The Great Tow Hooks Conspiracy Thread

Yo, everyone, aFe Power recently released this OEM-looking tow hook
Thoughts?

https://afepower.com/afe-power-450-72t001-r-afe-control-front-tow-hook-red

 

Those look like bumper ripper 2000s. The conspiracy continues.

 

Two thoughts:

1. Bye bye bumper

2. If you're actually stuck in mud or snow that buries your front end, they're useless

 

Oh yeah. I'm still mad that a mod jacked with my thread and somebody else gets credit as OP...

 

Yeah, the bumper ripping-thing is going to be an issue; it looks OEM for sure, but it's just too low and too tucked away. Unless . . . someone makes a recovery hook/shackle that pokes out of the lower portion of the grille or even the lower valance. That'd be good

 

Westcott Designs is working on this… Saw a video of theirs where they built out a 22 for a show recently, and they’ve got hooks tied to the frame out front, but requires cutting square holes into the lower “mustache” bumper arms… their cuts looked sloppy, but the overall look was pretty good… about the 1 min mark in video below to see them…

https://youtu.be/Q300BzwUU3s

 

Oh yeah, look at that! Not too shabby

 

I mean that almost looks OEM minus not being perfectly trimmed. Why couldn't Toyota have done that?

 

they are too busy making sure the engine shuts off when you open the door after remote start

 

If I could even figure out how to remote start my lexus now that the little instruction tags broke off the key I might be more upset

Yes, it needed instructions because putting an actual start button on the keyfob of a $70000 SUV was too much to ask. Instead you have to hit a random combination of other buttons to make it happen

 

At least 40% of my displeasure with the new design would be wiped away if Toyota offered a properly done version from the factory similar to that Westcott solution. They really pissed me off with this tow hook debacle and soured me off the bat.

 

Toyota seems to have the "we know what you need/want better than you do" attitude about the tundra.

Same with the Sequoia.

 

And then there’s the BMW Supra. I really love owning Toyota’s, but they seem to make it harder and harder to choose their product over other options on the market. If you remove the reliability factor there’s definitely other trucks I’d rather own if I were buying a new one. The reliability and the way they treat the customer are the most important factors for me. If I could throw those inhibitions to the wind and was in the market for something new I’d look elsewhere. They really have me hooked though based on my trouble free ownership of their vehicles over the years. The bastards know it too.

 

I mean, they've known they're the most reliable for a long time and their prices on their other vehicles definitely reflect that.

 

True, but they’re gonna have to do better than riding the coat tails of their past, at least for me in the truck segment anyway. There’s been multiple flawless 3/4 ton GM trucks in my family so I’m not afraid to jump ship if they won’t produce what I’m looking for. I like the Toyota kool-aid but I’m not opposed to other juice. I’m not giving up my current tundra for many years anyway though, so we will see how this plays out.

 

Other than a warped manifold(because I was towing my travel trailer into a 30 mph headwind on a 95F day at 7000’ of elevation while running an aftermarket tune on my ECU) my F150 Ecoboost has been solid for 7.5 years. Since I bought my travel trailer in 2017, literally 1/3 of my trucks miles are towing in the Rockies.

 

My FIL has lots of towing miles on his 2011 EcoBoost with no issues. I find it interesting that he has a 21', 4100 lb dry trailer and he's not comfortable going bigger with his truck. My trailer is 25' and 5300 lbs dry and my truck seems to handle it well.

 

Thats about the same size as my trailer(JayFeather X213, 4200 lbs dry and 5500 GVWR, 24' tongue to bumper) and mine is a rock. I have been through some horrific winds in Wyoming and have zero issue plowing through at 65-70mph. I came back from the Black Hills once as a winter storm was blowing in and I could literally see the trailer dog walking behind the truck due to the constant wind pushing it sideways but the truck didnt even notice.

 

Everyone complaining of killing the bumper, but what about the air dam? That's $1000 of hardware and it's RIGHT there...

 

It's still better than nothing. You just need to be aware of the risks and careful while using it.

 

I called Westcott and the person had no clue of what I was talking about. Their attachment point must be a fair ways out.

 

Update on the Westcott recovery points. I get a call back from them and they will cost about $250 and be out in 2 months.

 

They too small. Bad location. They need to be thru face of bumper and rated to 2x the trucks weight. It's an SUV until they redo the factory bumpers on front and back.

 

This thread lives!! Merry Christmas to me!!

 

I think the Westcott tow hooks will not be happening. I have called a couple of times and no replies.

 

This is pure gold. Well done, sir. You have won the internet for today.