My Tow Hook Rant

[*MAD DOG*]

I thought i'd wait until they had 15 people in the group buy before doing this, they have 14 and are very close. I respect that people want there rides to be different then other people. Hell, everyone on this forum has car pride and loves there Yaris be it a sedan or hatch.

But, i really see no point in a tow hook, apart for towing. Let alone paying money for a custom one. To me, it does not look sexy or sporty to have a tow hook in the front of your car. We all drive a Toyota, the maker of the most reliable cars in the world. When would we ever need to have you little Yaris towed?

It's probably never going to break down. To me, having a tow hook on the front of a Yaris makes it look like it needs to be there because the car must break down all the time.

When in reality, a Yaris would be very unlikely to break down. Having a tow hook on the front of your Yaris makes your car look cheap, inferior and riddled with so many problems that you need to leave a tow hook in the front to have it towed to the garage everyday.

This is my opinion. I'm sure there are others that feel the same way I do. However before I get a barrage of abuse in reply, I do accept that it's your car and you can do what ever you want to it.

What do you think about my comments?

[mikenacarato]

well i wont have this tow hook in 24/7. i do plan on tracking this car just like my other past cars and i just want a cool custom tow hook to use for that purpose. when im driving it to work or around town the tow hook will be in the glovebox or trunk or wherever it may be.

thats my $.02 :)

[rg570lvr]

I agree, it kind of looks like it is often needed, like you're just beggin for people to clown your car, IMO. Sorry not trying to piss any body off. Hope I didn't.

[*MAD DOG*]

well i wont have this tow hook in 24/7. i do plan on tracking this car just like my other past cars and i just want a cool custom tow hook to use for that purpose. when im driving it to work or around town the tow hook will be in the glovebox or trunk or wherever it may be.

thats my $.02 :)

I agree, it kind of looks like it is often needed, like you're just beggin for people to clown your car, IMO. Sorry not trying to piss any body off. Hope I didn't.


I would like to thank you both for not taking it as a personal attack. I know mike is one of the people in the group buy.

[mikenacarato]

well everyone is entitled to their own opinion. i dont want it out there every day either but trackwise it would serve a purpose for me and if i do ever break down im gettin hooked up in style fo sho! :)

[TEHxFALLEN V1.2]

My tow hook cover actually covers what is really a candy dispenser.

[TEHxFALLEN V1.2]

No!

Skittles!!

[TEHxFALLEN V1.2]

Sorry to thread jack, just wanted to lighten the mood incase we had some people who take this up the butt lol.. He's just voicing his opinion people!

[Shroomster]

well everyone is entitled to their own opinion. i dont want it out there every day either but trackwise it would serve a purpose for me and if i do ever break down im gettin hooked up in style fo sho! :)

what purpose does it serve at the track?

[rg570lvr]

I'm sorry if I pissed anyone off.

[eTiMaGo]

well everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Absolutely... I have mine on 24/7 and while I agree it is actually totally useless, it just goes with the visual theme I am trying to achieve with the car. I'm not kidding myself or anyone, as much as I want to race this car it has never stepped tire on an actual track :laugh:

what purpose does it serve at the track?

well, to tow you off the track in case you have an accident/breakdown :biggrin:

[Shroomster]

Absolutely... I have mine on 24/7 and while I agree it is actually totally useless, it just goes with the visual theme I am trying to achieve with the car. I'm not kidding myself or anyone, as much as I want to race this car it has never stepped tire on an actual track :laugh:



well, to tow you off the track in case you have an accident/breakdown :biggrin:

bah ask and I shall receive....I need to go to sleep I can't believe I asked what purpose a tow hook serves.....hehe thanks anyways Thomas....:laugh:

[LtNoogie]

I understand your point Thomas. I autocross my car and may need it to be towed off the track and out of everyone's way. It would only be used for the short tow by someone's truck. I may only put the tow hook on for track days since there are alot of other race mods on other people's cars that look cool.

Until I have any operational time, I am worried that the new "Miss Daisy" may blow up on me. For that, I have the Auto Club to tow me correctly all the way home.

[kustom play]

i never really thought showing off your tow hook was cool

you have a stock tow point for the track and if you track your car your last thoughts would be to need a tow off

to be honest if i seen you installing a tow hook at the track i would think you were a noob and keep my distance

its like how i feel about those damn JDM new driver badges

i just want to go ask the person if they are new to driving

but if tow hooks are your thing then cool

I find it hard to tell people what i really think about their cars, people get too bent out of shape. Its like somebody's opinion is the final word and if i dont approve then you have to make me some how approve

[mikenacarato]

well in certain cases kustom you are required to have a tow hook on the vehicle when you go to a track. some places require them, some dont. nasa requires a tow hook for all of their events and in some classes a battery kill and fire extinguisher must be installed as well. even some scca track days require them if not all track days. the rules are getting tighter and tighter about them as well and the last 2 tracks i went to required them to be installed on the vehicle prior to entering the track.

[LtNoogie]

mikenacarato, I never knew that. Thanks.

I suppose that they have to be functional tow hooks and not just ornamental. I was worried about the hinged ones when Garm said that they may not work for real towing.

At my last autocross, one guy blew something in his engine and spewed oil all over the track. He did not get a tow, his support vehicle drove out and they pushed his car into the trailer.

[eTiMaGo]

I find it hard to tell people what i really think about their cars, people get too bent out of shape. Its like somebody's opinion is the final word and if i dont approve then you have to make me some how approve

Well I guess we'd need a psychology degree to understand this but to a lot of guys, their car is like an extension of their personalities, it is, like the clothes you wear or your haircut, the impression that you want to give on other people so they can make up their mind about you. So, in a way, if you insult their car, you are insulting them, so they'll take it personally, I guess!! :iono: I know I can be like that sometimes :wink:

[mikenacarato]

ya different strokes for different folks ;)

[LtNoogie]

it is, like the clothes you wear or your haircut, the impression that you want to give on other people so they can make up their mind about you.

The impression I want to give is "Mister, can you tow me home?":tongue:

[mastaofdisasta]

i want one of the nst ones, because if i hit someone just right, i may be able to poke a hole into someones lowered hinda civic bumper, and keep my car undamaged...still workin the physiscs out....

[SIPNGAS]

I like that other tow hook Garm sells a little better than the new one, but that's just an opinion. I see them as just another accessory, something to make your car look a little better. Normal drivers would probably never need to actually USE it...

I want to get one, sooner or later, but it's at the bottom of my "mods" wish list.

It IS all opinioin, though.....and since it is a mod you can take it or leave it depending upon personal taste.

[lita_g]

Before getting the yaris or joining this board I had never seen or heard of a tow hook before. I think they look interesting on the pics I've seen around here, although it's not something I would put on my car unless needed, but I like the stock look anyway.

[WeeYari]

I think for most, myself included, it is a relatively inexpensive, easy cosmetic modification to further differentiate your Yaris from any other. The folding ones are almost like a piece of jewelry for the car, much like we would wear an earring, nosering or stud. Although not functionally trustworthy, the folding hook has really grown on me from this 'fashion accessory' point of view.

[NonStopTuning]

well in certain cases kustom you are required to have a tow hook on the vehicle when you go to a track. some places require them, some dont. nasa requires a tow hook for all of their events and in some classes a battery kill and fire extinguisher must be installed as well. even some scca track days require them if not all track days. the rules are getting tighter and tighter about them as well and the last 2 tracks i went to required them to be installed on the vehicle prior to entering the track.


NASA, SCCA, Formula Drift, Pro-AM Drift, NOPI Drift, etc etc require use of a TOW HOOK in their rule books, especially if you are attending a national event.

While many use these cars as daily driven means of transportation, we realize that SOME do use these cars on track, and thus build certain items for these owners.

Having said all of that... everything has its own time and place, and everyone is entitled to their own views and opinions (even if and when wrong.) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Good luck and have fun with all your projects everyone.


:burnrubber:

[Tiddlygoose]

The first time I ever saw a tow hook, was during the year that I owned my MINI. I am very glad that I had one. It got towed twice. After the first towing I got a second, factory one, at the dealer as MINI's have tow hook ports both front and rear. The first time the tow guy came, he hooked "j" hooks to my rear suspension and then proceeded to bend the crap out of it on the 60+ mile journey to the dealer. :mad:

I've seen a bunch of MINI's with the aftermarket tow hooks installed 24/7 and if that's their or your thing, then so be it. But then I'm a guy that doesn't believe in guys wearing earings too, so.....

[*MAD DOG*]

I totally understand that for a track day people need tow hooks in case they crash or break down and need a tow. But, for the life of me can't understand why anyone would leave a tow hook on 24/7.

[jclo3313]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
:burnrubber: Or in my case the Beer holder.:biggrin:
Just not for me, but if thats your thing go for it.

[bobselectric]

I thought that the port on the front bumper was for the 50 caliber machine gun!!! Now I'm gonna have to take it out.