Front Tow Hook Install

Will H · May 14, 2008

Well, I got tired of waiting for the guy who was going to cut my holes in my bumper so I did it. Not really much to it and the material is softer than I expected. First I masked the area and marked where the holes go (thanks heckler). Then I use a hole saw and cut a hole in each corner and using that as my corners.

I used a hacksaw blade to cut the holes (24 teeth per inch). I had to keep cleaning the blade from the bumper material gumming up in it. once I got as far as I could with the saw blade I used carbide burr in my drill to true things up. Like I said the material is soft and easy to cut.

I installed the right hook already and its pretty straight forward. when you have the hooks you can see what holes in the frame line up to it.

Will H · May 14, 2008

More Pics

I'm kind of new at this photo thing.....

Here are the other pics I took. One is of the location of the rear bolt location on the right side. Note: Start with the rear bolt that goes through the frame. It'salot easier to wiggle the bolt into place the front two are pretty easy. There is one bolt in the middle of the hook that has the bolt come from the bottom but I could not even photo the spot. I had install bolt bt feel.

Tomorrow I'll complete the left side and touch up the edges with factor touch up paint.

Schoat333 · May 14, 2008

awsome!! ill be doing this soon as well.

BarryB · May 14, 2008

Thanks for the pics!

newjeepgirl · May 14, 2008

Great! Thanks for sharing!! That's 2 of you on your way to complete tow hooks. I guess I should add this to my summer todo list and get off my a$$ since I can't claim "no one has done it yet" anymore...

gdasher · May 14, 2008

Will H: Just for clarification, you did cut the holes for the tow hooks with everything still on your Pat right? You didn't remove anything?

jordanvraptor · May 14, 2008

Looks fairly simple, a lot better now that we have pics of someone who stepped up and did it. Thanks! I might try it this summer. I might use a Dremel rather than a hacksaw blade though.

phil8400 · May 14, 2008

Looks good.
Question though... I see that you have no fog lights, so your model is base FDI?
Would it have cost you that much more to just get the FDII with the hooks?

Schoat333 · May 14, 2008

phil8400 said:
Looks good.
Question though... I see that you have no fog lights, so your model is base FDI?
Would it have cost you that much more to just get the FDII with the hooks?

I see your point but in my case the only FDII's available were limited models. I just wanted a sport with the 4x4 and cvt. I didnt need all the luxuries, and couldnt wait to order one. So i bought an FDI, that they had, for a great price and im going to add the parts i needed from the FDII myself.

gdasher · May 14, 2008

phil8400 said:
Looks good.
Question though... I see that you have no fog lights, so your model is base FDI?
Would it have cost you that much more to just get the FDII with the hooks?

I see your point as well, but I (as well as a lot of others) wanted a manual and those only come in FDI.

hightech20 · May 14, 2008

Very nice work.

Am I correct in assuming that this modification to the front bumper cover does not void the lifetime/regular warranty in any way?

Thanks!:smiley_thumbs_up:

newjeepgirl · May 14, 2008

Or us lowly 4x2s out there that want something in front in case we get stuck or to tie down our boats

newjeepgirl · May 14, 2008

hightech20 said:
Very nice work.

Am I correct in assuming that this modification to the front bumper cover does not void the lifetime/regular warranty in any way?

Thanks!:smiley_thumbs_up:

My thought (and argument to the dealer) would be no, since you aren't changing anything on the actual bumper, just the fascia. However, if you crack the fascia you'll be out some $$$ to get another one.

heckler · May 14, 2008

nice Will! I'm glad to see the dimensions go to use.

And I guess I was proven wrong that the bumper had to come off to install the bolts. Great news for everyone!

phil8400 · May 14, 2008

gdasher said:
I see your point as well, but I (as well as a lot of others) wanted a manual and those only come in FDI.

I see. Makes perfect sense now.
And Schoat333... I understand how you couldn't wait :smiley_thumbs_up:

Will H · May 14, 2008

gdasher said:
Will H: Just for clarification, you did cut the holes for the tow hooks with everything still on your Pat right? You didn't remove anything?

Yes, I left the bumper on and although it may make getting to some of the bolts tougher it did make the bumper easier to cut I think. You may want to make the top cross cut first because is seems that the cover is more flimsy at the top than the bottom and it is not as difficult to me any way.

As far as the FDII I just did not know at the time and thought the 4X4 option came with the hooks and plates and so on:doh:. I'm going out to complete the job and I'll post some more pics later tonight.

Dmentd_Dan · May 14, 2008

Great Mod! So if you you put the RR lift kit on you would have a patriot more capable than an FD2?

Personal preferance... but I'd spray some flat black paint in the holes (taping the hooks cuz they look good glossy) to make all the internals "disappear"

heckler · May 14, 2008

after the hook is installed, and the edges of the new hole painted with touch up ( I wouldn't put edging on it), the internals 'disappear' on thier own. You don't notice it on an FDII as much as this picture without the hook installed.

metalhead · May 14, 2008

Well someone beat me to it. Great job looks good. Its good to know you can install the hooks without removing the bumper. You cut the holes the same way I was thinking to do it but I am going to use a dremel tool to cut the holes. As far as the FDII option, the FDI gets slightly better gas mileage than the FDII and most of the stuff like hill decent control offroad programed anti lock brakes and such I feel is not necessary for offroad. I never needed that stuff. Just throw it in 4wheel drive and go. I just ordered the skid plates so after that I will do the tow hooks.

heckler · May 14, 2008

you've got it in the right order metalhead. Skidplates are way more important than hooks for offroad.

I've used the skids at least a dozen times so far. The hooks never.

Front Tow Hook Install

Will H

Will H

Schoat333

BarryB

newjeepgirl

gdasher

jordanvraptor

phil8400

Schoat333

gdasher

hightech20

newjeepgirl

newjeepgirl

heckler

phil8400

Will H

Dmentd_Dan

heckler

metalhead

heckler

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