New Guy with a Tow Hook Question

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

Hi,

Im Brandon,
a proud new owner of a Green 08 KK with 52 miles on it when i bought it last month
I have been checking this site out and love it

I have ordered the Cherokee Moldings for the front doors, installed and AEM brute force, and de-badged
all ideas from this site, so thanks everyone
I also installed a 12inx12in e-z net over the molded pocket in the cargo area that has proved to be very functional for me by keeping odds and ends tied down and secured

now my question
I recently bought some front tow hooks from a salvage yard at a really great price, they are for the KK but did not come with any hardware
my question is:
is the M-bolt necessary?
should/can i use regular zinc plated or stainless bolts to install, one over the other?
I understand having a weaker bolt would be better,(by weaker i mean weaker than the unibody) so that it will break before it bends

I do want these to be functional, so any advice would be welcomed

BrendonR · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:07 pm

Hi Cherokee - welcome to the site.

Having just installed the tow hooks from the KJ myself.... I'm not sure how you'd mount them without the M Bolt. From what I remember, there would have been no way to get a bolt up inside the frame to drop down and out for the hook to grab onto (with a nut).

The M Bolt snakes it's way up into, then out the other side, of the closed box bumper - and I don't think there would be an alternative.

Hopefully Digger or somebody else has some better advice for you.

BrendonR · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:10 pm

Well, I lied... maybe there IS room to drop a bolt down through the hole.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=41206

Whether you SHOULD do it or not... I don't think I can say, I would want to give you wrong advice.

Good luck.

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

Thanks for the welcome, I was searching for that same link when I saw your response
I dont see why it wouldnt work, or be not be structurally sound,

the M bolt alternative in the link looks to be welded but im not sure if necessary
Im sure i could come up with something similar

but what kind of bolts should i use?

stainless or zinc plated? or does it really matter?
im thinking of rust and strength issues

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:34 pm

cherokeeB wrote:

Thanks for the welcome, I was searching for that same link when I saw your response
I dont see why it wouldnt work, or be not be structurally sound,

the M bolt alternative in the link looks to be welded but im not sure if necessary
Im sure i could come up with something similar

but what kind of bolts should i use?

stainless or zinc plated? or does it really matter?
im thinking of rust and strength issues

The M bolt is nice for a couple of reasons, One no need to use a wrench to hold the head of the bolt or nut, two, it is a bolt with a square washer, and 3 I believe that it help disperse the PSI exerted on the bolts since they share a common washer

I would use either a grade 8 or 10.9 bolt that is zinc plated

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

yeah, If the dealership would sell me an M bolt I would certainly buy it so that I wont have to take off the bumper, but the only sell the entire assembly/ not the hardware, since they wont.....
I ended up buying some grade 8 bolts at the auto store and the clips from ace hardware

now im just debating on using a washer or not,

I dont plan on installing until saturday but if anyone knows of a way for me to get an M Bolt, Id rather go that route

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:23 pm

you can use an extendable magnet to get the nut onto the 3rd hole as well as the 2 holes that are in line with the chassis

it takes some finesse to get the nut and washer onto the bolt but once you get it sitting onto of the bolt you can use the same extendable magnet to turn the nut a few turns before you use the prybar and airgun

should be able to use a wrench on the 2 at the chassis, the 3rd bolt on the other hand you'll need to use a pry bar and wedge it up through the hole in the bottom of the front member

you can reference either diggers thread or mine
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... hp?t=41413

the 3 bolts you see in the plates i used are in the same location as the OEM holes, just keep in mind the bolts i used are larger than the stock size

for some reason i want ot say that the stock bolt size is M14

just take your tow hook with you to the hardware store, find a good G8 bolt that will fit well in your tow hooks, 12 g8 washers and 6 nylock nuts

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Wed Jun 03, 2009 8:23 pm

do a washer.......

52059352AB, M bolt

06504818AA, this is the nut that is welded to a clip for the out side of the hook

4 quantity M14x1.50 nylocks

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

Great thanks
I called and ordered by using the part numbers

I read that others have have a hard time finding them, my dealership in Cary NC said they would have them for me by tomorrow
price for 2 M Bolts and 2 clips were $55
expensive yes, but done right

thanks again

hrogi · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:48 am

Always uses washers. it really helps.

After seeing what happen to bolts without washers, I will never not have one now. it is scary...... I had some great teacher in College you got footage of testes run by ford on this type of stuff.

Glad you found this site. remeber post pictures to help others...

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

Wait...
If I use the M Bolt I dont need washers do I?

BrendonR · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:07 pm

Hey Cherokee - my package was NOT shipped with washers.

I just noticed something else you posted however - you wanted the M bolt so that you can install without taking off the front bumper? Not going to happen. The front bumper must come off in order to get the hook in place.

Take a look at the other threads linked above (there's also a "front bumper removal how to" in the tech section i believe).

Good luck.

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

yeah I noticed that too
but oh well, Im happy as long as its done right

thanks for everyones help

wingnuts · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:35 pm

Cherokee, does that said salvage yard have another set maybe that I could buy through you?

I'm willing to add another $5-10 for your hassle depending on what the price really is.

Let me know and welcome and congrats on the KK purchase

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

the doner KK looked as if it had been rolled, roof and side damage, missing bumper and wheel flares, airbags deployed and all glass shattered (but nothing crumpled)..so hopefully the occupants are ok

I went back this past weekend hoping to buy the grill and was informed someone had purchased the entire KK
which sucks b/c I am sure that same one had the factory skid plates I was also hoping to get
I have made some calls to other salvage yards to see if i can find another to get parts from

There is a yard in Clayton that said they are expecting an 09 KK soon but no word on the trim level.
last I heard this particular yard gives discounts if you remove the wanted parts yourself

I will keep you informed

To_The_Max · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:05 pm

Quote:

I just noticed something else you posted however - you wanted the M bolt so that you can install without taking off the front bumper? Not going to happen. The front bumper must come off in order to get the hook in place.

This is not true. You CAN insert the tow hooks without removing the bumper. It is time consuming because you can not get good turns from the wrench but is definately possible without the bumper removed. I was even able to do mine without cussing or anything

Tim

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

Thats good news
I will certainly give it a try
Thanks

wingnuts · **Posted:** Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:46 pm

cherokeeB wrote:

the doner KK looked as if it had been rolled, roof and side damage, missing bumper and wheel flares, airbags deployed and all glass shattered (but nothing crumpled)..so hopefully the occupants are ok

I went back this past weekend hoping to buy the grill and was informed someone had purchased the entire KK
which sucks b/c I am sure that same one had the factory skid plates I was also hoping to get
I have made some calls to other salvage yards to see if i can find another to get parts from

There is a yard in Clayton that said they are expecting an 09 KK soon but no word on the trim level.
last I heard this particular yard gives discounts if you remove the wanted parts yourself

I will keep you informed

Ok thanks, these are the same hooks that goes on the KJs also incase you didn't know.

And I'm sure I could look around myself, but I find with living on the road for work I find it hard to do things like this.

cherokeeB · **Joined:** Wed May 20, 2009 8:56 am **Posts:** 11

**UPDATE**
Just picked up the ordered parts
"52059352AB, M bolt" was not the M bolt, it was the plate with the two bolts welded to it
Just FYI for anyone referencing

Im still happy

Diggerfreek · **Posted:** Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:52 pm

No, That is the "M bolt" even thought it doesn't really look like a M

New Guy with a Tow Hook Question

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