How would a tow truck do it?

More to the point — do I really need tow hooks for a tow truck to get my truck loaded without damaging it?

I’m looking under the front of the truck, wondering if they can wrap around something without bending a part. I have a trip coming up to go west to Ridgway State Park. Before shelling out more cash, I’m curious if this is really needed. I’m not wheeling. Tow trucks usually have the chains with all the attachments. I don’t want to add things to my truck if not needed, so wanted some perspective on this. It’s a serious question, I want to protect my investment, but obviously I don’t mind non serious answers. I have my blue flame special meme ready in advance.

 

I’ve got 2 Tundras. A combined 21 years of ownership. Neither has ever seen a tow truck. I 100% would not worry about having tow truck equipment on my truck. They will bring what they need if you should ever need one.

 

And I’ll add, if a tow truck showed up, and they don’t have what they need, or don’t know where to hook up to your truck, send them away. I mean, they have one job!!

 

I have seen A LOT of vehicles hooked up to a wrecker in my public safety career. I can't think of one off the top of my head where they have used factory or after market tow hooks or tow points. I'm sure it happens but they almost always use the access points/holes in the frame to pull from and secure down to the flatbed.

 

Tow trucks aside, what about remote recovery?

Snatch strap around the front frame crossmember? How would that not destroy the low-hanging front bumper cover and/or the air dam? Keep tools with you to remove those first?

The rear tow hitch receiver or rear axle is probably the best bet, but maybe not always available as a recovery option on forest service or shelf roads.

 

Thank you for the ideas/advice! I will be towing the camper and I have a list of things to do, I’m going to cross this off the list. I might run 6 gauge wire for my DC/DC charger. I think that’s really the last thing I’m going to do to the truck.

 

If your into “remote” then you likely would be upgrading the truck. I would include new front bumper / tow points into that. I have tow hooks on both of my older gen Tundras. Neither have ever been used for anything. Nice to have just in case, but literally never.

 

Yeah, that would be a necessary $2k upgrade.

Mine has 'em, too. They're pointless till you need them. And I've come very close to needing them a few times.

 

I think we will be doing some places that are off pavement, but not difficult access. I have places that I know, and I scope out places to make sure that they are doable with the RV, getting in and back out. I’m with you though that they might be needed otherwise.

 

You won't need recovery points till you need them.

Its like the time I was out wheeling with my buddy late at night (of course by our selves in one rig) who had a jeep wrangler (typical jeep owner went for wheels and lift) and he didn't invest in lockers or a winch then we got stuck and he buried it to the rear bumper and snapped a front u-joint trying to use the skinny pedal to get unstuck. We were stuck in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night and man if he had just spent $300.00 on a winch we wouldn't have had to walk 6 miles out in the snow/rain and spend the next 24 hours getting his now 2 wheel drive rig unstuck in the middle of a snow storm. My stock TRD Tacoma was able to get in to where we got stuck and repeatedly slam the jeep with a snatch strap till it came out of the hole he buried it in.

Wouldn't worry about the tow truck..... they deal with all sorts of cars that have zero recovery points and will have the know how and equipment to do what they need to......... but when you need a recovery point they sure are handy (who knows maybe it will be that jeep that has a winch that gets you unstuck from your recovery point and saves you a retched 24 hours too)

Thats my 2 cents.

 

Using long wide straps to choke around the circumference of drive tires works well. Simply spool the strap around the tire circumference to create a pulling force at ground level. No winches, no tow hooks, no nonsense, just an easy recovery with fairly light and compact equipment.