Anyone here have any pics of where they installed their tow strap? Did they use an existing hole, or did they drill a hole and install it? Also where did they install it? Did you put it on radiator support?
What sort of tow strap are you using? Is this for actual use or just looks?
i’d like it to be useful, didnt know if the ‘coming out of the front bumper’ look was useful or not, but that’s what i was striving for, but when i pulled the bumper, i saw it was just the radiator support, which didnt seem very well of a useful place to put something that would be pulling the entire car. i think the brand is ERP, i cant remember right now though
Please don’t be that ricer putting a tow strap on a car that isn’t going to see track time…
I have used two different methods to install my tow strap. There are other methods but most will be more “custom” and require some modifications or fab work. Both of these pictured are basically bolt on. And there would be other attachment options if you want to cut a hole in the bumper for it to come thru. I have seen many of these that have a hole in the bumper, and it looks really good but after using two different setups I think most of these that come thru the bumper could cause damage to the bumper if the car is towed with the strap. Specifcally if the tow vehicle does not pull the car straight out and instead is hooked up at a bit of an angle.
- Attach to the bumper support. This is a pretty common method. Here’s how I attached it to the support using large fender washers and a thru bolt. You do need to drill the hole for the bolt to go thru.
Here’s how it pulled thru the bumper:
And here’s how I can tuck it away for street driving (I only pull it out when I get to the race track):
- Attach to the frame where the stock tow hooks normally attach (or an aftermarket “traction bar” as I have). I changed to this when I saw Dustin do it on his car. This enabled me to use the JDM front bumper support in order to further reduce weight. This location does not work quite as well due to how it pulls thru the bumper. I already have some stress cracks in the bumper from having the car towed off track. Additionally, you have to cut some of the webbing out of the bumper grill in order to pull the strap thru. You will need a longer bolt than the factory one to use this method.
I really REALLY like the way yours looks in comparison to the “JDM” aluminum towhooks that everyone uses.
Seeing yours makes me understand why someone would want to do it for looks. Though you have a point, Colin.
A friend of mine (Pat - Tnd2ndgen) also brought up a good point about the metal ones. When you’re working on the car they get in the way and you’ll constantly be bumping your shins on them - ouch!
it’s for ‘looks’ but also for the times when the car decides to have issues and needs to be pulled on a flatbed, the tow strap would be more easily accessible then getting all on the ground to get to the stock tow hook.
thanks for the pics though, i highly appreciate it, didnt know it was ‘safe’ to put it on the bumper support or not. thanks a ton Colin
love the way colin has it done.
I modded the ef too much so can’t do it that way, but the DA will have same mod seeing that it’s autox & rr setup.
[QUOTE=integra_hot;2314420]it’s for ‘looks’ but also for the times when the car decides to have issues and needs to be pulled on a flatbed, the tow strap would be more easily accessible then getting all on the ground to get to the stock tow hook.
thanks for the pics though, i highly appreciate it, didnt know it was ‘safe’ to put it on the bumper support or not. thanks a ton Colin[/QUOTE]
IMHO, if it’s for looks please don’t do it- I personally think it’s super tacky especially if the car hardly/never goes to the track; and stock position is more than adequate.
The only use it has besides being hideous lol
http://i49.tinypic.com/2vwv8kw.jpg
Your car shouldn’t need to be towed THAT much to where it’s a huge inconvenience to hook up to the stock location… If it IS needing towed that much, the car itself needs work, not the towhook.
Reason I had the cup holder type tow hook is its accessed easy from above the lower lip.
Every time I had a tow truck or buddy pull me out from the lower stock tow hooks the chains or straps would bend or crack my lip.
guess yall only read ‘it’s for looks’ and didnt read the entire post. not to mention it is MY CAR!!! so why should you care what i do w/ my vehicle? yall may not agree with it, but if it makes towing easier for whoever is pulling it on the trailer/flatbed without destroying a front bumper…what should the issue be? lowering a vehicle is done alot more for looks than for functionality, so get the function > form police out of here please. thank you very much.
Can someone close this thread now? This arguing is stupid.
Lol at justifying an aluminum tow hook for functionality.