Experiences with aftermarket tow hooks
 

Hi, I've been tracking my BRZ a few times at HPDE events. Every time I put the stock tow hook on the car, sometimes front, sometimes back. I am worried though that I only have one end covered in case I taste the kitty litter. So I'm wondering, what tow hooks or straps do people use? I want to make sure that whatever I get is honestly strong enough to tow the car with (I've read people guessing that some aftermarket tow hooks aren't strong enough to be functional). I'm not sure that looks matter too much so long as it is good and visible to the tow truck driver on a hot course (doesn't take that long to put in and take off) though I wouldn't mind not having to deal with them every time.

From what I have found, my options are:
1. Get some more OEM hooks and rattle can then red
2. Tow straps that I hide with the plastic covers when not at the track
3. RaceEng ones
4. Cusco ones
5. Godspeed ones
6. ? Something else ?

Anyway, I'd appreciate people sharing their wisdom on this topic, like so many things it is quite confusing. Also, cost isn't the biggest thing (I'm putting plenty of money into this sport already) though I certainly don't mind saving a few dollars.

Thanks

Thought about making a nice one...if there is interest...it can happen...

I have the @Raceseng Tug View mounts, simply because I wanted the ability to have tow with a GoPro mount.

The shaft also allows the Universal Plate Mount to be used on the car, so I can swap easily on the front end between my license plate mount, and the tow mount to/from the track.

Same setup on rear, this way I have both ends covered.

Tug View review: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53205
UPM review: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53203

-alex

I have the Cusco tow hooks and they are QUITE substatial. I think they would get the job done no matter what.

Thank you for your response. Those Raceseng setups look pretty nice. Is the license plate holder hard to get on and off? I have the grimmspeed one on my car now and it is a PITA to take on and off (have to remove the plate and then unbolt the center shaft to get it off).

Additionally, is the color of the Raceseng tow hooks as fluorescent as the pictures show? The candy color of the photos on their page makes me fearful that they are as much bling as function.

Nothing wrong with more variety of parts. That said though I am pretty sure I will have bought all of what I need before any plausible turn around time for a new product, so I would be unlikely to buy :(

Thank you, that is very useful information for if I go with them. One question though, I see that raceseng makes a point that their tow hooks click into a 90 degree position. Does the cusco one have anything like that (either through friction or a setup like the raceseng one)? I'd like to avoid marring my bumper if I could (though I don't even know if that is an actual issue).

Anybody know how well the car's anchor points hold up to being towed uphill onto a roll back tow truck? I've had cars where the tow hook pulls right out of the OEM anchor point, and the car has to be pushed by hand onto the tow truck bed.

You need to secure those cars better than just pulling on the OEM anchor. All four wheels or at least all four corners need to be secured to the trailer bed properly.

I think they were asking if the OEM tow anchor was strong enough to handle having the car pulled up onto the trailer bed. Cant really tie the wheels down, or even the corners, while the car is on the ground.

The fastener section is strong enough for that. If the material for the tow hook sucks, then the tow hook will fail. :)

Those Godspeed hooks were $50-60 MSRP wen I checked months ago. Now they are $80... sheesh. supply and demand I guess.

Correct.

The tow hooks have always been fine; the cars...well, not always. I like it when the lead tow guy says "*@_&(!^ - that happens with every one of these cars!"; meanwhile, the session is blown, you're that guy, and we're about to start eating into the next session.

Once you set up the base shaft's "anchor" point (where the outside piece threads to), to swap between the Tug View & the UPM takes me about 60 seconds.

As for the color, it's prettier when new. Once you've used it for a while, it is less pretty. But the red tow hook ring looks darker in person.

The above pictures in my review threads were all taken with an external flash, so the colors are saturated and overexposed.

-alex