*NO RECIEVER HITCH WILL BE INSTALLED ON HER TRUCK*''

now that i got that outta the way, i've seen u can use the FX L2 hooks on the rear but they're $80 new so thats plan B. my thoughts were to get a 3 hole standard tow hook or even a front mount hook and mount it to the frame. sandwich the frame with some stock and voila!...she'll probaly never use it but i want her to have and not need rather then need and not have.

also, whats everyone elses method of this?

 

That sounds pretty solid if I understand you right. Mounted to the frame with some stock to back the bolts to distribute the load, yes? Sounds good to me.

I don't think you'd be able to mount the FX4 hooks very easily since they are not a universal mount, but intended for very specific "geometry" of the front bumper bracket.

 

figured they'd work like that. if she was gunna be really wheelin a lot then id say hitch definatly.

by front hooks i meant edge front hooks mounted like i described above...just food fer thought...who needs 2 front hooks =-D

 

john, the L2 hooks should fit perfectly, they use factory holes in the frame and im sure the holes are in all the ranger frames, so that way would work.

if youre going to rig something up, dont spend all the cash on a front edge hook, go to a hardware store and get a universal tow hook, with the lock clip. the only problem you may find with any hook other than the factory L2 hook is that they may not stick down very far. if youll notice the L2 hook sticks down quite a ways. there is good reason for this, its so the strap/rope/chain youre using doesnt take off the rear bumper!! whatever you use make sure that whatever you use for recovery will clear the rear bumper, or youll have a more expensive problem than an L2 hook costs

 

Well silly me. I didn't know the FX4 came with rear tow hooks. I thought he was going to try to use the FRONT ones on the REAR. DOH!

 

ohhhhh i guess he did mean the L2 front hooks. maybe he doesnt know all the FX4 L2s came with a REAR hook as well, on the right side

 

1 hook on right side, if you did not get factory tow package... :(
if you purchased the factory tow package you get NO REAR HOOK...

 

If you have the tow package, you have less need of a rear hook, so no problem! :)

 

well i was gunna take on of the front hooks off and use it...if she'd let me, lol.

like i said before, its doubtful she'll ever use it so ill get a standard 3 hole hook and mount it. i was thinkin bout a clevis mount instead of i have yet to look under her truck...

 

i had the factory rear-towhook for a while and i loved it...

it was hoop-shaped and black...

 

Yup. Somewhere in the documentation for my truck (prolly the sticker) it says something to the effect of "Rear tow hook - delete". Although I've yet to see an LII equipped truck w/o the tow package..

optikal: Why no receiver hitch? That would be my first preference. A truck w/o a hitch is like.. well, a car..

 

couldnt u just install a hitch and then put in a hook? i've seen them of 4wheelparts.com a lot....that seems like the easiest...plus u can haul trailer now!

 

I know the post started with no receiver hitch, but that is really the way to go
if you are pulling why not pull from the center and your frame - in the rear that is the hitch point
why buck the system - get a reciver hitch and be done with it
the hide a way hitch system is practically invisible

 

because a hitch is not going on the truck, she doesnt want one or need one. like i said she'll probaly never use it but just in case she needs to, its there. i know its the way to go but its a DD and not a wheeler (well not at this stage). and this truck will never see a trailor anyway, wasnt bought with the intention of towing...if it was she would have gotten a F-150...

 

my dad put a class III hitch on my truck b4 i got it...for no reason at all...its only been used 2 times maybe...i dunno...but i say go with that....its not noticeable at all!

plus it adds value to u're truck if u ever decide to trade it in...dealerships like to see them

 

you can get a good hitch for $99.99 or less

or you can buy a fatory ford rear towhook like the one i had for about 60 or less...

i vote, buy a hitch... sure she might not see the need for ever towing anything... but what about a uhaul or something? you never know...

for the money you will spend on a rear-tow hook, just go ahead and get a hitch and a receiver tow hook..

 

yes but ya'll dont understand...its not mine! lol. she doesnt want one and thats that. i tried to explain to her about a hitch but she doesnt want it so i came up with another method of a rear recovery point...

 

Sounds like she needs to trade that thing in for a Civic.

 

hrm...ya so she doesnt wanna tow with it and right now its OUR DD it should be traded in on a civic? get the hell outta here. i said at this stage it isnt a hard core wheeler, by the end of next yr hopefully it'll have some altitude and new shoes.

jeez guys all i wanted was a friggen answer to weather a tow hook with some bracing will hold up to a few tugs...

 

the tow hook with bracing should work fine, just be sure the strap will clear the bumper!!

 

i figured it would, i just need to get under the truck and see whats goin on under it.

whats goin on with my post? its all edited?

 

christian is having some trouble setting up the censoring stuff, dont worry about it

 

Wouldn't a civic be a better daily driver?? Think about it, it's cheap, gets better fuel economy, probably faster, and has TONS more aftermarket parts available than the Ranger. Since you're not towing or offroading with it, why have a truck?? BTW, I wheel and tow with my truck frequently and it is also my daily driver so they definitely are not exclusive of one another.

Regarding the hitch, other than adding a roll pan, I have yet to hear a valid argument for not wanting one. As one person already stated, it adds to the value of the truck and as someone else stated, it's a better recovery point. Think of it this way, when you're recovering a vehicle from the end of one frame rail, you are creating great stress on the small area where the hook is located which is more likely to break than the hitch. When tugging from one frame rail, it is possible to tweak the frame to the extent that the truck will no longer track straight. The tow hook is held to the frame with (at most) three bolts whereas the hitch is attached with at least six bolts and spreads the load to both frame rails.

All around, the hitch is the best solution, followed by the Civic, with the frame attached tow hook taking up the rear. A tow hook will get the job done, but for how long and at what cost?? Twisting your frame is more expensive to fix than a hitch.

 

People here are just offering options and advice. Don't take it so personally..

My last truck had a ball hitch on the bumper before it left the dealership. My buddy just picked up a brand new Subaru WRX sedan. We were standing around in the parking lot looking fondly at it and my first comment was "Needs a 'hitch!" (He about hit me, but that's another story.) For some, the hitch is essential. I wouldn't dream of going for a tow hook instead of a hitch. If it ain't for your or your lady, so be it..

 

That was answered the first post.