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Andrew
Dodge Dakota
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1/28/2004
22:43:51
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 Subject: tow hook locations?
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Message:
the other night my buddy buried his jeep and was in need of a yank out of the mud. however when i went up under the front end to look for a towing attachment, i couldn't find anything. I have a 00 ex.cab 4x4 and due to the location of the front air damn (which sits right in front of the frame) there is nothing to hook a recovery rope up to. I do have a westin safari bar but the brakets cannot support any wieght. is there a kit i can buy to hang some hooks up under the front end?
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Hmmm
Dodge Dakota
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1/29/2004
00:55:26
|  RE: tow hook locations?
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Message:
Ummmm,
If I were you, I would prolly turn the truck around and tie the strap to the hitch.
If you are still looking for front hook points, try a search for wildhawk, I remember that he mounted hooks on the front and they were anchored to the frame.
Hope that this helps
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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1/29/2004
07:08:17
|  RE: tow hook locations?
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Message:
I never could not figure out why the aftermarket
never picked up on a tow hook kit for Dakotas.
The front valance even has two square cut outs
the would be perfect for hooks.
I ended up installing the safari bar kit then
bought two hooks from a farm store and installed
them through those two cuts out to the safari bar
kit. Not the most solid thing in the world but
looks nice and will work in a pinch. I agree with
Hmmm, you're still better off to use the rear
hitch system if you can.
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Andrew
Dodge Dakota
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1/29/2004
09:01:35
| RE: tow hook locations?
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Message:
well guys, i'm not as stupid as you make me sound... i would have turned the truck around and used the hitch except.... i haven't got one! I have no trailers to pull, so i never looked into getting one. i didn't feel like spend 200 some bucks just for a recovery hook i'll never use for towing, i was only interested in maybe a 50 dollar solution like the one it sounds like Radioman is talkin about. but thanks for the input.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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1/29/2004
09:02:08
| RE: tow hook locations?
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Message:
If you want a solid tow point on the front, you'll have to fabricate something yourself. I've searched for the last couple of years and have never found anything off the shelf.
The only grill guard that would be strong enough is a brand called "Ranch Hand", if I remember correctly. It's a company out of TX, and their product replaces the front bumper. It's expensive, massive, heavy, and ugly. But it's one solid piece of work, very impressive. It's designed for the working truck, not a show truck. None of the other brush bars or safari bars are near strong enough to use as a tow/snatch point. Some of them seem to be merely cosmetic.
The square hole in the front fascia would appear to be a perfect spot for a tow point. But if you look up there you find there's nothing behind the hole close enough for a simple bolt on. You'de have to fab some steel bracing to move a mount point close enough to be usefull. And you certainly don't want to be mounting anything to that 5mph bumper.
The bottom line is that it can be done. But you have to be handy with a torch and a welder.
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Hmmm
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2004
01:24:18
| RE: tow hook locations?
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Message:
Maybe you thought I was being sarcastic or not helpful when I recommended you spin the truck around and use the hitch, but if you read the rest of my post, you'll would've have found the answer to your question.
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/wildhawk66/album?.dir=/Tow+Hooks&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/wildhawk66/lst%3f.dir=/%26.view=t%26.src=ph%26.done=
his handle is wildhawk or wildhawk66. Plug that into the search box and you can prolly locate him. If my memory serves me, he has schematics and everything. I also think that this was a pretty stout set-up as he wheels.
You're welcome
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disaster
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2004
08:54:55
| RE: tow hook locations?
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mopar used to sell tow hooks for the dakota in '97 & '98 through the parts counter. i don't have a part number. the dakota accessory guide in '97 listed them for $160 a pair.
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bakindak
Dodge Dakota
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1/30/2004
09:24:22
| RE: tow hook locations?
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Message:
Hmm that doesnt make any sense at all, who would buy a 4x4 without a tow hook location on the front. I mean every other 4x4 pickup on the road has a location for bolting them in. That is dumb. Cause it isnt always possible to get turned around to pull someone out ie when you are out on a trail and the lead guy gets stuck
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Andrew
Dodge Dakota
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1/31/2004
03:03:59
| RE: tow hook locations?
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Message:
thanks for that help. and i know you weren't trying to sound sarcastic or anything i was talking out of my ass again. that picture link is very helpful but i don't hav the square cutouts on the bottom of my air damn... maybe they're not put on '00 models. if it comes to it i could just take a recipricating saw to it. and for a price of $160 for just the hooks, i'd rather spend that extra money and get that hitch... so that way i could "turn the truck around and tie the strap to the hitch." haha anyway, thanks for the ideas ya'll
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hmmmm
Dodge Dakota
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1/31/2004
05:05:54
| RE: tow hook locations?
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I guess I'm the other hmmmm. I'll go with the small h so people can tell us apart.
PIC
I hope I'm wrong but that looks like aluminum plate. Methinks that wouldn't be strong enough to take a shock load like you get when ripping a vehicle out of the muck.
Anybody else have any thoughts on this?
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