Toyota OEM TRD Front Recovery Hooks

Possibly you’re correct. My perspective is the bolt itself will be the weak link if tow hook was overstressed. My Toyota bolts were marked as a Metric Class 10.9 (around same as SAE Grade 8) hardened bolt, and they’re mounting into the crossmember with a bunch of thread.
When I look at how I expect the torque of a straight forward pull will be, most stress would be on the rear bolt. It appears as a strong mount as the TRD sway bar spacer is substantial and a welded box, and the bushing and sway bar are ‘in between’ & are going to prevent the crush. Have know idea how these AFE might work with another brand suspension lift. I will add that purposefully used a floor jack right after I installed on each hook to test, and saw zero issues. They’re on solid.
I don’t see using these but for pulling a rolling vehicle out of a pickle, or occasionally dragging downed tree off our road.

 

The skid plate has a small tab on the driver side at the rear mounting position (where the cat shield is). Assuming this was bent flush for yours? Reason I ask is I have the same cat shield and noticed it would be a slight problem when I got under there but glad to see the bolts were at least long enough on the cat shield to use at the rear of the skid plate

 

Hey G8Santini. Your set up looks good! In no way was my observation meant to undercut your install. When I ordered my AFE hooks my thinking was this is not the best set up as the front bumper on these things gets in the way but in a pinch it was better than nothing, which is what someone at Toyota decided to give to us. I'm by far not the sharpest pencil in the bunch but sometimes when I look at some of the things Toyota added and left out I find my self wondering "What the hell were they thinking".

 

No problem. I was also worried about the AFE install.
Different subject, but as risk adverse as Toyota seems, I’m amazed they are selling the new Tundra tow hook mod. Seems like it would affect the crash absorption front bumper/facia.

 

I can tell you that it has no effect at all in my accident. They will actually fall off if theyre pushed in (Front impact accident). They actually fell off in my case with the "swipe" impact in my video.

 

Any spacers involved? I have the Gulf States cat shield. However, no hardware. I assume the longer bolts are the ones that go towards the rear of the truck?

 

No spacers on TRD skid plates I’ve installed. Those long black bolts with smooth head look like cat shield security bolts. TRD skid.plates I’ve done used normal head bolts on rear location - like the 2 bolts to the left in your pic.

 

So is that tab I pictured flattened down or did you remove it?

 

The tabs are used to ‘hang/hold’ the skid plate while you’re positioning it to install. The front holes on the skid plate have elongated slots so you can loosen the front bolts, leave them in, and shift the panel to unsecure it. So those rear hooks hold up the rear of the skid plate once the rear bolts are removed. You’re probably removing it every time you do an oil change

 

Goobax - Saw this YouTube that might help you out:

https://youtu.be/kfJrT6JHFz0?si=ErXkT9-mG8ndyY1k

 

I’m aware of what the tabs are for but there’s no way to have the rear tab (pictured in my photo) lock in if you have the OEM GC cat shield. Hence the question, what did you do to the rear mounting tab on the skid plate?

 

I didn’t do anything to the tab. Left it intact. Sounds like you may need to knock yours flat w/hammer.

 

Very high quality! I was about to ask if you hired a professional!!! lol

 

Glad you noticed! Didn’t think you’d recognize quality if it hit you.

 

woah... watch the shade. I wasn't the one who missed the pic.