Load Capacity: Tow Hooks

[jocko]

These two threads have been very interesting to watch develop. There is, of course, no comparison between a fender and a tow hook in the area of safety - it's an apples to Labrador Retriever comparison. And I don't think this is something where someone is sitting around waiting to sue someone else. It's safety, period. On the very rare occasion when one goes to actually use a tow hook - it's always a safety situation. Rather than excitement over a law suit, I think folks just want to have confidence that the hook doesn't snap below design yield strength and decapitate someone with the flying tow strap in the process. Cosmetic hooks (and I realize that is not what you're proposing) are a bad, bad idea - there will always be some shmuck out there that forgets or sells on to an unsuspecting customer, etc and someone will get hurt, so, no, cosmetic hooks should never be condoned. In this case, if one can be designed to GM specs, and, more importantly, tested extensively and PROVEN to be as strong (and this isn't done with 1 pull on the yield strength testing jig), then perhaps there would be a market. By the time all that is funded and performed, the hooks would be thousands of $ apiece, so, not sure this is a profitable business case. Personally, since a tow hook is a HD safety item for many reasons, duplication of a GM design should probably carry a GM seal of approval. That is why the originals are demanding such a high price - rarity/no longer produced (as previously stated), but also TRUST and knowing that the rigor went into GM's design and production process - because I guarantee THEY are concerned about being sued. Otherwise, there are already many aftermarket choices for similar and stronger hooks. If this was meant to be a market study, I think you've probably received pretty valuable feedback. A handful of folks that think this may be a good idea does not mean it is one. That's my 2 cents only. I completely understand the draw to get into this and provide a part that folks are clamoring over, but, for me, I would not buy a ring and pinion made by an individual - and that is less a safety issue than a tow hook. If it fails, you just stop moving, there is no flying debris or flailing tow strap.