stock front hooks with (old) ARB bullbar

[RockDoc]

When I put on my bullbar a few years ago, I had to pull off the stock tow hook. I put an aftermarket one on the upright of the bullbar, and figured it was good, unfortunately time showed the upright isn't strong enough to take it. The sheet steel is tweaked around the hook now from say a half dozen decent pulls.


Looking in at the hook on the bullbar

Looking down on it

Tweaked steel

I went down to SnT in November and rigged the bullbar up with a removable tow bar to bring back a second 62. While it was being swapped over to the California truck at D'Animal's place, we modified the bullbar so I could mount a pair of stock towhooks under it, bolted through to the frame with the stock bracing/brackets. I can't remember if I had been thinking about this before hand, of if it was something Dan and I cooked up while down there.

Stock arrangement

Reoriented to work with the ARB

To make it work, one new hole per side is required in the base of the ARB, and the bottom portion of the framerail. The hooks use the existing rear bolt hole of both, and a new one cut to the spacing of the hook. Having the hooks loose and handy, and access to a plasma cutter made quick work of modifying the bullbar.

The whole kit and kabutle is now bolted up with the stock hooks (one from the front, and one from the rear of a 62), the stock brackets/braces and the stock bolts (2 through each hook, one down through the top). This leaves one hole in the top with no bolt in it. The bracket doesn't leave room for a standard bolt/washer combo, so I might see if I can grind down some washers to make it work, or just accept mounting the bullbar with only 10 bolts rather than 12.

Haven't had a chance to test the hooks yet, but will report back with the thumbs up, or gory horror story when I do.

Just in case anyone is interested in the tow bar set-up, it's a Reese unit I got at a clearance shop for cheap, brackets mounted to the front of the bullbar as close to the framerails as possible, with backing plates to sandwich the bullbar steel. Towed better than I could have hoped for, and aside from an icy pass in Montana, and bumper to bumper rush hour traffic through Calgary, the trip back was uneventful.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Wicked! I didn't know it was kosher to flat tow another rig that far.

 

[RockDoc]

I should probably point out that the towed rig had no drivetrain, so it was considerably lighter than a full truck.

 

[kling-on]

Mmmmmm my stock hooks look like the after market one not the one you put on bottom great idea. I would grind em off on the rocks I hit the stock shackle one enough as it is. The towed rig gettin a diesel swap

 

[D'Animal]

Looking at your Avatar, you ground your roof of on rocks.

Mmmmmm my stock hooks look like the after market one not the one you put on bottom great idea. I would grind them off on the rocks I hit the stock shackle high enough as it is. The towed rig gettin a diesel swap

Glad to see the modification is functional.

 

[grant5127]

Protective Screens.........

Looks like the shelves from my grandmothers refrigerator........

 

[60wag]

Yea, I was wondering about the 'fridge shelving too. Maybe its cold enough in Canada that putting junk in front of the radiator doesn't matter.

 

[D'Animal]

Functional, Cheap but Effective.

Looks like the shelves from my grandmothers refrigerator........

Yea, I was wondering about the 'fridge shelving too. Maybe its cold enough in Canada that putting junk in front of the radiator doesn't matter.

I think you have to worry more about rock and frozen chunks O ice more than anything.

 

[RockDoc]

I would grind em off on the rocks I hit the stock shackle one enough as it is. The towed rig getting a diesel swap

I wonder if they will find lots of obstacles too, but they may also save the shackles some harassment. Not too much rock around here though, at least not crawling type rock. For now the towed rig is sleeping soundly in the snow. Not sure if I will put it together as a summer DD or keep it as an ace in the hole till Wobble gives up in body/frame..... I think fiberglass and paint has bought me more time than I expected with her.

Looks like the shelves from my grandmothers refrigerator........

Vinyl covered shelving from Home Depot. Added that after one of my nearly new headlights took a rock, no issues since. I actually think it adds to the look of the truck.

Glad to see the modification is functional.

Went together nice, just need to get out and try them out

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Vinyl covered shelving from Home Depot. Added that after one of my nearly new headlights took a rock, no issues since. I actually think it adds to the look of the truck.

Vinyl? I would think that the vinyl would break upon rock impact, especially when cold.

I have some of those steel mesh "glasses" that go over my headlights. Gotta protect the headlights!

 

[scott84]

Oh i think them protectors are actually from his grill when he left the crusier out with the e brake on and it saw that shinny grill and attacked

 

[RockDoc]

Vinyl? I would think that the vinyl would break upon rock impact, especially when cold.

I have some of those steel mesh "glasses" that go over my headlights. Gotta protect the headlights!

The vinyl (I assume it's vinyl anyway) is just a coating over the steel wiring. I think the shelving is intended for closets and pantries and such. Lots of chips in the paint I applied, but nothing significant has made it through.... maybe I'll have to do the same for the windshield , Alberta is hell on windshields.