TOW HOOKS

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,439
Reaction score
28,345
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
One thing to mention with that is it only works if you have the aux battery wired so that it is isolated from the other battery with the ignition off. Some people wire them so they are always connected, which doesn’t give you any protection with the ignition off so both batteries would die regardless of which one had the drain on it.

True, but it takes twice as long to drain a battery, compared to having just one. And more starting power all the time.
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,128
Reaction score
9,299
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
True, but it takes twice as long to drain a battery, compared to having just one. And more starting power all the time.
Correct, but I'd prefer isolated myself. I've seen people leave their headlights on at the airport and be gone for a week. They'd come back to 2 deader than dead batteries. If you isolate the right way, and connect a heavy switch, you can have both worlds I do believe. So if you did kill your start battery, flip that switch, then it'll pull from the good battery kinda like a jumper cable.

I do like that idea of the headlights being on the aux battery though for that reason. Not much else being left on would drain a battery dead in 3-4 days. I don't think a dome light would kill a battery even in 3 days. A weak battery, yes but not a battery in good shape.
 

Curt

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2017
Posts
676
Reaction score
1,141
Location
Loco Hills
First Name
Curt
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K-30
Engine Size
383
True, but it takes twice as long to drain a battery, compared to having just one. And more starting power all the time.

and it’s just cool
 

Dooley

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Posts
377
Reaction score
987
Location
North Coast
First Name
RW
Truck Year
1988
Truck Model
V30
Engine Size
454
Anybody know where I can find (or are willing to sell) genuine GM tow hooks that go on frame beneath front bumper? I don't think they change at all between minor 73-80 and 81-87 differences, but if they do, also indulge me. Thank you

You must be registered for see images attach

Hooks from my 1979 K30.
Same as the ones on my 1977 and 1980 K30.
The last new K30 I bought was an 88 2 dr regular cab 4x4 with the "twisted hooks.
All listed as V76 on the SPID.

You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Correct, but I'd prefer isolated myself. I've seen people leave their headlights on at the airport and be gone for a week. They'd come back to 2 deader than dead batteries. If you isolate the right way, and connect a heavy switch, you can have both worlds I do believe. So if you did kill your start battery, flip that switch, then it'll pull from the good battery kinda like a jumper cable.

I do like that idea of the headlights being on the aux battery though for that reason. Not much else being left on would drain a battery dead in 3-4 days. I don't think a dome light would kill a battery even in 3 days. A weak battery, yes but not a battery in good shape.
with my LED domelight I watched from my house as the domelight was on for 4 days before I finally went off to shut it off and the truck still started LOL
 

Kilian

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2018
Posts
214
Reaction score
37
Location
Wisconsin
First Name
K
Truck Year
1983
Truck Model
C2500 on its way to a K2500
Engine Size
350
Do the hooks from any newer GM trucks fit the 73-80 frame ends? I've seen some that have a straight mounting end but didn't know if the hole spacing would work.
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,439
Reaction score
5,581
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
Do the hooks from any newer GM trucks fit the 73-80 frame ends? I've seen some that have a straight mounting end but didn't know if the hole spacing would work.

They can fit, you just need to drill one new hole through the frame for the top mounting hole.
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
if the hook has a support plate from factory to not stress the frame it might be a good idea to keep that too. not sure if roudned frame horn needs it or not, because its rounded out it might be stronger than the 81+ but hell if i know maybe its thicker steel.

also never underestimate rust - me, who has a rusted pile or many
 

HOTFOOT

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2020
Posts
474
Reaction score
1,041
Location
northwest ct
First Name
michael
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
gmc k3500 srw
Engine Size
400
You must be registered for see images attach
Bolt spacing is a little different 73-80 is 2 3/4” and the 95 ones I have are 2 15/16”
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Words of wisdom from the Queen of compromised, decomposed steel. :sorry:
my car is unibody, literally all of the sheetmetal ofthe car is shifting over time, paneling is making gaps, seams now unsealed, distortion, etc. My roof ditch has several points where its pulling away. The structural rigidity of unibody cars is no fool, my floor pan looks like moldy cheese BUT its still cheese! Like, at most a couple holes through but nothing is fully broke.,

Crazy, also WHOOOOO
 

HOTFOOT

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2020
Posts
474
Reaction score
1,041
Location
northwest ct
First Name
michael
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
gmc k3500 srw
Engine Size
400
You must be registered for see images attach
Thanks
You must be registered for see images attach
Bolt spacing is a little different 73-80 is 2 3/4” and the 95 ones I have are 2 15/16”
Put the 95 hooks on my 80 k3500 backer plates and only a little bit needs to be enlarged maybe an 1/8” to get bolts through plates, 80 has 5/8” bolt and 95 has 12mm and the 95 pull straight forward on bottom of the frame unlike the 80 where it points down and you pull at a 90*!
Will it bolt up YES and they are readily available unlike the older ones
 

Lu Blunt

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2016
Posts
191
Reaction score
131
Location
Rye, CO
First Name
Luke
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
350ci
I have early 90’s gmt400 tow hooks on my 1979 k30. I used the holes that were already there.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,162
Posts
950,636
Members
36,273
Latest member
dannyphx
Top