Replace the hooks with loops?

[AZCooWhip]

You will get many opinions on the hooks as it only takes 1 time for something to go seriously wrong.

For me its Crosby hard shackles and Factor55 soft shackles On an aftermarket bumper.

Always....always ....always have people keep their distance no matter what is used.

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[SPED1]

Maximus 3 makes a set of shackle mounts that attach to their winch plate:
https://maximus-3.com/jl-bumper-accessories-/jl-d-ring-loops#/

 

[SPED1]

Factory catalog shows one...... More than likely export only.

 

[dcmdon]

Some of those solutions look reasonable if you have a metal Jeep bumper.

But I have a plastic OEM bumper.

What I'm ideally talking about is a straight bolt on replacement for the hooks. Except with eyes.

Not a big deal. I'm just seriously surprised the aftermarket hasn't offered one yet.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I have no problems with hooks.

Loops means you have to use shackles. No shackles needed with a tow strap, so you won't be potentially sending a pound of metal through a window. You could still break the strap though and send it through a window. Lay a blanket over the strap to absorb energy if the strap breaks.

 

[Gvsukids]

I have no problems with hooks

How would you use the hooks as a recovery point?

Loops means you have to use shackles. No shackles needed with a tow strap, so you won't be potentially sending a pound of metal through a window. You could still break the strap though and send it through a window. Lay a blanket over the strap to absorb energy if the strap breaks.

Soft shackles would be useful in this situation.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

How would you use the hooks as a recovery point?

Soft shackles would be useful in this situation.

Tow strap loop over the hook.

I'd just rather not use a shackle if I don't have to. It's another potential failure point.

 

[Gvsukids]

Tow strap loop over the hook.

I'd just rather not use a shackle if I don't have to. It's another potential failure point.

What about when winching back to the vehicle?

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

What about when winching back to the vehicle?

You mean a situation where you're trying to hook a winch cable to a tow hook?

If so, I use a tree saver strap.

 

[Levi.Butler]

What about when winching back to the vehicle?

A soft shackle through a Factor 55 Flat Link will stay on the hook just fine if you're using a snatchblock for recovery. The only issue I could ever see there being with the hooks is if the pull is at an EXTREME upward angle.

 

[Fouts]

What I'm ideally talking about is a straight bolt on replacement for the hooks. Except with eyes.

Seems like you asked for advice and pretty much ignored when everyone said hooks are fine.

 

[sharpsicle]

What I'm ideally talking about is a straight bolt on replacement for the hooks. Except with eyes.

Not a big deal. I'm just seriously surprised the aftermarket hasn't offered one yet.

I think you're overlooking one of the biggest differences: stock hooks come up from the bumper, eyelets/shackles come out from the bumper. For that reason alone I'm not surprised that there is no "factory replacement" to swap the hooks out for eyelets. The leverage point is all wrong for that type of use.

Look at the factory rear bumper hook. That is how you want eyelets to be mounted. In line, facing outward (not upward).

Hooks in that location on the front are fine for lighter duty. If you want eyelets and shackles for heavier use, you need to mount them somewhere else anyway, so factory location replacement makes no sense. You don't want the force that shackles are made to work with to be translating through a 90 degree mount point. You want it linear to the direction of force being applied.

This is the same reason recovery is recommended through the rear hook, not the fronts. The fronts are not going to be able to hold up to as much force as the rear one.

 

[JoseQ_80]

Rausch Creek 10/10/21 The spotter who told me to go left is about to winch me out.

 

[JoseQ_80]

In this case the hooks allowed my spotter to hook me without getting in the water. I think it took him 10 tries before he got it hooked. I was impressed.

 

[JoseQ_80]

So, hooks have their place.

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