I have two spare tow hooks that I want to mount to my class 3 receiver. I am wondering if I will compromise the strength of the receiver if I Drill & Bolt them through the upright side rails of the receiver that run Parallel to the frame rails. (The receiver is not OEM, it looks like the previous owner got it from U-Haul, I have not looked to see how well it is attached yet.)
I was hoping the side mounting will work because my other option is mounting them under the receiver’s cross member and I would rather not have to build up a weld with my Mig while standing on my head so close to the gas tank…
Your thoughts, good or bad idea?
Thanks in advance,
Jay

I'm no help to you, but will be curious to see what kind of answers you get as I was thinking along these same lines. Or possibly going to a receiver type D ring thing. Have to wonder if it could stand up to a hard side pull though. Still better than what's on there now.........nothing.

I've got the same thing right now but with a tow hook. Tired of haveing to keep it stowed in the Jeep somewhere... Looking at the Unibody/frame, I don't think there is an easy cure for withstanding a truely hard side pull. That's OK, I just want something to stand up to above average pulls out of snow banks, light off-roading.

I have a lot of welding and fabrication to do on my other truck this winter and plan on building some mounts for D-rings if I can find/afford a set of rings with the removeable pin like the one in your picture...

I have one of those. But I haven't had a chance to use it yet.

I would think if you have a mig, While the hitch is on the truck mark where you want your hooks, then take the hitch off the truck, weld up your hooks, wire wheel everything, then paint the whole thing with a shaker bomb. I'm sure you'd be happy with the results - just a little more work, but prob. worth it.