Exterior Semi-Tech General discussion of exterior for the Ford Ranger.

How thick does a bracket need to be for...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 08-10-2010
buggman's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (38)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Dougal County
Posts: 1,661
Received 7 Likes on 5 Posts
How thick does a bracket need to be for...

... a set of 10,000lb tow hooks?

I snagged a pair pretty cheap but I ain't got nowhere to mount them up front.

I'm thinking a slab of 3/8" or 1/2" thick steel should be more than enough. Sort of a L shaped bracket. I need to drop down about 3" and forward about 2" so the hooks will just stick out the open area right above those little fog lights or right where those fog lights are in the pic (they've been moved behind the grille since this pic).

Name:  blackgrill2.jpg
Views: 63
Size:  85.7 KB

Looks like I can drill holes in the bracket to bolt on beside the bumper mounts on the frame & use some longer bolts to hold the bracket to the mount & drill 2 holes in the lower area of the bracket for the tow hooks.

One of these days, I'd like to build a cross bar behind the bumper for a hitch, but alas I have no metal and no welder.

I don't want to weld to the frame because of the future hitch mod.

No need for ultra-super heavy duty building here, I'll only use the hooks in case I get stuck in the ice/snow & need a little help getting free.... no pulling the truck out of a 6' deep mud pit or anything crazy like that.
 
  #2  
Old 08-11-2010
t5cents's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Eureka, CA
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
1/4 would be fine....1/2 is HUGE..lol
 
  #3  
Old 08-11-2010
t5cents's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Eureka, CA
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
just do some bracing on ur angles so its not just ripping on the one weld where the 2 pieces meet...
 
  #4  
Old 08-11-2010
steveo1271's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: lexington,sc
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1/2in would be one beefy bracket
 
  #5  
Old 08-11-2010
buggman's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (38)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Dougal County
Posts: 1,661
Received 7 Likes on 5 Posts
Well, I was going to use a flat slab of steel & cut an L shaped bracket out of it... no welding. I thought it wouldn't hurt if it was a little thicker than normal in case of side loads.
 
  #6  
Old 08-11-2010
buggman's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (38)
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Dougal County
Posts: 1,661
Received 7 Likes on 5 Posts
Hey, I just noticed that my last post was #500 for me...

Wheeeeeeeeee!









 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
buggman
OLD - Interior, Exterior, Electrical, & Misc.
2
02-27-2011 04:39 PM
victory80
OLD - Engine & Drivetrain
2
03-07-2010 03:49 PM
The_Dealer
Suspension Tech
7
10-31-2007 06:14 PM
red_fx2
General Technical & Electrical
0
12-04-2006 02:54 PM
budwish
Fabrication & Tool Tech
10
05-16-2006 03:13 PM



Quick Reply: How thick does a bracket need to be for...



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:32 AM.