Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Im after a tow hook like this

Just the garden variety, every man and his dog has one, tow hook.
But... (theres always a but ) I have bought them from both Opposite lock and ARB before and they were absolute shite.
The retainer clip needs to be spring steel unlike the two that I bought which were just soft crap steel which in no way holds the strap from falling off.
I bought a hook years ago that had a nice clip but havnt been able to find any more.
Cheers
Paul.

That type of hook is the same from absolutely everywhere. And equally as crap from everywhere too.

Depending on the vehicle and intended mounting point you may be able to find a good one from TJM.


The only decent one I've found over the years was a factory fitment from the wreckers and I'll be keeping it.

Auto Pro. They are a dealer for Bushranger who make a good tow hook, with a good keeper spring as well. Much better than the one in your pic.

Oh and they retail for $22

what about trying to find one that fits a bloody 80 series where the original tow hooks are mounted

Specialty job. Im sure someone would make one for about 50 for a steel plate to put a shackle on

I got 2 TJM branded ones and the retaining clips are good. $15 each.

If they are all sold as tow/recovery hooks, why does everyone snatch from them? There's a big load difference between towing and snatching.

Is snatching a form of recovery???

Simon..

i have a 04 gu is the factory recovery hook where u would snatch from??

GU4me wrote:i have a 04 gu is the factory recovery hook where u would snatch from??

If it looks decent enough, but why not just use the tow bar. Much safer option!

Hang on, are you talking front or rear?

at the front

Sensible snatching will be ok on these type of hooks. Any thing will break or bend if the right forces are applied.
I would rather a hook bend than have a chassis break.
All those hooks above look the same to me?

Bazzle

bazzle wrote:All those hooks above look the same to me

That is the problem they all look the same but the better ones have a retaining clip that is made of spring steel not soft bendy mild steel.
In the past I have used cable ties to stop straps slipping off but that is a pain.

ausyota wrote:

bazzle wrote:All those hooks above look the same to me

That is the problem they all look the same but the better ones have a retaining clip that is made of spring steel not soft bendy mild steel.
In the past I have used cable ties to stop straps slipping off but that is a pain.

I havent found any hooks in recent times with the decent spring steel for the clip, all the ones I have found have being mild steel so I dont get in the brand name ones any more as appart from tha there is no difference I hav found

god luck finding them, I am sure there will be plenty of people interested if you find them

ausyota wrote:

bazzle wrote:All those hooks above look the same to me

That is the problem they all look the same but the better ones have a retaining clip that is made of spring steel not soft bendy mild steel.
In the past I have used cable ties to stop straps slipping off but that is a pain.

what about a rigging store? Somewhere that does that sorta chit?

I have a black rat one coming for me tomorow to have a look at that I can send back with the rep if I dont like it. Will let yous know.

In a recent test a Black Rat and a Supa Cheap hook both broke instead of straightening.
The GQ Patrol hooks snap on an angle pull, not sure on GU
J Top

The chrome hook that ausyota had a picture off i assume was taken from E bay.

I have been shopping for these hooks today as i need 4 of them to meet the requirements for Willowglen.

The silver one you posted IS the supercheap one but its been taken out of its packet.

Supercheap sell them for $20 same as the one on Ebay but the E bay one has $15 postage.

If you dont want your strap to fall off why dont you point them up?
If you want a good one get it from a heavy machinery shop the one's n tractors have a turn on the end of them like a tuna circle hook

I would'nt use those bolt in the 1st photo bet ya they aint high tensile

mudmacaca wrote:I would'nt use those bolt in the 1st photo bet ya they aint high tensile

All the tow hooks I have bought have only had grade 5 bolts included.
I always swap them for grade 8 with conelock nuts.

I dont think the nuts will make a difference it's shear strenght you look for the right size hole for the bolt (not to big) and big washers or plate to spread the load. I just used nylox nuts so I dont have to tighten them up
I used those supercrap hooks and jammed the car inbetween the front left hook and rear right hook last weekend on some rocks (need a solid front end to solve that problem) and they did'nt break but the best hook I got is off an old massey ferguson tractor would like to find another 3 the same but cant seem to find them

sudso wrote:I got 2 TJM branded ones and the retaining clips are good. $15 each.

If they are all sold as tow/recovery hooks, why does everyone snatch from them? There's a big load difference between towing and snatching.

TJM stores are plentiful enough and at 15 bucks ea. with good spring clips I reckon they're a bargain. I put a 6mm thick flat bar about 6" long on the opposite side of the hooks to spread the load.
I chucked the bolts that were supplied with em though. They didnt have 8.8 or the high tensile markings on them.

CanberraMav wrote:The chrome hook that ausyota had a picture off i assume was taken from E bay.

I have been shopping for these hooks today as i need 4 of them to meet the requirements for Willowglen.

The silver one you posted IS the supercheap one but its been taken out of its packet.

Supercheap sell them for $20 same as the one on Ebay but the E bay one has $15 postage.

the one in the pic is a croc country one, it is the pic the supplier give us, the retaining clip is mild steel, they are the same hook that don kyat bring in, repco bring in and by the looks the same as the black rat as well.

Well the black rat was same as all the other cheap rubbish.