Rear tow hook?!?!?!

[cherokee]

I have to put an exposed tow hook on the back of the car, this is for if the car gets stuck in the sand or for some reason needs to be towed tail first. In looking at the back of this car there is not a lot that is very strong back there that I feel confortable in yanking on. I am curious to what others have done. The hook needs to be exposed from the rear of the car. Any Ideas?

[nobody]

well, depending on model usually around the rear diff is best.

[cherokee]

I guess I should have said it was on a GT. Around the diff is a problem as the exhaust is right in the middle. This tow point needs to be up around even with the body so there is no digging to get to the hook in the event that the car is deep in the sand. I have an idea that I am working on but am not 100% happy with the way it is going to look, I think it is going to be as strong as it needs to be, but not look the best.

[baz]

can you fit a cross brace across from the 2 rear rails and have the hook or eye through the body between the bumpers

[okieopel]

How about a short heavy cable going around the rear axel and the tow hook end mounted to the rear bumper. The tow hook could be heavy velcro mount or some other break away mount to allow one time use so as to not damage the rear bumber when used. What do you think?

[namba209]

Actually there's a couple of tie down rings at the back inside of the rear wheel wells. Maybe you could fasten a nylon towing strap with hooks to each one and tape it to the rear bumpers, or just lay it behind the license plate. Quick and dirty to get to and it wont do any damage to the exterior.

[cherokee]

I saw the tie down rings back by the rear wheels, I was not confortable with strength of those, and they need to be available without getting under the car. I have thaught about straps and passed on them, not happy with any of the ideas that I came up with.

What baz suggested is what I am going with and seems like the best idea, 4'X3"x1/4 plate steel across the rear of the car and bolted to the mounting points of the bumpers. Then a 2x2 square tubing in the center between the bumpers, with the tow eye mounted to the square tubing. Then paint to body color and bolt the bumpers to the plate steel. It won't be pretty but it is the strongest idea I can come up with. When pulled it will pull from all 4 upper bumper mounting points. And those are not that strong looking, hopefully I will never find out. Bumpers on these cars are for looks, when I go Prod I can loose all of them.

[baz]

i was thinking of mounting it inside the car and a hole through to take the tow ring then you could mount through the chassis rails but ugly on the back should work and it adds to the impact strength

[Terry McCormick]

I have an HP gt, for years I have used a two inch wide strap bolted to a sandwich plate thru the sheetmetal behind where the gas tank used to be.
I also have velcro on strap and car to keep it in place at race speed so corner workers won't call it in for a loose part. sorry to say it has been tested to many times to admit,mud and dry.

[yellaopelgt]

Could you somehow reinforce the 2 loops on the axle and have slack inside the car? Just leave the hook exposed outside centered in back, and when you need it, let the slack loose from inside,get the car out and pull the slack back in?? Does that make sense? kinda hard to describe .......
just a thought,
Joe

[cherokee]

Terry, I would be very intrested in seeing a pic of your setup if that is possible. Do you ever make it up to Hallett? If you are planning on running up there this year perhaps we could ge together and share some war stories. Is this a white car with 00 for the number.

I spent last night welding up the setup that I came up with, When it gets done being painted I will post some pics up of it.