ms3 front bumper hook

[Falconx84]

So I'll be going home to the mountains of WV for Christmas. Just a little bit of background for those who may not be familiar... it's out in the country, and when it snows heavy my road may not get plowed for a week or more. This will be the first year I won't have my land rover so I'm trying to get my "survival" kit and stuff ready for my ms3 (don't know why I feel I needed to mention this)

One of the big keys to driving in winter weather (snow/ice) is to have an exit strategy- shovel, tow rope, sand, food, blankets, etc and to know how to use it all. I was taking a look at recovery points on the car and the rear is fairly accessible but with the front it requires you to screw a loop into a hole in the front bumper. I understand that this is designed to strap the car to a car hauler, but can it be used to pull the car out of a ditch? I have no intention of having the car end up in a ditch, but I want to be prepared for a "what if/just in case" scenario. In a bind I'm sure I could use it, because in the end as long as you can get home, that's all that matters http://www.discoweb.org/discovery/home.htm

Also, has anyone tried this? I'm thinking about getting one since I'll likely have the hook installed throughout winter (since the rest of my "survival" gear will probably be on top of the little storage compartment) and I may as well make it look pretty. Any suggestions on color for black mica?
http://tinyurl.com/3bzqqh(link to ebay site)

 

[redspeed3tk]

you should have one back by ur spare tire its not made for car haulers they attach under the car where the body plugs are put that is actually for towing purposes if ya need to get it pulled on a flat bed ya would destroy the front end
so yes you can use it for snow thats what its made for but im pretty sure it in the styro foam by the spare tire

 

[Falconx84]

yeah, I know its in the styrofoam... Just didn't realize it was actually designed for recovery. I figured maybe while I'm at it I might dress it up a bit since it'll be on there for about a month, maybe more

 

[TheMAN]

yes, your car does come with a tow hook... it is with your spare tire jack hardware... the tow hook screws into the rebar directly so it can handle some stress

 

[sleeper3]

is it really that hard to just put on if you need it? obviously, if you're pulling the car from this location it would have to be fairly accessable. seems like it would be easy enough to take care of should the need arise. if you insist on leaving it in, I'd get it powder coated red or black.

 

[GhostMercury]

hmm i like the look of those hooks

 

[Craighjr]

That e-bay hook is crap. 1.5 tons or 3000 pounds on that little screw piviot point. If your really tugging the car from a snow bank I would not trust it.

 

[Hirudin]

I may not have thought about it as hard, but how-come you want to leave it in?

I'd be worried about it flopping around and ruining the paint in the front. Also, I'd be surprised if the threads are cut in such a manor that the hook will hang perfectly horizontal. As pictured it looks kinda cool, but if it was 45 off it might be kinda stupid lookin'.

Once I found out the car had one stock the idea of buying one flew right out the window for me.

$50 saved on a fancy hook would probably make a big difference in a set of snow-chains or other equipment.

 

[Falconx84]

I may not have thought about it as hard, but how-come you want to leave it in?

If the snow bank damages the front bumper cover and makes it hard to get at the access hole... or if the access hole gets packed full of snow

keep in mind, I'm preparing for worst case scenario... best case I probably won't see snow. My philosophy is prepare for the worst, hope for the best. But the absolute worst thing is to have the equipment and not know or be able to use it.

any boy scouts out there? always be prepared

 

[TheMAN]

is it really that hard to just put on if you need it? obviously, if you're pulling the car from this location it would have to be fairly accessable. seems like it would be easy enough to take care of should the need arise. if you insist on leaving it in, I'd get it powder coated red or black.

its easy to put on...
according to the owner's manual you use the spare tire iron to pop off the cover (but the end is so big, I'm worried about ******* up the paint, so using a flat blade screwdriver is probably the best idea) then using the tire iron to tighten it

 

[chaos4]

When running road courses, we are often prompted by the track recovery crews to install any tow hooks BEFORE going out. They hate crawling around under vehicles looking for a safe place to hook up the recovery cable. The factory tow hook doesn't damage the paint. Removal of the small door in the bumper cover is best done with a small knife blade. I think he has an excellent idea, but that rinky dink tow hook that is pictured is junk.

 

[redspeed3tk]

if you bumper is already messed up why would ya waste the time of putting in a hook i would go under the grill and down the bottom why risk a hook if you know you will have to replace a bumper cover and i would thing a boy scout would get a different vechile if he was this concerned with his safety im sure renting a four wheel drive truck from like entriprize would be a lot cheaper than fixing from a wreck just a thought or even the worry of a brand new car wrecked

 

[GhostMercury]

some have tow hooks just for looks to give it that racer style

 

[Falconx84]

When running road courses, we are often prompted by the track recovery crews to install any tow hooks BEFORE going out. They hate crawling around under vehicles looking for a safe place to hook up the recovery cable. The factory tow hook doesn't damage the paint. Removal of the small door in the bumper cover is best done with a small knife blade. I think he has an excellent idea, but that rinky dink tow hook that is pictured is junk.

thats pretty much what I was thinking.... Looks like I may just put it in the glove box and install when it starts snowing. Guess the hook is a bit ricey. Is there a recovery point on the rear anywhere?