I was pulling something with my jeep the other day. Actually it was a limb off a tree (the limb was not attached to the tree, been cut off). Probably about 6 inches in diameter and roughly 10 feet long, not that big. I hooked the line to the limb and the other end to one of my tow hooks. I started pulling in reverse (straight back..inline) and my cousin started yelling at me, "Stop, tow hooks are bending". So, I stopped, got out and looked....the hooks were not actually bending...more like leaning over. They were actually leaning straight forward from the weight.

Now, I put these hooks on myself, my jeep did not come with any. Everything fit perfectly. Is this leaning normal? If so, are they strong enough for recovery until I can get a new bumper?

I did not wanna chance breaking something, so we hooked the line to a 4-wheeler and pulled the limb with no problem..so the limb was not too big.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "leaning".

 

When they are not in use, they are straight up. When I started to pull the tree limb..they started to tilt forward. The hooks were not actually bending...leaning forward. I do not know else how to say it.

Like the Leaning Tower of Pisa..but leaning towards the object that was being pulled. Sorry, that is the only example that I can think of at the moment.

 

ummm flexing? If they went back to normal when you were done I would think that is ok.... I just wonder if they would flex enough for the line you had attached to them to break free, could be dangerous. When you installed the hooks, did you also install the reinforcement strips that go on the inside???

 

So they sort of "flexed" and then straightened back up when you removed tension? Anyone know the capacity of these hooks?

 

I would not think this is normal. If it flexes for a tree branch that weighs a couple hundred pounds, I can't imagine if you needed to tow/winch your Jeep

 

Installed just like the directions stated. Had no problems..everything fit perfectly. Had no extra pieces left over.

I was picking at my cousin about the type of knot he tied and vice versa. So he was actually watching the hooks closely, wanting my knot to come untied. He said they flexed some..few degrees maybe (if I would be guessing..less than 10 degrees). They went back to their normal after I released the weight.

 

I don't see how this is complicated , only two things, either the hooks bent, or the base, you say your hooks are ok, is the base where they're mounted ok?

 

How many beers did he have?

 

I think a picture would really help here.