NO_PSTNS

What style of tow hook is the most compatable/best for the RX8?

speedracer2169

the third one but tow hook are rice IMO

xexok

Not only is it pretty stupid, it isn't even functional. Most of them are made out of aluminum and if you actually needed to use the tow hook you would have to remove it and put in the OEM one or another that is strong enough.

speedracer2169

That too my buddy is a tow truck driver and I was riding along with him one day and saw one on a civic and they guy was like use the tow hook and my friend was like that's not solid but the guy kept insisting blah blah blah so when he hooked it up pulled from it it snapped. Good thing someone was in the car to stop it or else it would have been wrecked on the street lol

ken-x8

Isn't the OEM one just a tie-down, and not really for towing?

Ken

rickeo

iTrader: (1)

Ugh, such a ricer mod. Please don't put one of those on.

If on the off chance you DO spend a lot of time at the track, your car came with one in the trunk. Just use that.

godesshunter

The oem one that screws into the bumper is for the tow truck to hook the winch too. The "tie downs" are under the chassis.

ASH8

Um, No M8..

Ken was correct on that one, the tie down hooks are for tie down when on ship.

One left front and one under right rear Bumpers (under little blind covers).

Mazda does not recommend for long distance towing with their solid threaded screw in hooks...but OK for short hauls/winching.

I have a you-tube vid somewhere showing the tie downs..

Edit....look @ 1:38

godesshunter

True, If you follow the rules listed in the owners manual. So in theory, If you are not having the car shipped overseas in a perpose build car hauler, there should never be a need to use them again. However there's a detailed explanation in the book oh how to use them and they are included in the trunk with the jack tools.

Mean while back in the real world...

If you ever get a car like ours towed (low bumper clearance) you'll notice the first thing the tow truck operator goes for is the "tie-down" hook from the trunk to hook his winch to. From there, once on the flat bed, he will either use a "T hook" on the opposite end of the of the chassis to anchor and secure with winch tension on the threaded in bumper "tie-down" or install wheel straps.

Whether its Mazda's designed intention or not, its reality.

I'm certainly not saying its to strap up your brothers old pickup to it and flat tow it across town. That's just a bad idea no matter where you hook it.

NO_PSTNS

Well unfortunately, fellas the series that I race my rx8 in will require this "ricer mod" for next season...

NO_PSTNS

This wasn’t a "what’s your opinion on tow hooks" thread in the discussion section, this was a What style of tow hook is the most compatible in the Tech section btw.

ASH8

Front OEM (Steel) Original goes through the Bumper Reo next to left Chassis Rail via a threaded/welded in NUT.

Those orange "strap" like Hooks I think are drilled into the side of Chassis Rail(S), or strong panel, hence the 2 bolt and nuts supplied in pic.

AFAIC See the threaded black and silver hook would use the OE location and OE welded on nut.

I think I would go with what the majority of track guys or racers use.

Personally the OEM looks the strongest, BUT, I think it sticks out a lot further than others?

Take your pick..

NO_PSTNS

I found some steel ones from good win racing!

NO_PSTNS

I really want to see/know how they are installed. I do not like the idea of drilling into the frame.

I was hoping it was more of the case of undoing already placed bolts and just adding the tow hooks in place with longer supplied bolts.


But if the threaded ones bolt into factory placed nuts might aswell go with them. They just don’t look as strong, specially if your being pulled out of the sandbox lol.

Flashwing

I've used the 3rd option as they were the best looking tow hooks for racing purposes since I just kept them on the front and rear of the car on the street.

I can tell you that the 3rd option tow hooks are not all that beefy. A pull start was required after my engine installation and when the tow car made a sharp turn which required the strap to angle at an extreme position, the hook snapped right off the car. I then used the OEM tow hook which worked GREAT. Pretty ugly but it got the job done without any issues.

To be honest, if you get an aftermarket tow hook be sure to keep your OEM ones handy in case you get REALLY stuck and break one.

bose

iTrader: (5)

I've seen a lot of local track guys use big *** nylon straps, not pretty but works.

Arca_ex

iTrader: (10)

Why don't you just paint the stock tow hooks red and install them? That's what I did... They work the best. All those tow hooks you've listed so far ARE NOT FUNCTIONAL. If you try to use them to pull the car out of a gravel trap on the track they'll snap.

All the tow hooks I've seen you posting so far are just ricer tow hooks for show only.

NO_PSTNS

Well that’s why I came here to ask the freaking questions!
You think if I knew which was witch and what was best I would have made this thread???

ken-x8

Who would ever do a thing like that? Certainly not any of us.

Ken

EricB

iTrader: (7)

+1 thats what i did incase i get stuck in the snow...

i made it look pretty so i just leave it hooked in all the time.

Just make sure to clearcoat it a bunch of times! I used colorshift blue/purple spray paint from rustoleum and 4-5 coats of clear. ricermod ftw. It has come in handy a few times when i needed to pull the car up the driveway.

j9fd3s

please use a nylon strap! we got hit by someone with a screw in tow hook at the last race and it acted like a can opener, almost hit the drivers legs!