Add-on Tow Hooks - 1/2" grade 5 spring bolt - nut torque spec?

[dad_w_truck]

I installed these tow hooks on my 21 F150 XLT. Curious what the torque spec is for these grade 5, 1/2" nuts? I see anywhere from 40 to 80 ft lb out there.

Info on the hardware:

$26 for bolts shipped - 1/2 inch Diameter Square U-Bolt from here: https://dsuban.com/product/1-2-inch-dia-u-bolt-square-p2510/

• Inside Width:
  2.5in
• Inside Length:
  4in

$27 for tow hooks shipped - appears to be two different lengths. I ordered the shorter ones and will have room needed to use.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185727601221 - what I ordered
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=FORD+F150+TOW+HOOKS+oem - general search for them if the above link is no good

The bolts hang down but don't go past how far the hooks themselves hang down. 4" was the shortest I could order from the site above. They were made and shipped in a day. I know you can have these made up locally at a spring shop but ordering these and having them show up a week later was worth it. Installed them next to the frame. I had to adjust the springs slightly in my vice to ensure they'd fit in the hooks fine but that was just a small clamping adjustment. If you do this with a vice, don't clamp on the threaded portion.

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[Calson]

I use split washers for something like this and tighten the nuts so as to fully compress the washer.

 

[HammaMan]

The bolts hang down but don't go past how far the hooks themselves hang down. 4" was the shortest I could order from the site above. They were made and shipped in a day. I know you can have these made up locally at a spring shop but ordering these and having them show up a week later was worth it. Installed them next to the frame. I had to adjust the springs slightly in my vice to ensure they'd fit in the hooks fine but that was just a small clamping adjustment. If you do this with a vice, don't clamp on the threaded portion.

Nice, nothing an angle grinder can't fix re: extra bolt....

 

[Snakedoctor]

I installed these tow hooks on my 21 F150 XLT. Curious what the torque spec is for these grade 5, 1/2" nuts? I see anywhere from 40 to 80 ft lb out there.

Info on the hardware:

$26 for bolts shipped - 1/2 inch Diameter Square U-Bolt from here: https://dsuban.com/product/1-2-inch-dia-u-bolt-square-p2510/

• Inside Width:
  2.5in
• Inside Length:
  4in

$27 for tow hooks shipped - appears to be two different lengths. I ordered the shorter ones and will have room needed to use.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/185727601221 - what I ordered
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=FORD+F150+TOW+HOOKS+oem - general search for them if the above link is no good

The bolts hang down but don't go past how far the hooks themselves hang down. 4" was the shortest I could order from the site above. They were made and shipped in a day. I know you can have these made up locally at a spring shop but ordering these and having them show up a week later was worth it. Installed them next to the frame. I had to adjust the springs slightly in my vice to ensure they'd fit in the hooks fine but that was just a small clamping adjustment. If you do this with a vice, don't clamp on the threaded portion.

Do you have any under bumper shots?

 

[imnuts]

I'll add a ×2 for a picture from underneath to see how you mounted them.

 

[dad_w_truck]

Here you go.

 

[Aron]

Could you flip the u-bolts around so that the ends are up under the truck frame? It’s not clear from the photos if there’s enough clearance for that.

 

[HammaMan]

Here you go.

Oh yeah, trim them bolts!

 

[dad_w_truck]

Oh yeah, trim them bolts!

Trimmed off 1". Looks a lot cleaner now.

 

[Snakedoctor]

Trimmed off 1". Looks a lot cleaner now.

Looks amazingly better. Would you suggest then ordering with 3in inside length? Did you see this done elsewhere? I swear I saw somewhere else but cant find that post.

 

[dad_w_truck]

Looks amazingly better. Would you suggest then ordering with 3in inside length? Did you see this done elsewhere? I swear I saw somewhere else but cant find that post.

3" would make sense.

 

[Calson]

I use split washers in situations like this and tighten the nut until the washer fully flatten. Only important aspect is the grade of bolt that is used.

 

[Snakedoctor]

Did this today, thank you for your post since it helped me know what dimensions I needed.

I ended up with smaller inside length. I asked for 3” and she said they might be 3.5” I didn’t measure them but they were perfect. Look a little bit of muscle to get them one was slightly under and other over bent. I went to a local spring shop and they made them for me in about 7 min total from walk in walk out.

Did you ever end on an exact torque range? I gave it a couple ugga-duggas with the impact.

 

[dad_w_truck]

Did this today, thank you for your post since it helped me know what dimensions I needed.

I ended up with smaller inside length. I asked for 3” and she said they might be 3.5” I didn’t measure them but they were perfect. Look a little bit of muscle to get them one was slightly under and other over bent. I went to a local spring shop and they made them for me in about 7 min total from walk in walk out.

Did you ever end on an exact torque range? I gave it a couple ugga-duggas with the impact.

I think I ended up doing the same by torquing them down with my pneumatic driver... Not sure what that torque spec was but they're snug.

 

[Snakedoctor]

I think I ended up doing the same by torquing them down with my pneumatic driver... Not sure what that torque spec was but they're snug.

I have a Milwaukee Mid-Torque wrench. It’s an amazing thing. Utilizes their M18 batteries and takes lug nuts right off. Mainly why I bought it. I put it on 2nd setting. That’s a range of 75-150. I did it on setting one, tapped with a rubber mallet and they moved ever so slightly. Then moved up. Don’t plan on really using these for much. I love how they look.

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