Demon Hooks... anyone try them?

Hi All,

I know there's been other discussions regarding aftermarket hooks to replace the stock ones up front. ARB is clearly the king here but for someone looking to improve on the stock versions and be able to attach shackles easier, any opinions about the Demon hooks seen here? Looks like their design boxes around the frame a bit which, in theory, should be stronger than other options (not ARB). Looking for any comparisons between this option and something like what SOS (http://sosoffroadconcepts.com/factory-recovery-replacement/)


Demon Hook: https://amistyling.com/demon-brackets-toyota-9-19-tacoma


Again, I just want something better than stock that lets me attach shackles easier. Would these Demon hooks fit the bill?

 

They look pretty solid and better than OEM hooks. Just dont put those ugly ass shackles on them like in the pics on the website haha

 

Ha! No way I'd put those on. I most likely wouldn't even leave shackles on them 24/7 but the only one's being used on these will be the normal off-road style ones.

 

Are those using stacked thick ass washers? If so is that strong enough?

 

What’s wrong with the OEM hook?

 

Tbh the fact that they say "Eliminates the need to purchase an aftermarket bumper to hang your hooks on" and "Ideal for adding stylish aftermarket hooks/shackles to your truck." -- i wouldnt buy these. They seem like they are for people who have XDs with loprofile MTs... SOS and ARB would be the better move

 

I've thought about those too. But, I don't even have my truck yet. Build date is as the end of the month and I've already bought too many things for it already.

 

I believe so. I think they're welded on? Maybe? Not an engineer so no clue but I would thing the extra metal combined with the pin going through would make it pretty robust?

The left or right (depending how you look at it) is a loop and a pain to get shackles through. I want to use shackles exclusively for any type of recover situation as my two strap doesn't have hooks (has loops).

 

I see, the loop isn't a recovery point, it's a tiedown point. The OR and PRo have a factory recovery hook on the otherside that you can hook straps and ropes too.

 

Studded for your recovery pleasure

 

Snap! I must have missed this! The last time I had to recover someone was in the dark (pulling a car out of some snow). If that's the case, I won't need to go this route at all. Time to get under there and actually look around this time. I do have a Pro so if what you're saying is true, I'll be good to go. Would still be cool to see if anyone can provide feedback on these Demon points for future reference.

 

My assumption is that they cut out those circles (washers) from a thinner material, as a single plate of that thickness would cost A LOT more. Basically stacking thinner plate to achieve the same thickness as a more expensive thicker steel plate.

@jowybyo can probably weigh in on the cost of various plate materials and confirm is this is indeed the rational. Additionally, he might be able to offer some gut intuition on whether it carries the same strength capacity as a single plate. My assumption would be that it's not equal.

Regardless, the stock recovery point location where this mounts is not intended for heavy duty use. This would be a "more show than go" type addition.

 

The recovery point on the OR is not meant to used for an off road recovery, i.e. if the vehicle is stuck. It is really a tow point.

 

I've got one made by a local fab shop..
It's very similar to the SOS one. I look at it as better than the oem tie down, and enough to get me out of anything I'll get into. Maybe one day I'll get a lo-pro kit - but right now this will do.

 

I agree that this feels much more like a flashy addition.

From an engineer: Depends on what type of strength you are referring to. Some capacities will be equal between a solid piece and the stacked 'washers'. Though the more obvious comparison would be the axial capacity (i.e. recovering the vehicle). In this situation stacked pieces do not carry the same capacities.

Though the design of things like this almost always has less to do with the design of the component itself; rather, it is the connection design that is the weak point (i.e. point of failure). I wouldn't worry about the steel rupturing around the pin, even with the washers decreasing the overall csa for yielding and rupture. The 'incompleteness' of the design of the piece when loaded in a variety of likely to occur real world situations has me more concerned.

 

They don't appear to show a rating. That and their words make me avoid

 

Pretty simply, if they didn’t care to take the time to make it look like they aren’t 2 washers in there, I don’t trust they took the time to make sure the other welds are well done, and certainly did no engineering, if it’s just to hang rings, then it will do just fine. Please remove before selling the truck though. I don’t want to read the thread where someone bought a truck and it had what seemed to be solid recovery points, but they ended up is someone’s rear window, or worse.

 

No mention of weight/pull ratings, no mention of anything having to do with actually using them in a recovery situation, just this:

"Eliminates the need to purchase an aftermarket bumper to hang your hooks on", and

"Ideal for adding stylish aftermarket hooks/shackles to your truck"

 

Yeah, that bit right there had me skeptical. I wish they had a weight/pull rating and didn't use those words. They mention in their video that their versions for the HD trucks is much more built and made for pulling larger stuff. Knowing that the OR and Pro have hooks, I'm going to abandon this idea.

 

I have them in my Taco, I feel they are plenty strong for general recovery, may not be if stuck in deep mud. But I like the look and better than stock I O.