Tow hook on drivers side?

I was looking at upgraded front recovery points from BP Fab or ARB. They say they are for the passenger side but my 21 is on the drivers side. Did this change for the 21 model or do you still install these on the passenger side?

 

Pictures

 

I think they are all passenger side if i. Driver side should just be a little tie down loop for transport (if you're getting towed on a rollback or trailer). Passenger side should be the big forged recovery hook. Edit: just checked the owners manual, PRO and OR come with the big one on the passenger side and the little one on the driver side. All other trims look like they only come with the little one on the driver side. I would think the mounting holes would still be there for the passenger side one on the other trim levels though.

 

I got these https://amistyling.com/demon-brackets-toyota-9-19-tacoma which allows you to have recovery points on both driver and passenger and these are a sub-$100 solution.

 

Ah ok. Thanks!

 

Have you used these in recovery yet? The language on their website makes me hesitant to trust these brackets for recovery

 

I have not used them yet to confirm their functionality, however, this is another thread on here where @3JOH22A

Provided some input on the recovery points here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/recovery-points.686734/page-3#post-24245865

It's a steel crossmember directly welded to the truck frame, albeit thin-walled. Its strength comes from the two braces that tie it further back to the differential mount and jacking point crossmember. The factory OR, RedRock and BPF tow hooks all bolt to the same crossmember. At least the Demon brackets wrap around the crossmember, not relying on just the shear strength of the bolts.

Since it does wrap around the crossmember (front to back), it already functions better than the single existing recovery point on the passenger side.

 

I have the amistyling brackets. They may work in a pinch, but are nothing like the ARB in terms of being a real recovery point.

the issue is not the design that f the bracket itself, but what it attaches to- the amistyling bracket bolts to a bar under the front bumper, not part of the frame.

it would be good for a tie down point on a trailer, or good for being pulled when no force is really necessary (like wheel spinning in the mud or something). I would not trust it to put any sideways force that would change the direction of the vehicle.

 

If this is wanted for true recovery, ARB hands down. The size, the cost, and the design make it clear. If it’s for hanging shackles, and maybe light recovery’s, other options are fine.

 

I figured pictures say more than words...

muy isn’t quite as bad as I thought but I stand by my assessment: good for light duty stuff and maybe would survive some off-roading, but if I were depending on it regularly, this would not be my choice.

 

I haven't looked, but are you saying these are installed on the base of the Radiator Support Assembly? While it's true that the assembly is tied to the frame, I wouldn't necessarily call it a cross member, or feel comfortable utilizing it as a recovery point if that were in fact the case.

 

"Ideal for adding stylish aftermarket hooks/shackles to your truck." - from the website. Uh, yeah. If that doesn't fill you with fear and trembling, nothing will.

 

I like thought and price of the Demon Brackets and would enjoy it if they at least did a component test to cover the welds and the part itself. They do not install at the same location as the OR / Pro tow hook on the right side, but darn close with the same number of fasteners.

IMHO, the stock left loop, the OR / Pro tow hook, and the Demon Brackets have probably the same capability where the only real difference is the person behind the wheel doing the snatching. The plain fact is that the Demon Brackets would be putting a load in slightly higher (better) than the stock tow hook.

Other than that, the ARB that also ties into the holes on the actual frame is the only one that is significantly different / better.


I would stay away from using the non-OR / non-Pro Stock right side tie down unless in an extremely light recovery or a critical emergency.

 

Is the OR/Pro tow hook actually to be used as a recovery point? Or is it for flat pulls like up onto a flatbed truck? Because the way that stuff up there looks, I wouldn't trust it AT ALL for a serious pull. If that bracket thing bolts on to the same position as a factory hook, I wonder if the factory intends the stock hook to be used for any kind of serious jerk.

 

I have heard others say that the factory “tow hook” is for flatbed/ tie down the truck use, but not sure if toyota or the user manual actually spells it out. Factory tow hook attaches in a really similar way to the pictures I posted above

 

The way that I look at it, there are two type of recoveries. Mud and everything else. I don't see a problem using what is there for everything but mud. If the Taco is swamped in goo, it has to be the ARB or a hitch shackle, otherwise something will probably get bent.

 

Totally agree. I'm sort of surprised what gets sold in litigation-happy USA. These fab shops sell this stuff after doing approximately zero testing then cloak themselves with protective language. "For entertainment purposes only."

 

I'm sure you're right, otherwise there would be no way to front-pull a truck onto a trailer without using the front axle or some other steering components, with downstream liability as a result.

 

Just so everyone's on the same page.

Driver side welded loop is sometimes called a recovery loop in the manual.


The passenger side OR hook:


The passenger side tie-down loop.


ARB passenger side recovery point:

 

Exactly. And, why good judgement should be involved. But then, the Taco being a Taco, we all should get a rated tow point from the factory.

Good stuff! Thanks for tossing those up.