Review on 🔧 Rugged Ridge 11236.05 Tow Hook/Frame Bracket Kit for Jeep Cherokee XJ (84-01) - Black: Sturdy and Reliable Off-Roading Equipment by Mod Kindred

When you buy an expensive putative "kit", it's annoying that you have to go to a hardware store to finish the installation. It's important that you buy six M10, 1.5x30, 8.8 bolts and washers as the standard bolts are definitely not long enough, so why isn't this required hardware included...? I also bought four M10 locknuts and washers as I don't think the standard front jam nuts would handle a potentially high load. I also used blue Loctite on everything. The slots in the brackets cut for the included rear ½" screws are too large and therefore rotate on their square shanks.... useless. It looks like the slot was either accidentally cut or was originally intended for large screws and of course the holes in the body are quite large to fit large screws. I also decided to replace these bolts with standard M14 8.8 bolts and locknuts because I wasn't happy with the inadequate hardware supplied. 5/8" bolts can also work as the holes in the body are quite large and that would be even better. The included hook retention springs are not very "springy" and, once bent back to form a tow hook, will not return. back to basics... Poor quality spring steel. I believe a type D hook or just a cast loop would be much stronger and wouldn't need a spring retainer. I would also have preferred the hook mounting plate on the bracket to go down about 1/8 inch more as it would be very tight to reinsert the bumper once the bumper brackets were aligned and the top of the bumper was in the right position. Place. Also, be sure to enlarge the existing small holes in the bumper's plastic ends to allow the hooks to protrude outwards. The description says the brackets are ¼ inch thick sheet steel…. You are not…! My braces measured .204 inches above the color…. so they are probably cut from 5mm sheet or similar which is considerably lighter…. 20% less. The paint seems to chip easily so I am assuming it is unprimed spray paint and not powder coated as described. In summary…. The hook rig seems capable of getting a stuck vehicle out of most muddy and snowy conditions, and would be suitable for on-road towing, but I wouldn't trust them to tow a jeep up a mountainside or to pull sideways. They appear to be a cost-cutting exercise conducted with a sophisticated, robust concept. Installation requires quite a bit of work, particularly to fit the bumper back perfectly, and significant additional hardware costs to get the job done properly.