Front Towing Hookup With Removable Tow Hooks
Notice: Towing the truck from the front and removing all of the drivelines is the approved method for towing DTNA products. Towing any other way is not preferred.
Danger: When working on the vehicle, shut down the engine, set the parking brake, and chock the tires. Before working under the vehicle, always place jack stands under the frame rails to ensure the vehicle can not drop. Failure to follow these steps could result in serious personal injury or death.
Warning: Do not tow an unbraked vehicle if the combined weight of both vehicles is more than the sum of the gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) of the towing vehicle. Otherwise brake capacity will be inadequate, which could result in personal injury or death.
Use of Tow Hooks
Tow hooks are not designed for on-road towing of the vehicle, but to recover and move the vehicle to a position where it can be hooked up properly for front towing.
Notice: When using tow hooks to move the vehicle, do not pass a sling (for example, a rope or chain) from one hook to another. Known as reeving, this practice isnotpermissible in most industrial applications of towing and hoisting. Reeving can overload the hooks and result in damage to the vehicle. See Fig. .
Important: Do not reeve when towing.
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Tow Hook
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Chain
Fig. 1, Reeving
- Disconnect the battery ground cables.
- On dual drive axles, if the vehicle is to be lifted and towed, chain the forward rear-axle assembly to the vehicle frame. Use protection to keep the chains from damaging the frame.
- Open the hood. Remove the tow hooks, located behind the driver's-side bumper. See Fig.. Close and latch the hood.
- Install the tow hooks onto the tow hook receivers through
the tow hook holes in the bumper, rotating the hooks so the hook opening
faces down. See Fig.. Pull the tow hooks to ensure they are securely engaged in the tow
hook receivers.
Fig. 2, Tow Hooks
Fig. 3, Tow Hooks Installed, Facing Down
- Lower the stinger assembly so that it is level and approximately
1 inch (0.3 cm) off the ground. Back the tow truck so that the crossbar
with lift adaptors is within 6 inches (15 cm) of the Aero bumper.
See Fig..
Fig. 4, Positioning the Stinger Assembly
- Pull the tow cables out of the tow truck and connect the tow cable lifting hooks onto the tow hooks, then extend the recovery boom within 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) of being vertical of the tow hooks. See Fig..
- Lift the front of the truck until there is enough clearance
for the stinger and crossbar to pass under the bumper. See Fig..
Fig. 5, Tow Cables Connected to the Tow Hooks
Fig. 6, Moving the Stinger and Crossbar Under the Bumper
If enough clearance cannot be gained with a single lift, jack stands or other means capable of supporting the weight on the front axle must be used while the cables are shortened to allow a second lift. - Chock the rear tires.
- Use mid-rise or high-rise forks, or lift adaptors (part
number 0200020) on the crossbar to provide clearance for the aerodynamic
bumper. See Fig. and Fig..
Fig. 7, Lift Adaptors Installed on the Crossbar
Fig. 8, Backing the Tow Truck with Lift Adaptors on the Crossbar
- Extend the stinger and place the lift adaptors under the
axle. Make certain the lift adaptors are under the front suspension
springs between the U-bolts. See Fig. and Fig..
Fig. 9, Positioning the Stinger with Lift Adaptors Under the Axle
Fig. 10, Stinger with Lift Adaptors Under the Axle (tow truck shown)
- Secure the axle to the crossbar with a chain or ratchet strap.
- Use a paint pen to mark the drivelines in as built condition, and then remove the driveline, the interaxle driveline (if equipped), for each axle that may touch the ground during the towing process. Store the drivelines and U-joints in a secure location so they will not come off during transport.
- Remove the tow cables from the tow hooks and retract the
recovery boom. See Fig..
Fig. 11, Retracting the Recovery Boom
- Remove the tow hooks from the bumper.
- Connect the air and electrical supply lines from the tow truck to the truck being towed.
- Connect the clearance lights, taillights, and signal lights. Connect any special towing lights required by local regulations.
- Release the park brake and remove the chocks from the rear tires.
- Use the stinger to pull the truck close to the back of
the tow truck for final towing position. See Fig..
Fig. 12, Final Towing Position
- Connect the safety chains. See Fig..
Fig. 13, Safety Chains Connected on the Towed Vehicle
Notice: Failure to protect the frame rails from the chains could cause damage, leading to eventual frame failure.
Notice: New or ungreased tow hooks may be hard to install. Tow hooks that are not properly installed may be damaged or break.
Notice: When using tow hooks to move the vehicle, do not pass a sling (for example, a rope or chain) from one hook to another. Known as reeving, this practice isnotpermissible in most industrial applications of towing and hoisting. Reeving can overload the hooks and result in damage to the vehicle.
Warning: Failure to chock the tires or connect the tow truck's air brake system before releasing the spring parking brakes could allow the disabled vehicle to suddenly roll. This could cause property damage or personal injury.
Notice: Reference the applicable axle manufacturer's information to avoid damaging the axle when towing the truck.
Notice: Failure to remove the driveline(s) or the drive axle shafts when towing the vehicle with the rear wheels on the ground could result in damage to the transmission and other parts.
Important: On trucks equipped with a front air suspension, either air pressure must be supplied to the secondary air system or the front suspension must be blocked to operating height with wooden spacers and the axle chained to the frame to prevent damage to the truck.