Weak Tow Hooks? Do the tusks fail?

[MMcc]

I was talking with a grizzly tow truck driver the other day at a trailhead and he points at the front of my suburban and says "Those tow hooks are notorious. Be careful if you ever have to use them." I've pulled friends and been pulled out myself a handful of times and never had a thought beyond "G.D. that' convenient! So glad I dont have a plastic pos bumper."
Does this guy know what he was talking about? Are the front tusks prone to fail??

 

[454cid]

A friend "straightened" one out on his S10 ZR2. I've never bent one of mine, until the frame rusted enough to twist it, but that's not the actual hook bending.

 

[Dropped88]

I've seen one bent but yank vehicle was being stupid excessive on the yank.
Over all they do good for intended purpose

 

[SUBURBAN5]

Sounds like the new ram 2500/3500 cast tow hooks. I've seen more of those broken.

 

[Komet]

You must be registered for see images attach

They're pretty thick steel sandwiched between the frame rail. Normally secured by two bolts. I'd say if they fail you've got a seriously rusted / broken frame or they were abused.

 

[Hipster]

I seen plenty of these trucks collision damaged, Never have sseen on fail, bend , yes, fail. no. Sounds like that guy was just looking for something to talk about.

 

[MMcc]

Thanks for the peace of mind!

 

[1989GMCSIERRA]

If you’re talking about the tow hooks that look like a question mark…yeah imo they are absolute trash for anything other than looks Or very light off road use.
I personally straightEned a few and I had some start to bend while winching so I stopped as I could see the hooks starting to fail.

what I did was go to the junkyard and grab the front eye loops off ford Superduty trucks. I used shackle to connect a tow strap or if I need a winch point.

the dodge truck that has the d loops work ok but they are smaller so I don’t like them as well.
the GM open end hooks look ok and work fine for very light pulls off say snow or light mud light off road situations. But they are imo failure prone.

 

[jus10inbrla]

I didn’t trust mine. Took some receiver hitches, turned them
90 degrees.. used original hole and drilled other to go
Into existing mount . Then put heavy duty shackles in.

 

[jus10inbrla]

Warn 8274 on 2” receiver