Demon Mounts for Tacoma D Ring Upgrade without Off-road Bumper

real-world experience

 

OP,

Let me see if I can help you since I went through the whole topic pretty thoroughly. I offer no snark ... just some background on what I found out and what I decided.

By the way, yes, this has been discussed quite a bit here on this forum but in lots of different places so it is possible that you may have missed it. I know I have asked some dumb questions here and have been pointed to places where I could have gotten my answer -- but I just missed it in the search engine. It happens. Don't worry. Your question is fine ... and don't get distracted.

Here is what I found. Maybe this helps you, too? Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing on this forum?

First and foremost, we have to separate towing from recovery. Towing is a much easier task. Recovery -- real recovery like pulling someone out of mud or out of a crevice, requires expertise and the right tools. So let's start by recognizing that these are for towing only and not real recovery.

For my use, I need something that will do towing and what I call very simple recovery. The most I would use these for would be pulling someone out of deep snow or pulling someone out of a ditch -- not a deep ditch mind you. In all cases, my first option would be to use the recovery point that I installed in my hitch. That is because the hitch bolts to the frame and offers a weighted capability. But I won't always have the luxury of pulling someone from the rear hitch so I decided to dive into the research on "recovery hooks." Here is what I found:

1) Full on recovery. The ARB product is the only one that attaches to the frame and is rated. Most expensive option (but not unreasonably so) but also really the best solution for more serious recovery. If I was doing this kind of full on recovery I would use this product and no other (unless I had a winch but that is a whole other story).

2) In the middle tier, you have the BPF product option. This is what I chose. The reason is that the BPF is rated. It also has three bolts but it does mount to the same cross bar. By the way, the product is beefy (they are great to order from) and this gives me some confidence that I can do what I call towing and low level recovery (think up to 5 on a scale from 1 to 10). In all cases, I am doing a gentle pull not a tug or any kind of harsh or jerky motions. This is passenger side only. BPF has released a driver's side product and there was a good guy on this forum who posted about installing both not too long ago. I am not a huge fan of the driver's side option yet because it requires drilling into the frame -- which I am too chicken to do (not afraid to admit that!).

3) The third option is the ones from AMI that you have presented here. They are not rated. The vendor has said they are for cosmetic purposes only. I would not do any actual recovery with them but I personally think they would be fine for towing -- as has been pointed out here they are at least as strong, if not stronger, than the tow hook on the current Tacoma (by the way, there is only one -- the other hook is a tie down hook for the truck while it is in transport). Personally, I felt more comfortable with the BPF after having it in my hands (well made product) than the AMI ones (which I didn't feel good about). I also heard from someone I know (not that well) that he tried pulling someone out of a ditch with them and they bent -- but I am not sure that is exactly what happened as I asked to see some pictures but did not get them. So, I don't know.

In short, if you want these for towing, you will probably be just fine. If you want them for recovery, I would caution against it. Better to be safe than sorry. If you like the looks of them, then by all means ... I don't comment on the looks as that is personal and subjective.

I hope that helps ... let me know if we can help get you the info you need to make the best decision for you. That is the point of this forum. More importantly, post back what you decide. We can all learn and see how other people are making decisions! Good luck !

 

I've driven drunk before and nothing happened. Based on my real-world experience drinking and driving is fine.

 

Do they call it a tow hook? I thought it was for transport tie down only. If they call it a tow hook there must be some restrictions on how it can be used.

 

Yes, it's a tow hook on the front passenger side.

https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2017_Tacoma/Tow-Hook-Front/63025485/5196135080.html

 

finally someone who has them and used them, I havent read that anyone has them and they failed, without any proof that they failed I plan on getting a set and anding a plate to use all 3 bolts(with out slots in the other 2) and rewelding the original welds, since there is no proof that they failed
I wont(and wouldnt)use them for hard pulling

I will also grind down the washers and put a bead around them making them one

 

I can see the chain going into the bumper . Not the best setup for recovery . End up doing damage .

 

Stop being well thought out and reasonable. No one has time for that on TW.

Bring back the pitchforks and torches and lets get this thread back on the dumpster fire track.......

 

..chain..

 

You should see my comments on roof racks, the new stock Toyota lift kit and the Ridgeline ...

 

I’m sure the factory hook has failed... and to avoid lawsuits Toyota made a notation in the manual to avoid further future lawsuits!



Use at your own Risk!!!!


Here’s the stock tie down point used to secure the vehicle to the semi truck when it’s in transit to the dealership.





here’s the c channel Demon Brackets



and here installed




Close up


Not sure if they hold but.......

if I’m stuck ???? I’ll try.

 

OP there is an awful lot of drama about recovery on this forum. The engineers chime in with their letters after their names. The real world experience people come out with their real world experience. And the forum people get pissy because you asked a question that has already been asked. Let's be honest people have been using those two stock points on the front of toyotas to pull their truck out of the shit for as long as people have been driving toyota trucks through shit. All over the world. They work. These are going to work as well. If you pull too hard shit is going to break. If these suit your application then perfect. They aren't expensive and they are simple to install. Put them on your truck and enjoy being able to easily attach a shackle the next time you get stuck.

 

Bookiebob how thick is the mounting plate ? I need to get some to weld another plate so I can use the other 2 bolts

 

Yes, before purchasing them I searched TW for reports of failure, and found none.
Being that TW is the defacto platform for people to complain, it is reasonable to assume that if any member here had experienced a failure with these, it would have been reported.

 

If anyone on TW used this for a real recovery, they'd probably be too embarrassed to post the results.

 

Plenty of additional reading to do here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/demon-hooks-anyone-try-them.647227/

 

The issue is that if the unrated shackle hanger that is not recommended for recovery use by the manufacturer does fail, it can easily become a catastrophic and deadly failure. There have been many situations where equipment failures resulted in horrific injuries and loss of life. This equipment is put under literal tons of pressure and tension, which can result in metal flying at bullet speeds.
A "real-world experience" may become a "last experience, ever".


Now, you can do as you like, nobody is telling you otherwise.
What is problematic is any supporting argument for using these products in recovery, which the manufacturer has stated are not intended for recovery and are not rated, can lead other, less informed people to believe these are acceptable for recovery, unknowingly putting themselves and others at risk.


Simply put, it is absolutely irresponsible and even unconscionable to associate recovery to a potentially deadly product.

 

Mic drop comment. Anyone who argues with this statement is a fool. 100%

 

I went a totally different route for the front. I installed a Draw-Tite front receiver. Rated for 9000 lbs horizontal and 500 vertical. Bolts to the frame in multiple spots on both sides as well as the crossbeam. Allows me to use it for my snow plow, recovery point and eventually a winch that will allow me to use it on the truck or my Wrangler.

 

Owners manual states the factory tow hook(s) are limited to, "If a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using cables or chains secured to the emergency towing hook(s). This should only be attempted on hard surfaced roads for at most 50 miles (80 km) at under 18 mph (30 km/h)".

So they are for emergency use when no other safe option is available and on hard surfaces at low speeds. Using them to recover a stuck vehicle is asking for trouble.