FACTORY TOW HOOKS

[enaberif]

If I wanted period correct 73-80 hooks, I don't have a problem paying 45 bucks + shipping for them.

Its easier for you Americans

[LTZ C20]

I'de give you a joking little "sucks to be you" but, I am half Australian and I've spend money outside the country so I feel ya.

[Peter S]

LOL!  Funny,  there is at least 2 or 3 sets on eBay now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-GM-Tow-Hooks-for-73-80-Chevy-GMC-trucks-GM-328072-K-10-K-20-C-10-K-15-/391344008290?hash=item5b1debac62:g:Xa4AAOSwJcZWceAY&vxp=mtr

$45 for the hooks
$31 for the shipping
Total of $80 for a set of tow hooks in US dollars
$110 CAD for me for a set

I could pick up a set of GMT400 tow hooks or buy an aftermarket set for cheaper. I mean if you are doing a resto project then the cost isn't much but $100 for a set of tow hooks? No thanks.

You don't have to buy the first (or second) set you see on ebay. Be very patient, they can be had for less. I got mine off of ebay for $30 plus $7.50 for shipping. It took about a year to find them but I was in no hurry. Deals are out there but shipping in your case can be a problem.

[Greybeard]

If the hooks are for a practical purpose I'm sure I wouldn't want them on my truck. As every one said they are tow hooks, not -get me out here I'm stuck- hooks. How strong does a rod need to be when it's pulled on sideways? My educated guess is a lot stronger than those bars are. A good, forged, bottom of frame rail hook with a safety clasp will hold up much better, won't twist the frame, and certainly won't rip the bolts through the side of the frame. Seen it happen, not a pretty site. Like the 'tow' hooks on foreign cars, mostly for transport tie down, not real heavy duty work.

[Jason S]

I'd like to see 73-80 factory tows hooks installed ON 73-80s.

The first set of four photos of the White 1980 K-10 are factory tow hooks...

[LTZ C20]

Since the topic is already present, I will share here. I had a set of the the 88+ hooks of my dad's 97 Tahoe he got rid off. I finally put them on my truck yesterday after 2 years of sitting in my garage on a shelf. It was pretty easy, I had to drill 2 holes for them but that was it. My truck is a 2wd 3/4 ton so I didn't have the holes like a 4wd frame. Anyway, I only spent about 2 1/2 hours on the hole project but I was taking my dear sweet time and was in no hurry. So here we go.

No hooks before.


 Now the hole in yellow was factory. I only had to drill the hole in red. And the pic doesn't show it but I actually drilled another hole above the first hole so that the edges of the holes would overlap and make an oval hole about 2/3 the size of the factory hole. I did this for so I can get them fitted just right, more room for adjustments.



Also, the hooks are stamped L & R for left and right obviously but since they are bent out a little factory, I actually put them on opposite sides. This makes them lay out towards the sides just a bit for the clearance around the sway bar mounts to clear a tow strap and smaller chains or rope.



Side view




You can see the bend to the side here. This is the left hook on the right frame rail.


They mounted right between the outside bumper brackets and core support brackets. Overall I like them and unless your looking for them, they aren't super obvious from the front of the truck.

[AZ87V10]

I like how that turned out! Looks good! I'm wondering, were the hooks standard on 4x4's or were they optional? I'm just wondering since my truck is a 4x4 but I don't have front tow hooks. I'm also missing some of the hardware on my bumper brackets, leading me to believe that my front bumper is not original to my truck. Maybe they were removed at some point?

[LTZ C20]

I'm not sure, I think they were probably optional. Maybe standard on full trim models but not lower models. My buddy has a High Sierra with full trim, ac, 4x4 K20, but his doesn't have power windows, locks or tow hooks. So I'm honestly not sure. My dad's Tahoe that these hooks came off of were installed factory.

[AZ87V10]

My truck is a full trim model. Silverado package with deluxe two tone paint, chrome grille and bumpers, chrome trim on wheel openings, chrome Silverado style vinyl trim along the body, power windows, locks, a/c, the works! I know the hooks that you installed were standard on 88-98 4x4's. My 98 Z71 I used to have had them. So did my dad's old 89 K2500. I was just curious. Most of the 80's era square body 4x4's I see around me seem to have the tow hooks and my truck doesn't. It's also missing the plastic air dam that should be bolted to the bottom of the bumper. Not that big a deal, but I notice these things. It's all in the details!

[LTZ C20]

Maybe someone damaged the air dam in years past and removed it and the hooks also. Or for whatever reason, broke one or didn't like them so took them off? I've scratched my head for days sometimes trying to figure out why previous owners have done the things they did.

[AZ87V10]

Oh probably. Who knows? Lol! You never can tell why someone did what they did in the past. Luckily, my truck seems to be pretty well taken care of and not too butchered or torn up. When I went and test drove it, I was surprised that everything worked correctly, all the way down to the original cassette radio! That's usually one of the first things to get butchered on these trucks! Although the rear cab corner speakers and brackets are missing. But that's another topic entirely!
I just noticed it seems like the bumper on the front is not original to the truck, but appears to me to be a genuine GM item. It also has bumper guards on it, and from my research of the RPO codes, that's not listed, telling me the truck didn't originally have them. Makes me wonder why or what might have happened to it in the past. Who knows?

[LTZ C20]

Mine has a few people who gave it a pretty good what for but, I've been able to straighten that out for the most part. Speaking of the radio, someone cut the factory radio area out to mount a more modern unit. I hate it, the hole isn't cut straight or square, the frame that holds the radio is mounted to the dash bezel.... it's annoying. So I have to find a cab to cut a section of the dash out, and weld it into mine to have the factory setup again and I'll get one of those retro radios. I have nice cab corner speaker mounts that I haven't installed yet. I prefer a straight chrome bumper over one painted or with impact strips.