for those who want front tow hooks on their 2wd.
01-07-2013, 03:30 PM
#1
for those who want front tow hooks on their 2wd.
I bought a 2wd because I really and truly have no need for a 4x4. extra cost and extra maintanance. not mention weight and lower mpg.
BUT I also know that I will have to drive this thing in the snow now and a again so its good to have tow points on the front should something "bad" happen.
so I aquired all the OEM parts needed to add factory tow hooks to my 2wd 2012 F150.
1x 9L3Z-17626-B valance
2x 7L1Z-17A954-AA hook
2x W712330-S441 flag-nut assembly
4x W713172S901 bolt
the easiest way to do it is to remove the bumper assy
there is 2 8mm bolts that hold the upper cover to the steel bumper, and 1 10mm bolt that holds the hood latch in.
4 15mm nuts hold the bumper to the frame. unplug your fog light harness' and the whole bumper assy will practically fall off the front of the truck. so be careful.
at this point you can pick the bumper up and set it on a bench or on the ground/floor so its easier to work on.
the foglight/bracket assembly (if equipped) needs to be removed, as well as the bumper bount bracketry.
once these are out of the way, unclip the black plastic rectangle shapped pads from the face of the bumper.
if you have a front tag bracket in the center of the bumper you also need to remove that as well.
now you have a nice clean easy shot at all of the bolts that hold the valance to the bumper. and trust me, there are A LOT of them.
once all the bolts are gone, the last part is 2 plastic clips that snap into the face of the bumper behind where the black plastic pads would be.
at this point the valance should be completely free from the bumper. replace the old valance with the new one and reattach all the brackets and the fog lamps.
the frame should have holes already in the frame rail for the hooks to be mounted. lay the flagnuts inside the frame rail over the holes. place the hook under the rail, and run the bolts into the flag nut inside the rail.
reinstall the bumper assembly with the new valance
plug your fog lights back in
double check all your nuts and bolts
youre done.
all said and done it took me approx 1hr with air tools and working on a lift. but everything on the truck is accessable from the top with the hood open. so a lift really is not any benefit.
BUT I also know that I will have to drive this thing in the snow now and a again so its good to have tow points on the front should something "bad" happen.
so I aquired all the OEM parts needed to add factory tow hooks to my 2wd 2012 F150.
1x 9L3Z-17626-B valance
2x 7L1Z-17A954-AA hook
2x W712330-S441 flag-nut assembly
4x W713172S901 bolt
the easiest way to do it is to remove the bumper assy
there is 2 8mm bolts that hold the upper cover to the steel bumper, and 1 10mm bolt that holds the hood latch in.
4 15mm nuts hold the bumper to the frame. unplug your fog light harness' and the whole bumper assy will practically fall off the front of the truck. so be careful.
at this point you can pick the bumper up and set it on a bench or on the ground/floor so its easier to work on.
the foglight/bracket assembly (if equipped) needs to be removed, as well as the bumper bount bracketry.
once these are out of the way, unclip the black plastic rectangle shapped pads from the face of the bumper.
if you have a front tag bracket in the center of the bumper you also need to remove that as well.
now you have a nice clean easy shot at all of the bolts that hold the valance to the bumper. and trust me, there are A LOT of them.
once all the bolts are gone, the last part is 2 plastic clips that snap into the face of the bumper behind where the black plastic pads would be.
at this point the valance should be completely free from the bumper. replace the old valance with the new one and reattach all the brackets and the fog lamps.
the frame should have holes already in the frame rail for the hooks to be mounted. lay the flagnuts inside the frame rail over the holes. place the hook under the rail, and run the bolts into the flag nut inside the rail.
reinstall the bumper assembly with the new valance
plug your fog lights back in
double check all your nuts and bolts
youre done.
all said and done it took me approx 1hr with air tools and working on a lift. but everything on the truck is accessable from the top with the hood open. so a lift really is not any benefit.
The following 14 users liked this post by MPETE:
avvblanc01 (01-24-2013),
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and 9 others liked this post.
01-07-2013, 08:21 PM
#2
Member
MPete,
Altho I personally won't be doing this I do appreciate folks like you taking the time to write your how-to's with all of the part numbers and a description of how you accomplished the task. Thanks for taking the time to share your work.
Regards,
~dp
Altho I personally won't be doing this I do appreciate folks like you taking the time to write your how-to's with all of the part numbers and a description of how you accomplished the task. Thanks for taking the time to share your work.
Regards,
~dp
01-07-2013, 08:29 PM
#3
Ex-Everything
Quoted for truth.
01-07-2013, 10:34 PM
#5
I dont think I have any straight on front before shots, but the truck is 100% stock on the outside so it looks just like any other 2wd sterling gray 2012 STX. and the after will look like a 100% stock STX 4x4, lol.
I can take some after shots if you really want me to.
its literally one of those mods NO ONE will ever notice because it looks like every other truck out there, but the first time I need to get pulled out from the front and I dont have to damage my truck trying to find a good tow point, this mod will pay for itself.
01-07-2013, 10:37 PM
#6
not a problem. I am usually the one looking for other people on forums who have done something. so when I couldn't find anyone who had done it already. once I determined the holes were already in the frame, I KNEW I would be doing it so why not help out others like me who might want to accomplish this in the future. just doing my part for the forum, I guess.
01-07-2013, 11:03 PM
#7
What was the cost? Also thank you for this DIY!
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01-07-2013, 11:43 PM
#8
well the cost isnt very accurate.
I lucked out and found new take off tow hooks on ebay for $21/pair (normally over $50/each from ford I think) the valance is also very pricey, but I found it locally brand new for $70 ( I think its normally 160 new from Ford) and the hardware cost me 11 bux from my dealer.
so all said I was in it for just over 100bux. but I think its close to 300 to walk into you local dealer and buy everything :insane:
I lucked out and found new take off tow hooks on ebay for $21/pair (normally over $50/each from ford I think) the valance is also very pricey, but I found it locally brand new for $70 ( I think its normally 160 new from Ford) and the hardware cost me 11 bux from my dealer.
so all said I was in it for just over 100bux. but I think its close to 300 to walk into you local dealer and buy everything :insane:
The following users liked this post:
Rok (01-09-2013)
01-24-2013, 04:16 PM
#10
When I ordered my first truck, I was getting a 2wd truck for the same reasons you listed. However, the front tow hooks were an option I could order and I did. You don't see too many 2wd trucks out there with tow hooks on the front.
Oh, and they have come in handy a time or too.
Oh, and they have come in handy a time or too.