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Toyota Tundra: How to Install Tow Hook

Tow hooks: two of them though, that is the answer you need. Enough pulling strength to get those stumps out and take a beating from having your pals pulling you from the deepest mud. This article will give you what you need to install those hooks.

By August Barrett - January 20, 2016

This article applies to the Toyota Tundra (2000-Present).

First, let's address the do-it-yourself cost. A couple standard tow hooks will cost anywhere between 30 to 50 dollars. As long as you have all of the tools to do the work, this should be your only expense. To have this done at a shop will of course cost much more. You will have the cost of the hooks, retail of course and the shops hourly rate, which is usually 80 to 100 bucks. The work can take up to two hours, so the total will be around 200 to 300 dollars. The install is not that difficult and can be done by someone with just a little bit of mechanical skill.

Toyota Tundra How to Install Tow Hook

Materials Needed

  • Tow hook and hardware
  • Ratcheting wrench and metric socket set
  • Threadlocker or super glue (optional)
Figure 1. Set of tow hooks.

Step 1 – Jack up your truck

There will be two hooks underneath the front of the truck. The one on the passenger's side is actually made for towing, and the one on the driver's side will be a closed hook. This one is only for transporting the vehicle and should not be used for towing. This job can be done just by crawling under the truck and going to work. A better way would be to put the truck up on ramps and using a creeper, a board with rollers and a pillow. And, of course, the old stand by, a jack and jack stands. Never work under the truck if it is only supported by jacks.

Figure 2. Jack it up.

Step 2 – Remove old tow hooks

Remove the old hooks by using a wrench as an anchor on one side of the bolt and another to turn it, preferably a ratchet wrench. It will make the job go much faster. Alternatively, an impact wrench will make quick work of this job. Once removed, make sure you save the the fasteners; you may need them, as sometimes the bolts that come with the new hooks will not fit in the existing chassis location.

Figure 3. The right tools make the job easier.

Step 3 – Install the tow hooks

Now that the old hooks are removed, it is just a simple matter of lining up the holes in the new hooks with the holes in the frame of the truck and inserting the bolts. The nuts should be of the nylon locking variety. If this is not the case, use some heavy duty Threadlocker or even super glue on the threads, and then tighten down the nuts. With the new hooks in place, drop your truck down and you are done. Now go muddin' and pull your buds out of the deep mud with confidence.

Figure 4. Tow hook installed.

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