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Might be a noob question but how do you keep your tow hook from being stolen?

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by kent50, Apr 6, 2019.

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  1. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:31 PM
    #1
    kent50

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    kent50 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I see a lot of people on the sight with front and rear tow hooks. I am planning to install mine tomorrow but it would be easy to steal them. Anybody have a good way of making them hard to remove?

    Thanks!
     
    kent50, Apr 6, 2019
    #1
  2. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:32 PM
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    Comatose

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    Comatose You snuff it, we stuff it.

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    Weld it or round off the bolts.
     
    Comatose, Apr 6, 2019
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  3. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:34 PM
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    Stocklocker

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    Stocklocker Well-Known Member

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    Red locktite works for casual thieves.
     
    Stocklocker, Apr 6, 2019
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  4. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:37 PM
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    DrummyTaco

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    DrummyTaco Feeeesh

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    Wire it up to the battery. It’ll zap people when they try to steal it and give an extra kick for when someone pulls you out... but welding is a good idea too.
     
    DrummyTaco, Apr 6, 2019
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  5. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:39 PM
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    Stocklocker

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    Stocklocker Well-Known Member

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    Are we talking about D-Rings?
     
    Stocklocker, Apr 6, 2019
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  6. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:39 PM
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    JdevTac

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    JdevTac Well-Known Member

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    What sort of tow hook? Like bolt on OEM and ARB style or like a hitch mount clevis?

    If it’s the hitch mount type stuff just remove it when not in use. If it’s bolt on just paint it black and no one is going to notice it.
     
    JdevTac, Apr 6, 2019
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  7. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:41 PM
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    El Duderino

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    El Duderino Obviously, you're not a golfer.

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    Stuff, things, this, an ADS
    Easy take the tow hitch off when you aren’t towing anything leave it behind the seats.
     
    El Duderino, Apr 6, 2019
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  8. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:42 PM
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    Stocklocker

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    Stocklocker Well-Known Member

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    I don’t know what exactly we are discussing, but I wouldn’t weld any part together, or to my truck, that’s used for recovery. That stuff gets broken, bent, and moved around if your are in a serious recovery situation. The last thing you want is something you can’t remove, move, or repair without a grinder or torch.
     
    Stocklocker, Apr 6, 2019
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  9. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:46 PM
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    kent50

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    kent50 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Sorry, D ring I guess is the proper term. This upload_2019-4-6_19-46-14.jpg
     
    kent50, Apr 6, 2019
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  10. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:47 PM
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    Stocklocker

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    Stocklocker Well-Known Member

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    Don’t weld any part of that. Keep it in your storage bins behind your seats.
     
    Stocklocker, Apr 6, 2019
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  11. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:47 PM
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    kent50

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    kent50 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    :rofl:If I knew how to do this, I would do it in a minute and mount a camera to watch!

     
    kent50, Apr 6, 2019
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  12. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:48 PM
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    Longboard1110

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    Longboard1110 ...................

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    Don’t leave it in? I have never needed a d ring to get to work.
     
    Longboard1110, Apr 6, 2019
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  13. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:48 PM
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    lucky13don

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    lucky13don Well-Known Member

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    Pull it out. No reason to run with that in around town
     
    lucky13don, Apr 6, 2019
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  14. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:49 PM
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    Longboard1110

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    Longboard1110 ...................

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    But eaf
     
    Longboard1110, Apr 6, 2019
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  15. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:50 PM
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    Victory

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    Victory Well-Known Member

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    My tow ball is on with a grade 8 bolt, lockwasher and but instead of just a pin. A pin you can just pull, but I don’t think anyone is going to take the time to find the right size wrenches or sockets and unbolt it.
     
    Victory, Apr 6, 2019
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  16. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:51 PM
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    lucky13don

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    lucky13don Well-Known Member

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    Lol...
     
    lucky13don, Apr 6, 2019
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  17. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:51 PM
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    Stocklocker

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    Stocklocker Well-Known Member

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    You can get locking receiver pins, and could locktite the D-Ring threaded shank if the fashion statement was important to you on a daily basis.
     
    Stocklocker, Apr 6, 2019
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  18. Apr 6, 2019 at 7:51 PM
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    DrummyTaco

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    DrummyTaco Feeeesh

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    Then post it to YouTube.

    Seeing your most recent picture though, I’d either lock it or remove it. I have a locking pin for my ball hitch. I use it quite often so I just leave it in.

    932055B0-E611-464C-BE0B-51B9E4680E27.jpg
     
    DrummyTaco, Apr 6, 2019
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  19. Apr 6, 2019 at 8:01 PM
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    Comatose

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    Comatose You snuff it, we stuff it.

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    Comatose, Apr 6, 2019
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  20. Apr 6, 2019 at 8:02 PM
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    kent50

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    kent50 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for all of the replies. You guys are great! I have a locking pin so no worries there and I will remove it when not in use. I was planning to put one on the front of the truck and leave it there. I think that I will go the locktite route and hope for the best. If it gets taken it will be payback for the chrome valve stem caps that I "borrowed" off of my neighbors car for my bike when I was a kid!
     
    kent50, Apr 6, 2019
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