Where can I mount a tow hook.....

[Ramblin Fever]

on the front and rear of the Rodeo??

Any ideas?

Had to use the Rodeo and the Toyota to save some lost driving souls this weekend, 2-lane backroad highway where people where sliding off the roads left and right in icy conditions.

I resorted to using the class 3-hitch we have on the Rodeo, whereas the Toyota has tow hooks. Anyone know where I can mount these on the Rodeo?

Seemingly remember my '91 Rodeo had them in the front, but this truck doesn't have front or rear hooks.

[amigo-2k]

odd I have one on my 2000 ...

[AZoner]

Same Here... I have 2. 1 Front Pass. and 1 driver rear.

[Ramblin Fever]

Well, I think my OEM's got taken off years ago when the dealer put on the brushguard.

Any ideas how to mount one?

[amigo-2k]

you are probably correct about losing them due to the brush guard. There is a recent post on the planet about a bunch of folks buying cheep brush guards with the same issue.

[Gizmo42]

I'm one of those with the cheap grill guard in the post. I have a set of shackles on order from indy 4x and when I get my guard put on I'm just gonna drill out the hole where the stock hole is and put the shackles there. HERE is the post of Protetypes install so you can see what I'm talking about. I dont think the '97 has the same kind of set up though. If you can find a way to put some shackles on that would be the best way. With bolt on hooks, if the bolts break, they become projectiles.

[Ramblin Fever]

Gizmo - thanks greatly for the link; I'm a frequent on-looker on that site, just have never registered, some day I will.

That brushguard that Protetype installed - same brushguard as the one I have, only mine is a Manik. Sure wish I had told you guys a head of time - as it looks as if you both bought one?? - they're not really worth it. Mine actually mounts a little further onto the frame then Protetype's picture looked, but it's flimsy as all getout. I only keep it on for the fog-lights, but there are days that I just want to take it off.

I find myself being too overly cautious because of it in the mountains as well, as one little ding on the front-end will shove it back into the hood, I can already tell.

Yes, the lightguards will make getting your black lightcovers harder to get off/install. I have a hard time just washing my headlights with my hands, the little rails are pretty snug against them.

Ok, so you're ordering a D-schakle from Indy?? Would like to put one on the front, and for sure one on the back, which it looks like I can loop it through the receiver on the hitch

[Gizmo42]

These are made by Hunter and look to be pretty beefy. here is the ebay sale that we got them from. Shows the differences between the Hunters and the cheaper built ones. I did buy some 1/2" grade 8 bolts to install mine though instead of using the 3/8" grade 3 bolts it came with. Protetype is going to replace his bolts too at some point.

[Ramblin Fever]

Yeap, same brushguard - mine came with 8 1/2" bolts, 4 on either side. But, I still think the one I have is crappy - but, I didn't pay for it, so I can't complain, I guess.

The problem with these guards is their only mounting contact is on the frame below, whereas my OEM brushguard that was on my '91 Rodeo was mounted on the frame AND on top of the bumper - so it was a lot more sturdier.

BUT, I had that same OEM guard mounted on the '97 Rodeo 5yrs ago when I was involved in an accident; and let's just say the brushguard did more sheet metal damage costing $3k in repairs - whereas if I didn't have it, I probably would've only been out a headlight.

I only have this current brushguard because I didn't know the insurance company was putting one on - I was out of town when they fixed my truck - came back and found one on it, otherwise, if I'd have known what they were willing to do, I would've paid in for an ARB.

I'm not suggesting that you take yours off though, I still have mine on too - just be sure to find a way to mount stability brackets along the top of the bumper too - if possible, and be sure to never hit that front end.

I'm gonna see if my sister's b-i-law can't weld mine to the frame at higher points.

[Gizmo42]

Well, Mike (protetype) didnt get his bolts replaced in time. HERE is what can happen when the bolts shear off when you hit something and have a brush guard. He's hoping to be able to get an ARB bumper out of the deal when they fix the front.

I'm hoping with the stronger bolts I used it wont be so bad if I hit something, though I know the guard will still hit the hood/grill. But thats what insurance is for right? lol

He was just over at my place the night before dropping off the shackles.

[Ramblin Fever]

Yeah, I saw that, reading that last night. Ouch! I felt bad for him the minute I saw it it was like an instant flashback.

My damage was pretty much the same when I got in that accident 4yrs ago now; my radiator came through without a scratch, I was actually surprized by that.

My total repair bill was a little over $3k, but I wanted new/OEM parts as I still had a loan on the truck at the time. At the time, the damage was close to half of what the KBB value was, but what also helped with my insurance company in the deciding factor to keep her on the road was that there was no frame or mechanical damage, only sheet metal, and the rest of the truck was in immaculant condition.

If his frame is still solid - which it should be, depending how hard he hit, they'll fix his truck and be on the road in nothing flat.

Just make sure to tell him to definitely get an alignment when it's fixed.

[Gizmo42]

Just make sure to tell him to definitely get an alignment when it's fixed.

Will do

[Ramblin Fever]

Hey Giz, forgot to mention last night - both of your Rodeo's are looking VERY VERY nice. Keep up the good work - just need bigger tires now!!

Those General Grabber AT2's that someone posted about on the Planet are perhaps my next set on any of my 3 vehicles that come due again, those are nice tires!

[Gizmo42]

I'll probably go for daytons again on mine, I like these tires for the price. That wont be happening until these wear out though. Hopefully by then I will have found a nice set of snowflakes. I think I have the skinniest 15" wheels isuzu made so 32's arent gonna fit on them very well. I'm thinking a lift is comming this spring but will still be riding on the 30's.

[Ramblin Fever]

If you have steelies, they're probably 15x6" - which is the same width I ran on my truck for 9yrs, well, 16x6 actually, but same width.

They WERE very skinny, but I did run 265/75's on them for almost a year before I found a set of 16x8 wheels. I don't recommend it though, the tires were crowning badly in only 8k miles.

I would've given anything to have the snowflake wheels that were on my '91 Rodeo, never realized at the time that we traded it that those were the gold of Isuzu wheels. Nor did I realize then, that they would've fit my '97 Rodeo.

Where'd you get your Dayton's - do they come in the 265/75 R16 E/10-ply size? My diesel cummins will be due for tires here pretty soon, maybe end of summer - I'm running 245/75 R16 Yokohama's, only because the E/10-ply doesn't come in the 265/75 Yokohama's.

Not only that, but the Yok ATII's are discontinued; think I got the last set Discount tire could scramble up for my newer Yota.