If you have the hitch, just use the hitch pin.

Some will say not to, but you will bend the frame before the pin. The pin is a 5/8" grade 5 piece of hardware. It will take over 50,000 psi to bend it (per engineer friend of mine)

Use the $20 saved on other mods.

 

My 2009 "X" did not come with tow hooks either, but I had the dealer install a receiver, so that might account for it. I don't remember if any of them had tow hooks when I bought this unit new.

 

How many bolts hold the tow hook on? How many bolts hold the receiver? Why would you trust a hook more than a receiver?

 

I don't believe it's because the pin will break. I think it's more of an issue of the receiver chewing on your strap. Plus only the smallest straps will even fit.

 

My 2010 came with the tow hook off to the left side, it attached to the frame. I also installed a hitch so that allowed me to buy the receiver part with a d-ring. But now the left sided tow hook came off because of the new bumper.