One of the reasons I have hesitated at installing a Bull Bar on my 2008 DC Tundra SR5 was losing my tow hooks. When I ran this concern by my mechanic he responded with these opinions:
"Most people use their tow hooks incorrectly. Sometimes, they use just one tow hook to do the pulling that needs to be done and risk throwing something into mis-alignment, their frame or front end. The tow hooks have to be used together, they have to SHARE the towing or pulling you want them to do. My suggestion would be to get the bull bar that you want and if you have to do anything requiring a tow hook, use one of those trailer hitch receivers mounted with a tow-hook in your REAR trailer hitch; You will have an equal pull from the frame of your Tundra and won't have to worry about any mis-alignment of your frame or front end".
Is my mechanic correct and would a receiver mounted with a tow hook be just as good as having the front tow hooks to do any such towing or pulling? Your opinions please, and thanks.
FredSG
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2008 Pyrite Mica Toyota Tundra SR5
Off Road Package w/tow mirrors,
Cloth Bucket Seats,
Wade Bug Guard,
Wade In-Channel Wind(ow)Deflectors,
Line-X Xtra Black,
Undercover WeatherTech Floor Liners,
Deck Rail System,
Wet Okole Seat Covers[/URL] Front & Rear,
SR5 Sway Bar,
Under Seat Storage Tray,
Westin Bull Bar (all chrome),
Extended Warranty 7 Years/100,000
To answer your question, my first off-road vehicle was an International Scout II back in 1977; just sold it last summer. In 1989 I bought a Ford F-250, and I still have it. I've owned three Jeep Grand Cherokees and still have my last one purchased in 2001; I've only needed the front tow hooks once in all those years owning these different vehicles. The road just collapsed on my 2001 jeep and I couldn't be pulled out and had to get AAA to come and get me out.
I just purchased my 2008 DC Toyota Tundra SR5 late November, 2007. Bull Bar or tow hooks...the look or the practicality ...............
What do you think?
FredSG
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2008 Pyrite Mica Toyota Tundra SR5
Off Road Package w/tow mirrors,
Cloth Bucket Seats,
Wade Bug Guard,
Wade In-Channel Wind(ow)Deflectors,
Line-X Xtra Black,
Undercover WeatherTech Floor Liners,
Deck Rail System,
Wet Okole Seat Covers[/URL] Front & Rear,
SR5 Sway Bar,
Under Seat Storage Tray,
Westin Bull Bar (all chrome),
Extended Warranty 7 Years/100,000
go for the look of your truck in this case.
so far in more then 20 years of off-roading you needed them only once.
imo in worst case it takes about 10-15 minutes to replace them, or about 5 min to remove bull bar. i install my hooks with the bull bar. just take a look and decide:
They make bull bars that let you keep the tow hooks. Would you rather have them and not need them, or need them and not have them. Nobody plans to use them, but they are convenient when you need them.
Using one of the receiver tow hooks is nice... if you need to be pulled out from behind. But you have no clue whether you will need to be pulled out from the front or the back in the future. BTW, they make receivers for the front of your truck too.
Which ones let you keep the tow hooks? It is Westin I think.
Which ones let you keep the tow hooks? It is Westin I think.
FWIW, I installed a Westin brush guard on my 2000 SR5 AC some 7 years ago and was able to keep the tow hook though the instructions said to move it to the opposite side. Of course, the design of the bull bar, not to mention the newer Tundras, may be significantly different, but that was my experience.
Since I started this thread I thought it best to let you know my final decision. I bit the bullet and removed my tow hooks. I then installed the Westin Bull Bar. So it's a done deal now.
I really decided based upon the probability of my getting stuck again. In my 31 years of driving off road vehicle of various makes, I've only gotten stuck once...and the guy who tried to pull me out using his and my tow hooks couldn't, and I had to call AAA to come and lift me out of the collapsed road I was in.
I'm pleased with the way the bull bar looks. The all chrome model goes well with my 2008 Tundra SR5 Pyrite Mica paint. I'll try to post photos later.
Thanks for all your input.
__________________
2008 Pyrite Mica Toyota Tundra SR5
Off Road Package w/tow mirrors,
Cloth Bucket Seats,
Wade Bug Guard,
Wade In-Channel Wind(ow)Deflectors,
Line-X Xtra Black,
Undercover WeatherTech Floor Liners,
Deck Rail System,
Wet Okole Seat Covers[/URL] Front & Rear,
SR5 Sway Bar,
Under Seat Storage Tray,
Westin Bull Bar (all chrome),
Extended Warranty 7 Years/100,000
Bull Bar and Tow Hooks Dilemma
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