My 01.5 didn't have them on either. I found a set at a salvage yard with the brackets for 100 bucks. Not a good thing to have a 4x4 in the Saskatchewan without tow hooks

 

My 01.5 did not have them either. They were available according to the parts breakdown I have. I found a set on a 1500 sport model at the salvage yard for less than Diesel Demon paid. The air dam has an outline where the tow hook holes would be. I just cut them out and installed the hooks.

 

2000 up it wasnt an option, the hooks wont fit on the sport model cause of the bumper.

 

My truck did not come with them either , I stop by a junk yard a a regular basis , one day I saw a 99 , got a bunch of things at the same time , they charged me $15 , these were factory , I took them off , got all the hardware , the holes were there , and just bolted up , backing plate and all .
Then took a trim tool [ small router ] and just cut a hole for them to pass through .
One of the few times I got to have my cake , and eat it too !

 

My donor truck was definitely a 1500, pretty banged up so it may not have been a sport model. Mine was exactly as John describes.

 

Would one of you guys that have the hooks installed post a pic of how the hardware and hooks go to the frame, I'd like to see what I'm looking for, or just fab some myself, but a pic would be nice if possible.
Thanks

 

just go to a farm store, get a chain end hook, disconnect batteries and weld to the bottom of the front of the frame, I've always done that on trucks without tow hooks, can make my own for about $4 and 15 minutes

 

I'll get some up .
Just welding to the frame is not good , if you have to take off for some reason , and the frame is weak for pulling the weight of the truck , the hooks need some reinforcement .

 

Especially since the rating on the Mopar Parts front hooks is low.
If I remember right it's 5,000 lbs. Guess you are ok if you use both all the time.
Have seen threads where members reported bending the hooks!

RJ

 

I just put on a Curt front mount hitch. You can use the safety chain loops for light duty stuff or use a 2" receiver hook if you're serious. Plus you can back the boat in forward (but not like this guy)....



P.S. That IS a Ford so it explains everything....

 

I put a front mounted hitch on mine a while back as well. I can't believe these trucks came with no hooks whatsoever on the front.

A while back, I ended up in a ditch one afternoon heading out of a soggy sod farm with a fairly substantial load. Some hooks on the front sure would have come in handy when we were yanking it out with a forklift and a skidsteer. Had to wrap chains around the frame in the front. I'm still amazed I got out of that situation with hardly even a scratch, I was sure the truck was going to roll over.

 

If it quits raining I'll try to get some pics. I saw some hooks on a Chevy at the junk yard and the hook part looks very close to the Dodge ones. Did not look at the bracket though.

 

Was he planning on fishing with the truck and driving the boat home?

 

Ill probably be able to get you a pic sometime this weekend.

 

I have them on both my trucks. It looks like they stiffen the frame a good bit.