Does anyone else hate the fact that to install, say a nice westin bullbar you have to take off your front tow hooks? Its seems ironic to me that many buy a bullbar for a tough offroad look while anyone who actually goes offroad will tell you that your front tow hooks are one of your trucks most important assets. I wish there was a solution to this dilema cause damn that bullbar looks good on these new fords.

 

Fabricate your own spaces to w/ some longer bolts to allow for both. I too think it sucks it doesn't come from the manufactures like this...

 

dang. thanks for the head's up. i was wanting a bull bar, but not at the expense of my tow hooks.....

 

I am pretty sure that D is right. Its not that hard to just get longer bolts from Home Depot and put the tow hooks below the Bull Bar. It really isnt smart to take off the tow hooks if you want to still offroad regularly. One guy I knew used the bar on his Cherokee as a tow hook once, man does that bar bent and crumple under a tow strap.

 

As an alternative the Waag Center Guard Bull bar, which looks like a slightly shortened grill guard without the headlight covers, does allow you to keep the tow hooks.
Just another possibility.
As a question for the extended bolts you mentioned, don't you have to get number 8 hard for something like this? Wouldn't want that tow hook to com flying off at the wrong time.

 

I was going to say the same thing; I wouldn't want to use anything but a high rated hardened bolt/nut combo...

 

I use plenty of high-tensile strength zip ties. Easier to work with than those pesky bolts.

Excellent points on the bolts, I should have stated instead of implied it.

 

i was thinking of trying to do the longer bolt thing as well. has anyone actually done this? just wondering if anyone has the specs on what bolt and spacer will work? i am going to the hardware store tomorrow to see if they can help maybe... i'll update if i get it all figured out if no one else replies....

 

I was going to try to do this also, Itll be easier now that ak_1fitty is going to the the work for me

 

Good thinkin!

 

This My first post
I just got mac's new bullbar & side sportbars they retain the tow hooks I don't know what they cost they were a gift. My boss knows mac sr.parts were fixture checks
They are stainless steel and looks like heli arc welds nice finished.
I do not know if they are in production yet thier #951-296-3077
They have a 800# ???

p.s.Also got thier cowboy dual exhaust,split rear exit with stainless steel slash cut rolled tips nice sound.Fits neat, hope they help the mileage!Really Pulls better.

 

Get some pics up!!!

 

MAC as in www.macperformance.com

 

ok.. so i crawled under the truck yesterday to take a look at how i could mount these up. the 'L' brackets that the bull bar mounts to make it impossible to just get longer bolts and spacers, the spacers would have to be VERY long and i think that the bolt would break if you tried to use the tow hook.

so i am thinking that i am going to weld them right behind the bull bar on the frame. you will still be able to access these hooks relatively easy and i think that a good weld would hold stronger. i will post pics when i get around to doing this. shouldn't be too long, late next week maybe...

anyone think of anything better or different?

 

Sounds like a good idea. I dont have mine yet so I guess I cant come up with anything better yet. Be looking forward to viewing your pics.