'19 & '20 GT350 Tow Hook Revisited

[19GT350]

Hi All,

For any '19 or '20 GT350 owners that have found their cars to have the newer front crash bar with the tow hook receiver welded to it, have any of you created an opening in the bumper cover and used this receiver for a tow hook (e.g. GT500, Mach 1, etc.)? If so, can you please post some pictures and explain how you went about locating the correct location for the opening?

Thank you,
Don

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[Bitten in '69]

Doing a front tow hook on my 19 right now. There is no receiver in the crash bar on mine.

 

[19GT350]

Yeah, looks like it might be hit & miss, but I came across this install video where he has one that you can see ~7:55minutes in...
Tow Hook Installation on a Shelby GT350 Mustang - YouTube

I'm actually not sure about mine yet, but I wanted to see if there were any other options before I ordered my tow hook (currently planning on Raceseng's).

Thank you & good luck on your install.

 

[moby4dick]

Wow I was getting jealous with the idea that Ford put a tow hook receiver in the bumper beams for the newer models. As an aside, I think it’s insanely ridiculous that a car they tout as track ready has NO factory provision for such.

So for me, I went the ZL1 Add Ons route, bought front and rear, and have the offset front mount for the license plate as well. The shaft fits through the honeycomb grill with minimal shaving of the opening. The rear I had a hole drilled through the bumper cover. While I didn’t love the drilling, it’s directly behind the license plate so you don’t see it. I will at some point get a plastic grommet/cap and paint to match to cover the hole.

 

[Davesvt2000]

I’ve got the Ford performance one on mine,

 

[moby4dick]

I’ve seen that video. He decided to use the ZL1 Add Ons solution vs trying to make that welded in receiver work, maybe not wanting to drill through his bumper? Or is it not a threaded receiver at all?

 

[Cobra Jet]

I’ve got the Ford performance one on mine,

So question about the above images:

What happens when that tow loop is REALLY utilized - meaning, what stops the large hook from a tow rig from scraping and gouging the ever-living crap out of your bumper cover?

IMO, from the images alone, there's not enough room between that tow loop and the bumper cover at all - and tow vehicles on a track aren't usually playing nice or going to be OCD careful when their goal is to get the vehicle out of the way ASAP.

 

[Davesvt2000]

It is mounted to the bumper beam, the front bumper was removed for it to be properly attached, and a few honeycomb sections removed to accommodate it.
I do get what you’re saying though. last time I was towed in (out of fuel, previous car) they ran the strap thru the loop, not a hook, and tied strap to itself in a knot

 

[Cole]

I think that the change was Nov 2019. After this date, the car has GT500 stuff. Crash bar, brake rotors, place for hood pins. There is an indentation in the foam on the inside of the bumper cover. I measured down and thought it was right and drilled a hole. I forgot that the cover hangs from the top and sags a little. I was off about 1/2 inch. In hindsight, I would measure the boss location from the ground, then put the cover back on and measure from the ground and drill. I used a 1/8" piece of black plastic to cover my mistake. The shaft is from ZL1 for a GT500.

 

[Booboo]

What! My gt350 has a thing to screw in a tow hook?! Thanks for the info!

So...exactly how far off the ground is it?

 

[SL8888]

My 19 was built in June and didn't have welded boss on the crash bar so I went with the
Raceseng set up. Purchased a new lower grill for about $45 from the dealer so it could
be used to replace the one with the hole in it if someone wanted to remove the tow hook
and do that when I'm dead.

 

[Cole]

What! My gt350 has a thing to screw in a tow hook?! Thanks for the info!

So...exactly how far off the ground is it?

16 1/2" from the ground. That's with 305/30-19 tires all around.
I would measure from the ground when it is on a lift. That way the dimension won't change when you are working on it. My lift raises the car about 18". I should have measured then with the bumper cover off and then back on. You can take a horizontal measurement from the center support of the air deflector behind the grill. It's 18".
I made a plastic cover for the hole I made that was a little low. Held on by the tow hook.

 

[Cole]

My 19 was built in June and didn't have welded boss on the crash bar so I went with the
Raceseng set up. Purchased a new lower grill for about $45 from the dealer so it could
be used to replace the one with the hole in it if someone wanted to remove the tow hook
and do that when I'm dead.

Nice look. I bought the ZL1 setup and pulled the bumper cover to install it when I found the boss already there. I was 50/50 on which to use. I just didn't want to trim the duct work and grill for the ZL1. Although I do like the look better.

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