tow hooks?

[schneiderz]

Hey does the 03 ranger xl have front tow hooks? If not how hard would it be to install them?

 

[strvger]

should have at least one, probably on the driver's side. just get under there and look and you'll see it if it's there. one option would be to get some heavy bolt-on style and drill the frame and mount them up. i have several different styles that i choose from. got them on ebay and other places as you can never have too many recovery points on your truck... imho.

 

[schneiderz]

k well i have a body lift on their so would that make it any harder to do?

 

[Jay FX4]

A body lift definitely eliminates the possibility of mounting stock hooks in the stock location, unless you cut up your valance. I don't recall if the 2wd trucks even have the cross brace that the hooks mount to.

I agree mounting them to the frame would be your best bet. I don't know how you'd go about it, though.

 

[schneiderz]

ya i know that the 2wds dont have the cross member so i have to go to the frame but dont know where to go to make it easy to get to

 

[02RangerXLT]

Could it be done by adding a front receiver hitch?

 

[schneiderz]

probably but like i said im body lifted and dont know if one can be installed with the front bumper lifted

 

[Jay FX4]

http://www.jcwhitney.com/front-moun...filterid=c2324d658y2003j1&_requestid=11217282

Shouldn't matter that you have a BL. Not sure how much ground clearance you'd lose, but you could install something like this and use a hook or a shackle.

I'm not saying it's the best way or the only way. I wouldn't know.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

My 03 edge has the crossmember, I bought the stock 4x4 tow hooks as shown above off a guy for 15 bucks and they bolted right up. but I don't have a BL

 

[Jay FX4]

I have seen a few body lifted trucks with notches cut in the valance for the hooks. Even with super clean surgery, I still don't care for the way it looks. With a BL theres no other way to run stock hooks, though. At least not that I'm aware of.

 

[schneiderz]

k thanks i think im just gonna go with the front mount hitch since a lot of people have told me the frame is to thin to put a tow hook on and i will just rip my frame.

 

[strvger]

well, i've never heard of anyone having their frame ripped out from tow hooks. my rear hitch, front bumper and front brush guard are all mounted to my frame. same as most folks that i know of. again, never had nor heard of any problems with that. most recovery points on off road vehicles are frame mounted and some clubs require it of their members for trail runs.
but i still like the front mounted hitch for you. gives you lots more options that way.
good luck with the install!

 

[schneiderz]

thanks and ya people told me that the frame is to thin and if i only hook up to one side of the frame the pull will rip the frame

 

[daniel3507]

thanks and ya people told me that the frame is to thin and if i only hook up to one side of the frame the pull will rip the frame

I really dont see how that would happen. There would be a bunch of other things that would fail before the frame "rips". The Level II Rangers came stock with a rear tow hook attached to one side of the frame. I have one on my truck now.

 

[schneiderz]

k thanks how do I find out what level ranger I am?