You ’ve got atrailerhitch attached to the rearward bumper of your pickup truck truck . You think you ’re ready to tow anything , like aboator even another car , just because you’re able to attach it to your arrest . But what do you do if you ’re call upon to get a buddy ’s car out of a immense muddy gob ? Your lagger halt might not be the best option for tow another vehicle out a crocked spot . When you have a motortruck that ’s going to be doing some towing , it ’s good to have options . Besides , what happens if you get stuck in the mud ?
This is where hitch hooks and anchors come in . These tow accessory open up the possibility of tow more than just boat orRVs . They ’re also there to assure stability while towing . Hitch hooks , also called tow hooks , are mount on either the front or rearward bumper . attach chains , cable system or ropes to these hook allow a driver to tow another fomite or to get pulled out of mud when stuck . These can go on a wide diversity of vehicle , and they often number with manufactory - issued hooks .
Hitch ground tackle , also known as motortruck anchor or post anchors , can be welded to or infix into the walls of a motortruck bottom . Many trucks have designated places to place keystone . They also dish as attachment points for cable and ropes , and can be used to tie down items inside the hand truck ’s bottom .
In the next section , we ’ll discourse how to buy hinderance accessories like hooks and keystone .
Choosing Hitch Hooks and Anchors
There ’s a broad variety of hitch sweetener and anchors available for your vehicle . Some hook are custom - fitted specifically for that make and model , and typically " bolt - on " somewhere to the grill precaution or frame . Other claw are " ecumenical fit " , which mean they can be adapt to any fomite . However , that usually requires some modifications first , like drill or removing the bumper . In any case , it ’s important to make trusted that the hook you buy are compatible with your picky fomite .
When buy tow hooks , you ’ll want to see at its rated capacity - the load each production can take before it fails . Differenttow hooksrange from decorative ones that can support hundreds of British pound sterling to the super - duty hitch hook that can tow tons . merely check that your fomite can actually pull that much , and that you have the proper tow straps or range to get the line of work done .
Hitch lynchpin come in all cast and sizes as well . They are designed to be inserted into the stake pockets of your truck seam walls , or they can be bolt in or welded on . You may want to consider backbone that fold out of the bet pocket , as they may not get in the direction as much and might have a intimately aesthetic [ source : Curt Manufacturing ] .
In the next division , we ’ll examine how these hitch accessories are installed on two popular tow vehicle : a Jeep and a pickup motortruck .
Installing Hitch Hooks and Anchors
Hitch hooks can be mount on your vehicle on a variety of places , include the front and rear bumpers , the frame , or even the grille . You should usetow hooksattached directly to the frame of the car to ensure stableness . It ’s not a good idea to join tow meat hooks to anything unconvincing or to anything that moves on the vehicle - radiator , tail pipes , brush guard duty and the like [ beginning : Lewellyn ] .
Usually , mounting the hooks onto the flesh underneath the automobile would do the caper . However , depending on the vehicle and where you desire to mount the tow hooks , you may require to take away your front bumper . Do n’t worry too much , though : On some models , you’re able to purchase an entirely new bumper with hitch hooking already in place .
Let ’s look at instal enlistment hook shot on a Dodge Ram pickup . It ’s not a punishing caper if you have the right tools and some mechanical acquisition . In this case , you ’ll require 18 and 19 - millimetre socket and wrenches . You ’ll also need a screwdriver to remove the front air dam , slide the bracket over the exposed area , drill some extra holes in the bumper , put egg and bolts over the square bracket , and establish the hooks in the correct place [ source : Pavement Sucks ] .
The guild is a lilliputian improbable on a Jeep Cherokee . This appendage involve completely removing the bumper and cut composition off the bumper bracket with a bench grinder to suit the incumbrance crotchet [ source : Jeep horizon ] . Other tow hook can simply be bolted onto the fomite in designated areas or by drill small holes . If you ’re inexperienced , or if you do n’t have all the pecker necessary to get the job done , it may be in your best pastime to get your hitch add-on and towing equipment professionally installed .
Fortunately , hitch lynchpin are much easy to use . Most of them fit into designated pocket on your truck bed . They can include covers that pop off so the mainstay can be sneak in . Anchor peak can also be installed on the bed , but when you ’re doing so , check that you do n’t by chance bore into the gas tank or electric and drive train parts [ source : eSsortment.com ] .
For more information on rub lure and anchors , please see the links on the next page .
