Tow Hooks

I just recieved my new Aries Grill Guard. I am trying to remove the front tow hooks. I have all of the bolts out but the thing still doesn't want to come off. Other tow hooks that I have seen have a little allen bolt in the middle that needs to be removed. Mine don't have that. I don't know what is holding the darn thing on! I have pulled on it and even hit it with a rubber mallot!

Can anyone help me out! Thanks in advance.

Unfortunately, you have the earlier model of the H3 and the tow hooks have a screw from the backside of the bumper still holding them on...I have heard here that you have to remove the bumper to get at the screws...Do a search on "Tow Hooks"..this ain't the first time this subject has been discussed.

Thanks. I did a search... it looks like I might have to pull off the front bumper. What a pain! I cant even see where I could possibly access this hidden bolt.

are the tow hook going to be put back on after the brush guard? If they are then you are going to have to take teh bumper off to access the bolts unfortunately. If the tow hooks are not going to be put back on then you can take a die grinder to the front of the tow hook and grind down the center till you come to the threads of the bolt, then either continue to grind the bolt till it falls out or once you can see the bolt drill a hole in the center and pound in the next size bigger torx or allen bit and back the screw out that way. I'm a retired industrial mechanic and we had to do stuff like this all the time when taking a 2 ton machine apart wasn't an option to access a inward facing bolt.

Thanks for the info! You guys are great!

quote:

ORIGINAL: lexunet

Thanks. I did a search... it looks like I might have to pull off the front bumper. What a pain! I cant even see where I could possibly access this hidden bolt.

do this, after you took off the bolt from the hook bracket, put a long screw driver thru the hole on the bracket as a leveage, and turn the whole thing counterclockwise, it will come off .... that 's what happened to me exactly...finally figure that out...

I removed hooks then removed bolts to frame,put hooks back on and used pipe wrench and slide it through hook and turn counterclockwise while pulling out. You will have some scratches behind it but the new hooks will cover them. Takes around 10 minutes,Good luck

Removed the bumper and was able to get to the hidden screws. What a pain! After that, I was able to get the new grill guard on in a matter of minutes. Thank you guys very much. There is such a great wealth of knowledge here.

There was no way to jack the H3 up and access those bolts with the bumper still on? There's no way to slide your arm in somewhere and do it, or is that back of the bumper up against the chasis? I was going to buy a brush guard but not if it's all of this work.

Look at your tow hooks. If they have the torx bolt in the center, all you need to do is remove it with a torx driver, or allen wrench that fits. If you don't see the torx bolt then you need to go through all of that rigamaroo. The nice thing is, nothing says you have to put that little bolt back in when you put it all back together.

I'm assuming the only reason they are probably there then is for manufacturing purposes to hold them in place at the plant.

You are correct! They are only there to hold them on as they go down the assembley line.

Mike, buy the brushguard, I can help you remove the front end and get those pesky bolts out. I did it on mine. Takes about an hour.

ok cool. I'm going to wait until after Christmas. Hopefully you'll have a differential that doesn't break on you by then

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ORIGINAL: HummerGuy

ok cool. I'm going to wait until after Christmas. Hopefully you'll have a differential that doesn't break on you by then

DOH! That was a low blow! :) But true! We'll know Saturday for sure! I was at the dealer last night talking to the salesmanager and they told me I need to buy one their remaining H1's since I like to off road so hard. :)

Well, we can go to Indiana next week I guess, but we have to take some pics and videos and post them here. I don't even have any good pics of my H3. One day, I'll have my chrome tow hooks ;-)

They are a must for the bling appeal

Is that yours? You even have my fog light chrome rings! Damn you! I am the king of bling. I'm going to give HummBob a run for his money this weekend when I shine this baby up and take some REAL pictures of it.

Take some cool pics when you get it shined up! Also, take some good detailed pics of your custom made light bar. you might have some fans of that since there isnt' much available.