---- Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> The single loop on the front of my Westy is sheet metal and looks puny.
>
> The two rear loops are considerably sturdier, appearing to be made out
> of something like 5/8'' steel rod stock, bent in a U, then bent again to
> swing up where each is welded to a bumper mount.

Thanks.  That describes my loops, also.  I guessed a little smaller diameter than you did, but I am less experienced with all things mechanical.  mcneely

>
> -- RJS
>
> On Wed, 2011-05-25 at 09:27 -0700, Roland wrote:
>
> > I'm with David on this one, the rear "tow hooks" are not very sturdy.  They
> > sure look more like tie downs, same with the front "tow hook", just a piece
> > of flimsy sheet metal to my eye.
> >
> > My Syncro came with one rear loop already bent upwards.  Then last year we
> > had a recovery job, and the driver of the recovery vehicle attached a strap
> > to the other rear hook and promptly bent the other "tow hook" upwards.  Now
> > I have a rear fiberglass bumper that is also misaligned, the rear part is
> > upwards and the 2 forward prongs on each side are pointing downwards.  It
> > looks dumb, and the license plate access doesn't open as far anymore.  Oh
> > well... one more interesting thing to fix.
> >
> > Longer story:  son gets his 4Runner stuck in a creek, all 4 wheels buried.
> > Son-in-law borrows Syncro to go get him out (I'm busy with work).  Syncro
> > gets stuck in creek, as darkness approaches.  Lemmings.  I tell son he has
> > to spend the night there to protect vehicles.  Next day we get nephew with
> > his F-150, with 2-3 year offroad experience in Flagstaff and other places,
> > plenty of straps, winch, etc.    What bent the "tow hook" was the nephew
> > used a jerking technique, with a bit of slack in the strap he quickly pulled
> > his F-150 backwards to "jerk" the Syncro out -- I had never heard of this
> > before, he didn't tell me, and it was too late to stop his attempted
> > technique.  It didn't work anyway.  Then we got his winch out and, with some
> > digging, got both of the vehicles out.  And I had rear drum brakes full of
> > creek sand, bent up bumper and tow hooks, and out some $ because nephew is
> > broke college student.  There is a fine line between fun and adventure.
> >
> > So, no, I won't trust those rear "tow hooks" again, and when I get a rear
> > hitch, it definitely is not the gowesty version that bolts to these 2 hooks.
> >
> > We need to get Rocket a Syncro!
> >
> > Roland
> >
> >
> >
> > On Tue, May 24, 2011 at 6:10 PM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:
> >
> > > At 07:56 PM 5/24/2011, Dave Mcneely wrote:
> > >
> > >> Mr. Squirrel, my '91 camper has tow loops on the front, as well.
> > >>
> > >
> > > Does yours have two?  I've only ever seen one on the front, on the right
> > > side.
> > >
> > > Just to be picky, neither the one(s) in the front nor the back are
> > > "tow loops."  They are "holdfast points" by means of which the
> > > vehicles are lashed down to the deck during their ocean passage from
> > > builder to point of sale, and they're meant to take a strain pointed
> > > maybe 30-45 degrees downward.  What you do with them afterwards is
> > > entirely up to you.
> > >
> > > In particular I'd be inclined to be very cautious about applying side
> > > loads, especially to the forward one.  I don't have any hard data on
> > > this, just a feeling.
> > >
> > > Yours,
> > > David
> > >

--
David McNeely