracket modified.
I cut the right side above and on the left of the hole , opened the bottom of both holes a bit , to allow the bracket to be raised in its mounting location , and I knock out the alignment pin .
Hook mounted with modified bracket .
I then painted them while installed
Hooks installed .
Touched up paint after install because I scratched thisone during install.
Sorry so log , I hope this helps someone !
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FOR ANYONE READING MY ORIGINAL POST HERE AND WANT YOUR HOOKS TO POINT OUTWARD INSTEAD OF INWARD LIKE MINE ON AN EXPRESS OR SPORT OR A PAINTED BUMPER CHECK OUT POST #22 & BEYOND FOR (KEN226) HE HAS MADE BRACKETS TO ACCOMMODATE OUTWARD HOOKS ! POST #44 IS HIS PROTOTYPE.
THIS IS A LINK TO Ken226 's 1rst post , just read on from there ! Fantastic intuition.
http://www.ramforum.com/showthread.php?p=1495081