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Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:25 am
by marc
Hi guys, Just wondering if anyone happens to know if the factory tow hooks on a KZN130 surf are strong enough for 4wd use??
They look just like the one on the LEFT. NOT the one on the right

.
Has one bolted to each chassis rail on the front..
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODUzWDE2MDA=/ ... ~60_35.JPGThanks all

Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 11:33 am
by Crash bandicoot
marc wrote:Hi guys, Just wondering if anyone happens to know if the factory tow hooks on a KZN130 surf are strong enough for 4wd use??
They look just like the one on the LEFT. NOT the one on the right

.
Has one bolted to each chassis rail on the front..
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODUzWDE2MDA=/ ... ~60_35.JPGThanks all

That one on the left ain't factory, it is a proper rated recovery hook....how much, you'll have to look at it and see for yourself.
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 12:53 pm
by Smurf
Your hook needs to be rated, if it has 10 000LB stamped on it then yes if it is mounted correctly with rated bolts it is ok for 4wd use.
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 1:47 pm
by marc
Crash bandicoot wrote:marc wrote:Hi guys, Just wondering if anyone happens to know if the factory tow hooks on a KZN130 surf are strong enough for 4wd use??
They look just like the one on the LEFT. NOT the one on the right

.
Has one bolted to each chassis rail on the front..
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODUzWDE2MDA=/ ... ~60_35.JPGThanks all

That one on the left ain't factory, it is a proper rated recovery hook....how much, you'll have to look at it and see for yourself.
Its got Toyota looking bolts through it and the little spring strop retaining bit and all but just removed it and no load rating written on it? Looks factory as...
I looked at the ones on the likes of 4wd bits site but they look like they have abit of a say 5mm wider base footprint which will hit my winch mount bracket I think :/..
I thought just replace the bolts with known 8.8 or 10.9 grade stuff if I can find it in M12 x1.25 but yeah now im a little worried about the hooks with no stamping but definitely look like factory Toyota stuff as my mates untouched Surf has them too?! identical as. (they are threaded into factory bolt holes in the rails about 34mm apart.
Thanks for the reply's guys
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 2:20 pm
by tallsam66
Im sure the factory hooks have "dimples" between the bolts & are cast...So being cast aren't suitable as will snap rather than bend to release rope like forged hooks do.
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:42 pm
by stu_71
I took some of those off a Prado 90 series. Look identical to yours. The proper rated hooks are cheap as really. I dont know whether Mr Toyota designed them for "NZ abuse" so I just swopped them for piece of mind.
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 7:48 pm
by derk
cant say I've ever heard of or seen a Mr Toyo hook fail there must have been millions of them out there on luxes and old cruisers over the years

Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 12:23 am
by marc
tallsam66 wrote:Im sure the factory hooks have "dimples" between the bolts & are cast...So being cast aren't suitable as will snap rather than bend to release rope like forged hooks do.
That's the buggers,
Not really a money issue as yes they are not badly priced just a fitment issue as the edge of my angle iron is quite close to the bolt holes :/.
Hmm, thanks for the input guys

Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 12:25 am
by marc
stu_71 wrote:I took some of those off a Prado 90 series. Look identical to yours. The proper rated hooks are cheap as really. I dont know whether Mr Toyota designed them for "NZ abuse" so I just swopped them for piece of mind.
Yeah im in the same boat now just down to weather I can make new ones fit, Just had a spare set freshly powder coated too :/ lol knew I shouldn't have but was getting other stuff done at the same time so thought id save on a trip

Some pics side by side a 4500kg ridge ryder one at local super cheap





Even they don't want their hooks used for "snatch" recoveries in the small blurb on the packet lol?!
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 12:29 am
by marc
derk wrote:cant say I've ever heard of or seen a Mr Toyo hook fail there must have been millions of them out there on luxes and old cruisers over the years

Lol thanks

, BTW anyone whos tried and tested them out of curiosity? haha haven't been at this game too long but asked a couple mates and always been out with them in their trucks and they said the haven't seen one break but they were unsure if they were my exact "dimpled" ones on their mates toyo trucks.
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 6:33 pm
by polaarbear
I don't know how good the Toyota ones are but as for the Supercheap ones, they will bend when used in anger.. A few years ago when we didn't know much better we were using a rigid strap to snatch with and managed to bend a Supercheap hook. Quite lucky it bent rather than breaking the bolts holding the hook on. So if a hook is too rigid it may not bend and could break the bolts or mounting instead resulting in a missile.
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 6:39 pm
by tallsam66
polaarbear wrote:I don't know how good the Toyota ones are but as for the Supercheap ones, they will bend when used in anger.. A few years ago when we didn't know much better we were using a rigid strap to snatch with and managed to bend a Supercheap hook. Quite lucky it bent rather than breaking the bolts holding the hook on. So if a hook is too rigid it may not bend and could break the bolts or mounting instead resulting in a missile.
Bent Hook.jpg
or if too rigid might bend the chassis ... way cheaper to replace a hook that to straighten a chassis.
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 7:04 pm
by Mehrts
As said previously, those rated ones will bend and release the strap before anything should break off the truck. I've got a Toyota one with the dimples, but never used it.
A couple of years ago I attempted a heavy snatch with one of those rated hooks from Repco/Supercheap etc, and the hook simply opened up and dropped the strap. I'd much have that than flying bits of steel. Obviously you would want to periodically check the condition of the mounting area and bolts for cracks/wear/corrosion too in order to prevent something bad happening.
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 7:59 pm
by marc
polaarbear wrote:I don't know how good the Toyota ones are but as for the Supercheap ones, they will bend when used in anger.. A few years ago when we didn't know much better we were using a rigid strap to snatch with and managed to bend a Supercheap hook. Quite lucky it bent rather than breaking the bolts holding the hook on. So if a hook is too rigid it may not bend and could break the bolts or mounting instead resulting in a missile.
Bent Hook.jpg
Thanks mate! so you reckon the super cheep ones are ok??
Ridge Ryder 4500kg max load so aka 10,000lbs or close enough.
After measuring it today I think ill be able to make it work with my setup.
Chassis good where the bolts go atleast..
Cheers for the other comments guys and totally agree would rather that then flying bits of metal or bent truck..
Someone must have used the Toyota ones tho haha but think I will just keep them for ornaments if I can make those super cheep ones fit over the next couple of days

Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:11 pm
by marc
Just found this, and this guy aka Bulletproof seems to like the Toyota hooks and some other guy in the page before this (pge 3) did some tests apparently
http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=10288&start=45
Re: Factory toyota tow hook?
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 9:24 pm
by marc