Best location for recovery hooks?
- airbur
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Best location for recovery hooks?
Where does everyone have them? Bolted/welded?
Sold: 1970 w/427W Injected Stroker
- Justin
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
Depending on how your bumper is mounted placing them on top or below the frame horns can work well. If I remember correctly you're running stock bumpers, I'd put them on the bottom of the frame rail. Just back them with a piece of 3/16ths plate steel to spread the load on the rails.
- Justin
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
Good thought. Zillas way is better.
- airbur
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
Any preferred type of hooks? Brand etc?
So with the 2x4 tubing...you're essentially spreading out the load along the frame a bit? By stub....about how long?
Thanks.
So with the 2x4 tubing...you're essentially spreading out the load along the frame a bit? By stub....about how long?
Thanks.
Sold: 1970 w/427W Injected Stroker
- Jesus_man
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
The best type of attachment is something that cannot come loose:


Hooks don't work well. Even the ones with a keeper because the keeper always breaks at some point.
So to complete the package you'd need a couple clevis', a good tow strap with loops (not hooks) and maybe a bag to carry them in. I also like use these with metal loops for strap storage.

As for straps, you can get some really good ones at 4x4 parts stores. Bubba Rope is also good. But I cheap out and go to a farm supply store and buy them for much cheaper rated for 27,000lbs. 30ft is a good length.


Hooks don't work well. Even the ones with a keeper because the keeper always breaks at some point.
So to complete the package you'd need a couple clevis', a good tow strap with loops (not hooks) and maybe a bag to carry them in. I also like use these with metal loops for strap storage.

As for straps, you can get some really good ones at 4x4 parts stores. Bubba Rope is also good. But I cheap out and go to a farm supply store and buy them for much cheaper rated for 27,000lbs. 30ft is a good length.
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
http://www.ucora.org
- Gregg
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
zillacon wrote:I wouldn't just plate them like Justin suggested with stock bumpers. I would cut a stub of 2x4 tubing and shove it into the frame behind your stock bumpers and cross bolt the stub with a Min of 1/2" bolt. If you just plate the bottom and get yanked hard you could easily tear the bottom of the frame horn off the frame especially if you get a pull from an angle.
If you put the tubing into the horns would that eliminate any other type of bumper? How far into the horn to keep that option available?
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- airbur
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
Gregg wrote:zillacon wrote:I wouldn't just plate them like Justin suggested with stock bumpers. I would cut a stub of 2x4 tubing and shove it into the frame behind your stock bumpers and cross bolt the stub with a Min of 1/2" bolt. If you just plate the bottom and get yanked hard you could easily tear the bottom of the frame horn off the frame especially if you get a pull from an angle.
If you put the tubing into the horns would that eliminate any other type of bumper? How far into the horn to keep that option available?
Good point!
Sold: 1970 w/427W Injected Stroker
- Rox Crusher
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
zillacon wrote:No it wouldn't. As stated in my other post it would be bolted inside so it could be removed. If you do a search for the tube bumper I built last year I would do the stubs the same way with sleeves inside so it won't crush when you tighten it down. I would also hide a cross tube behind the stock bumper to join both frame rails the same as I did in that bumper build. There are a couple of ways to mount the recovery points to it then whether you want them shown or hidden. They next time your over I can draw it up for you and I have about 12' feet of spare tubing that you can cut chunks off. 6"-8" is about right for each horn but all broncos are different.
This is what I am planning to do with mine.
On the front I will beef the front rails up with the Zilla stubs inserted inside the frame and then a piece that connects the frame rails and acts as a winch mount, all residing behind the stock bumper. Attachements points will be bolted to bottom of frame with the loop sticking out under bumper ever so slightly.
On the rear I will beef the rear rails up with the Zilla stubs inserted inside the frame and then a piece that connects the frame rails and incorporates standard receiver for (light duty) towing and as an attachment point. I will cut a hole in the stock bumper for the receiver.
1977 Sport, 351w OBDII EFI motor, 4R70W auto, 4:88 gears, ARB lockers, 3.5" suspension, 33" tires.
- Gregg
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- Rox Crusher
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
Gregg wrote:Brown Noser.
look whose talking............he didn't offer me any free stub material..............what PRECISELY did you do to get that offer ?
1977 Sport, 351w OBDII EFI motor, 4R70W auto, 4:88 gears, ARB lockers, 3.5" suspension, 33" tires.
- ZOSO
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
ive got hooks bolted and welded to the bottom of my frame. Same with booger. And both have seen a lot of abuse with no issues so far.
Rob
74 Ranger EFI351w, 4r70w, ARB 5.13 9in, ARB 5.13D44, and a bunch of other goodies. Best of all the family memories.
04 Mustang Cobra, KenneBell 2.2 feeding a lot of boost on E85. Tire shredding machine
New project: 77 Bronco Ranger, body work and more body work.
Very little left of a 72 durango tan explorer sport
74 Ranger EFI351w, 4r70w, ARB 5.13 9in, ARB 5.13D44, and a bunch of other goodies. Best of all the family memories.
04 Mustang Cobra, KenneBell 2.2 feeding a lot of boost on E85. Tire shredding machine
New project: 77 Bronco Ranger, body work and more body work.
Very little left of a 72 durango tan explorer sport
- Jesus_man
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
ZOSO wrote:ive got hooks bolted and welded to the bottom of my frame. Same with booger. And both have seen a lot of abuse with no issues so far.
Before I cut my frame horns off the rear, I could see where some were bolted onto mine and then ripped out. They were not welded tho. I think it's on the front where they put a hook into one of the holes in the frame and it tore the frame. I just don't like hooks mainly because I have had two tow straps damaged by them. They slip off part way, then the point of the hook goes thru the middle of my strap loop.
This is a great option if you have a receiver already:
http://autoshepherd.com/warn-62041-trai ... acket.html
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
http://www.ucora.org
- Gregg
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Re: Best location for recovery hooks?
zillacon wrote:Rox Crusher wrote:Gregg wrote:Brown Noser.
look whose talking............he didn't offer me any free stub material..............what PRECISELY did you do to get that offer ?
Thats just to lure him back over so he can get that damn sissy pink coffee Mug out of my garage. LOL
I know I know I know...I keep forgeting it in the mornings. Hey, I'm coming up on Spring Break (you know, rough teacher hours). I'll swing by and pick it up, buy some stubs and hooks and get myself a "Zilla Saver".
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