Tow hook for the street?

csbuceo · 26th May 2012, 12:10 PM

How many of the street builds have installed a tow hook? I see value in this as an option for the my future build.

Chris

Will Campbell · 26th May 2012, 01:37 PM

I'm planning on one. IMO, the only strong place for one on the front (unless you have a rollcage bar running down the front of the car as does the 01 car) is to make a bracket that sits on top of the footbox, and under the bodywork. Built correctly, with just a small hole covered by a body cap (as seen on many German cars, for example) it would be close to unnoticeable. When needed, pry off the cap, then screw in the tow hook.

When not in use, the hook can be stored in the car.

The only potential problem with this approach is that it assumes the hook and cable can be high enough to not drag across the front bodywork. So far, the tow loop on the 01 car, which is at the same height we are contemplating here, has worked just fine, at least at the track.

Alex · 26th May 2012, 01:43 PM

Seems kind of useless to me on the street - any tow truck that used it would probably tear the shit out of the car. Just have a flatbed come from behind it and then grab it and haul it up ... at least that's my plan *shrug*

Tim · 26th May 2012, 02:02 PM

I had one installed like the green race car. Figured I'd definitely want one at some point and it adds a little race flavor to an otherwise mostly street car.

Dave Lindemann · 26th May 2012, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EFNFAST

Seems kind of useless to me on the street - any tow truck that used it would probably tear the shit out of the car. Just have a flatbed come from behind it and then grab it and haul it up ... at least that's my plan *shrug*

One potential issue I see with pulling the SLC up onto a flatbed from the rear is what the incline could do to the front of the car. The Lotus Esprit I had needed to be pulled on from the front for this very reason - even then it was tough to not damage the front air dam.

Dave L

Dave Lindemann · 26th May 2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timtt

I had one installed like the green race car. Figured I'd definitely want one at some point and it adds a little race flavor to an otherwise mostly street car.

Tim -

Do you have any pictures of the installation you could share? Particularly, how it installs on the chassis and any body mods that were required to make it fit.

While I hope my SLC will be much more reliable than my Lotus was it makes sense to be prepared.

Dave L

Tim · 26th May 2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlindemann

Tim -

Do you have any pictures of the installation you could share? Particularly, how it installs on the chassis and any body mods that were required to make it fit.

While I hope my SLC will be much more reliable than my Lotus was it makes sense to be prepared.

Dave L

My car hasn't shipped yet unfortunately, but I'll snap some pics when I have it. Remind me in 2-3 weeks if you don't hear anything.

Wayne · 26th May 2012, 11:28 PM

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> A tow hook like on the 01 car or as Will described is good for being towed (as in off the track or around pits) by a wrecker with a much higher tow mount. I'm not sure how many street flatbeds would have such an extension.

As for for street car being pulled up a flat bed, a tow hook must be at or near the bottom of the front nose. I think Cam came up with what some, called a "contraption" but it has it's merits and could use some tweeking, but is purposeful .

SLC 36 Cam's Build

Check the next post also.

Cam, any updates on your revisions?

The eye bolt doesn't look quite large enough, but I believe it has been used a couple of times.

Some creative thinkers on here can shares some solutions on how to stiffen the front extension pieces. Maybe some strut bars from near the top of footbox down to just behind radiator where the sides bolt to the bottom piece? Pulling a 2400lb car by winch up a flat bed probably won't exert that much force to tear anything up.

Presently, I think the only place to attach a tow chain is to the lower control arm which will put to much upward pressure on splitter until the front tires get up on the ramp.

Howard Jones · 26th May 2012, 11:42 PM

Here. Post #429

SLC 24 Howard Jones

Ben · 26th May 2012, 11:55 PM

How about using towing straps? I seem to remember a post in which the builder had attachment points for heavy duty straps. I think they were from under the car and allowed the tow vehicle to attach to the strap. I can't remember where I saw this? Maybe it was at RCR? Maybe it was on this site?

Edit: Wait...was it on the rear of the 01 race car? I vaguely remember some yellow straps that were zip-tied to the rear frame member. I may be wrong though.

Alex · 27th May 2012, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMM

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> A tow hook like on the 01 car or as Will described is good for being towed (as in off the track or around pits) by a wrecker with a much higher tow mount. I'm not sure how many street flatbeds would have such an extension.

As for for street car being pulled up a flat bed, a tow hook must be at or near the bottom of the front nose. I think Cam came up with what some, called a "contraption" but it has it's merits and could use some tweeking, but is purposeful .

SLC 36 Cam's Build

Check the next post also.

Cam, any updates on your revisions?

The eye bolt doesn't look quite large enough, but I believe it has been used a couple of times.

Some creative thinkers on here can shares some solutions on how to stiffen the front extension pieces. Maybe some strut bars from near the top of footbox down to just behind radiator where the sides bolt to the bottom piece? Pulling a 2400lb car by winch up a flat bed probably won't exert that much force to tear anything up.

Presently, I think the only place to attach a tow chain is to the lower control arm which will put to much upward pressure on splitter until the front tires get up on the ramp.

This seems pretty straight forward to me

- have tow truck try to tow car from the front, high chance of damage (splitter, suspension, etc..)

- have tow truck haul car up backwards, easy as pie - wrap some straps around the rear crossbeam, haul it up onto flat bed. That's how I got it up my driveway (albiet not with a flatbed ... we just wrapped straps around the rear, attached it to another car, then drove it up, then to get into the garage I exchanged the car for a snowblower and had the snow blower haul it into the garage backwards, lol)

JD · 27th May 2012, 10:00 PM

What's a "snow blower"?