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Tow Hook Location

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Joeywhat

· Strichmädchen & Koks
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
1) Do the US 2012 Foci have locations for tow hooks (from what I've read NO...)

2) If not, what would be involved in adding one (removable preferred) that's sturdy and not some piece of crap that will break?

I spend a fair amount of time in muddy areas, and sometimes everything looks good until you're up to the doors in mud...last time this happened (in a different car) I spent a good 30 minutes on my back in a mud pit digging out enough of my car to find a suitable place to hook a tow strap. Would rather not experience that again...

So what options are there? I would GREATLY prefer a removable option as I think they look pretentious on a car that isn't raced.
 
#2 ·
Joeywhat said:
1) Do the US 2012 Foci have locations for tow hooks (from what I've read NO...)

2) If not, what would be involved in adding one (removable preferred) that's sturdy and not some piece of crap that will break?

I spend a fair amount of time in muddy areas, and sometimes everything looks good until you're up to the doors in mud...last time this happened (in a different car) I spent a good 30 minutes on my back in a mud pit digging out enough of my car to find a suitable place to hook a tow strap. Would rather not experience that again...

So what options are there? I would GREATLY prefer a removable option as I think they look pretentious on a car that isn't raced.
Click to expand...
The north american models do not...but if you see the posts with pics from a member in Aus, you will see a little pop out panel up near the headlight that you screw a hook into, much like many european cars. Ive watched to see how folks made out over the winter ...stuck in snow drifts and in ditches etc...but saw no posts....it will be an expensive thing to pull one of these out of the ditch, plastic bits will be everywhere...I for one live in a serious winter climate and sooner or later, the odds catch up with you especially in one of these low ground clearance non 4 wheel drive cars.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Hopefully I can at least find out where one can be suitably attached. I have the means to have some custom stuff made, but I would need to know where to mount it to for best results.
 
#4 ·
Vernl said:
The north american models do not...but if you see the posts with pics from a member in Aus, you will see a little pop out panel up near the headlight that you screw a hook into, much like many european cars. Ive watched to see how folks made out over the winter ...stuck in snow drifts and in ditches etc...but saw no posts....it will be an expensive thing to pull one of these out of the ditch, plastic bits will be everywhere...I for one live in a serious winter climate and sooner or later, the odds catch up with you especially in one of these low ground clearance non 4 wheel drive cars.
Click to expand...
Seems to me, that if a person could source a pop-out panel, then the bumper cover could be cut to the exact contour to fit the pop-out panel. Then, with this complete, a nut could be welded onto the bumper structure right at the location of the pop-out panel. Would, of course, require removal of the bumper cover, in its entirety, to allow the nut to be welded-on...

One worry, though, is that any electric arc welding performed on the car -- could fry any and all logic modules aboard the vehicle. Better to be able to either make a bolt-on arrangement, or to remove the substructure, take it off the car, to have the welding done.

Lots of work! :(
 
#9 ·
Joeywhat said:
1) Do the US 2012 Foci have locations for tow hooks (from what I've read NO...)

2) If not, what would be involved in adding one (removable preferred) that's sturdy and not some piece of crap that will break?

I spend a fair amount of time in muddy areas, and sometimes everything looks good until you're up to the doors in mud...last time this happened (in a different car) I spent a good 30 minutes on my back in a mud pit digging out enough of my car to find a suitable place to hook a tow strap. Would rather not experience that again...

So what options are there? I would GREATLY prefer a removable option as I think they look pretentious on a car that isn't raced.
Click to expand...
If you're burying a ford focus up to the doors in the mud, you might want to look into a Jeep or something ...

With that said - I would look into a small receiver for the back. You should be able to use a hitchpin and tow strap. The front ... eh not sure there.
 
#11 ·
This is one thing I just overlooked when I bought the car. As a previous poster stated, I know in the winter climate eventually not having a tow hook will catch up with me.
 
#12 ·
BlueIce said:
This is one thing I just overlooked when I bought the car. As a previous poster stated, I know in the winter climate eventually not having a tow hook will catch up with me.
Click to expand...
A good set of snow tires plus reasonable, conservative driving and you'll be fine! I've gone 4 years in a front driver with good snow tires and never had a problem. Last two winters I had a 4x4 and the Focus - the 4x4 sat in the driveway. These front drive cars with snow tires are pretty much unstoppable.

My issue isn't so much the lack of tow hooks, but the issue of ... nothing solid to attach a tow hook to!
 
#13 ·
ross smith said:
This is a photo of my Aussie Focus you can see the pop out piece in the front bumper for the tow hook which is located with the spare tyre.
Image
Click to expand...
With reference to the photo, can you please indicate whether, when you pull off the panel, the bumper cover is simply cut, or whether there is a bead, on the backside of the cutout, "rimming" the cutout? Also, does the pull-off panel also include a part of the grill, or does it end just as the black grill begins?

TIA

Eurofordfan
 
#14 ·
Eurofordfan said:
With reference to the photo, can you please indicate whether, when you pull off the panel, the bumper cover is simply cut, or whether there is a bead, on the backside of the cutout, "rimming" the cutout? Also, does the pull-off panel also include a part of the grill, or does it end just as the black grill begins?

TIA

Eurofordfan
Click to expand...
Just took a photo it should show it clearly also included one of the towing piont on the back of the Focus
Image
Image
 
#17 ·
noahsfocus said:
Front and back tow hooks ... nice, makes so much sense! So why don't we (US) have them Ford?

I'm sure someone has needed a tow out of ditch by now and found this to be a real inconvienence.
Click to expand...
My guess would be that we don't have them because they're not government/DOT mandated.
 
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#18 ·
Vernl said:
The north american models do not...but if you see the posts with pics from a member in Aus, you will see a little pop out panel up near the headlight that you screw a hook into, much like many european cars. Ive watched to see how folks made out over the winter ...stuck in snow drifts and in ditches etc...but saw no posts....it will be an expensive thing to pull one of these out of the ditch, plastic bits will be everywhere...I for one live in a serious winter climate and sooner or later, the odds catch up with you especially in one of these low ground clearance non 4 wheel drive cars.
Click to expand...
Yes, a tow hook screw-in point would have been an intelligent add-on for the winter option package. Didn't think to look for one, before I purchased my Focus.
 
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