Demon Hooks... anyone try them?

I would, but alas, my Tacoma isn't cool enough for a Pro grille. He has to tool along in shame with his Off Road grille, knowing that other Tacos are laughing in his general direction.

 

This question has come up a lot lately it seems. The most common answer is "Don't use it for recovery." I don't know how much clearer it can get. If you are yanking on a stuck vehicle, the load is going to be a whole lot. Its gonna fail. But its your truck. Do what you want.

 

I'm thinking of putting a recovery hook on my scoop (since I don't have the pro grill).

 

Cost...

 

Incorrect.

 

I’m curious to see actual failures of the factory OR passenger hook or demon brackets. So far the point is theoretical IMO. Any anecdotes?

I’m a mechanical engineering technologist with my CDL (class 1) and experience moving drilling rigs and experience testing materials. What I don’t have is a lot of experience needing to be recovered. I have pulled a F-150 and Jeep Rubicon out of the ditch and a mudhole respectively. No issues with factory drivers loop and receiver hitch with a large shackle.

I get the caution but the Tacoma is puny. The one post said the manufacturer responded with 18000lbs. Someone should test them to failure. Either in a machine or using a load cell.

I would be curious of the result.

 

I have seen on this forum, a few years back, the OR hooks bent straight after being used as a recovery point.

 

was it out of really deep mud or something like that?

 

All you engineers: stop being coy. Write us up a formula based on the metallurgy, bolt pattern and rating, sheer plane strength, etc. I want Newtons and Joules and Faraday mesh constraints. I want the quantum glials and membrane proteins and everything.

SHOW US SOMETHING AMAZING.

 

Kips or riot

 

Been trying to search for that thread/image/anything reguarding this, coming up empty no mater what I punch into the google machine.

 

Those are fine too. I just want proof.

 

All Poo Poo and no one can prove failure!

 

So... any updates on those failures?

Edit to say I don't plan to snatch anyone off the edge of a cliff any time soon.

I'm just curious to see what they hold.

I personally don't see why they couldn't hold up to a relatively small bridled pull in a pinch - but I would probably break out the recovery boards before trying them.

 

(insert sounds of crickets chirping here)

 

I'm an engineer, licensed in WA, OR, ID, MN, WY, CO, HI, and AK. Below are my calculations...



Seriously though, most of my job is looking up specs... not calculations.

 

Here's a video of a Tacoma being recovered by the "tow hook". Look at all the damage it sustained? Are you going to try and tell me that none of that damage is a result of being recovered by the tow hook?

https://youtu.be/QvdQKa-xA50?t=41

 

I bet if it had demon hooks on, it would have been fine. In any case, it'll buff out just fine.

 

That 50 miles @ 18 mph flat towing limit is imposed by the automatic transmission, not the strength of the tow hoop. For low-traction recoveries it's fine. If the truck is buried up to the hood in mud or thick ice, then pulling anywhere along the flimsy front crossmember will be iffy.

What's stronger, the tow hoop at 90 degrees or the hitch on a unibody Cherokee?

https://youtu.be/lSL4aQGwyos?t=481