Tow Hook Options vs Experience

[pMak26]

There are two available options for front tow hooks that I see available.

ViperParts:

The front strap attaches to existing fasteners yet is easily removable to maintain the clean lines of the new Viper.The rear bolts on to existing frame fasteners under the rear of the car out of sight yet still accessible if needed at the track.
IMG_1992.jpg
Fits 2013 - 2017 Vipers.
DISCLAIMER
These Viper tow hooks are designed for horizontal pulling over semi-flat terrain and vehicle transportation. Any other use may result in personal or vehicular damage.
$266.20

And IPSCO:

http://www.ipsco.org/Viper_files/SRT...Tow%20Hook.htm

This Tow Hook kit is made from 6061-T6 Aluminum, and weighs only 2 LBS. Its design is stronger and distributes the load over a greater area unlike other steel versions on the market. The complete kit installs in less than 30 minutes, and when needed the Tow Ring can then be installed or removed in less than 2 minutes, so you don't run into it when walking around the front of the car. Also available SCCA approved version which does not stick out in front of the bumper fascia.

Does anyone have any real world experience with both setups? Does anyone have any pictures of the ViperParts piece both installed and uninstalled? Their site is lacking in pics. The IPSCO piece looks nice but may (negligibly) inhibit airflow.

Any feedback is appreciated.

[texasram]

Apparently theres a gen v tax with ipsco

[ViperSRT]

C8E1234E-A098-414A-B4EF-A62A6E2DCE7A.jpg
This is the one I have. Not sure which vendor I bought it from.

[serpent]

Apparently theres a gen v tax with ipsco

Did you click the ipsco link? It’s almost $100 cheaper, what ipsco tax?

[cubeman]

Did you click the ipsco link? It’s almost $100 cheaper, what ipsco tax?

Think he means the extra $35 for Gen V's compared to the Gen 1,2,3,4 one. I usually associate the viper tax with double the price lol.

[Arizona Vipers]

That style with the cloth strap is going to be very abrasive against the paint bouncing around at 100mph on the track IMO.
I have the one ViperSRT just posted above me and it works great, I have been towed out of the dirt countless times in my 2013 track car It's 2.7 lbs for the record. I got mine from JonB

[serpent]

Think he means the extra $35 for Gen V's compared to the Gen 1,2,3,4 one. I usually associate the viper tax with double the price lol.

I don’t know about ipsco having a viper tax, their clutch extension is top notch, only $35.
Don’t want to mention other vendors having a viper tax tho. Lol

[pMak26]

Did you click the ipsco link? It’s almost $100 cheaper, what ipsco tax?

The ViperParts unit comes with both front and rear hooks, hence the price.

That style with the cloth strap is going to be very abrasive against the paint bouncing around at 100mph on the track IMO.
I have the one ViperSRT just posted above me and it works great, I have been towed out of the dirt countless times in my 2013 track car It's 2.7 lbs for the record. I got mine from JonB

Excellent point and something I did not think of.

Does anyone have any practical experience with the ViperParts piece? I can't find pictures of this piece anywhere, or see how it attaches. If the piece is nice and the fabric is a potential issue, the fabric can always be removed.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Most owners only buy a FRONT hook, but facts-and-experience show that if a Viper needs to be towed from an incident, it usually gets towd at the REAR. Vipers generally hit face- first


PartsRack / IPS has a new G5 rear tow hook triangular assy, thru-the-bumper. $325 spendy, but has a removable tongue. Just like the G5 front tongue. Black Or ALum. Front has 2 lengths. The strap-type is a modified VCC hook and gets ratty, fast.

Do you plan to use it to get on/off a trailer? Or just want it to meet track requirements?

[Colo08]

C8E1234E-A098-414A-B4EF-A62A6E2DCE7A.jpg
This is the one I have. Not sure which vendor I bought it from.

That is an IPSCO GEN 5 Front Tow Hook

[Colo08]

Think he means the extra $35 for Gen V's compared to the Gen 1,2,3,4 one. I usually associate the viper tax with double the price lol.

The GEN 5 front tow hooks are made different then the GEN 3/4 front tow hooks which require more machining to make, that's why the cost more then the GEN 3/4.

[Colo08]

The ViperParts unit comes with both front and rear hooks, hence the price.



Excellent point and something I did not think of.

Does anyone have any practical experience with the ViperParts piece? I can't find pictures of this piece anywhere, or see how it attaches. If the piece is nice and the fabric is a potential issue, the fabric can always be removed.

The strap type tow hook put all of the weight of the car onto one 10mm bolt in sheet metal, ok for pulling across flat parking lot not so good for pull out of the kitty .litter.

[pMak26]

Do you plan to use it to get on/off a trailer? Or just want it to meet track requirements?

Will not be used for on/off trailer, only used if/when I break it on track.

[Colo08]

Apparently theres a gen v tax with ipsco

Not sure why you think IPSCO is over charging for their products, IPSCO has always made quality parts at a very fair price, but the good news is there are other vendors to buy from, so you are not forced to buy parts from IPSCO. Additionally why do you think that IPSCO's price is too much when it is less than the other guys?

[stradman]

I had IPSCO on my ACR. Part of the rather large mounting base is located just in front of radiator obscuring some area of this radiator. I took it off as I felt it was obscuring some airflow to this. Also was never happy with the fact that if you did have a bit of front hit to the front the base of this would go straight into the radiator . Also although I did not do a controlled experiment, on track-where I use my car hard- and in higher ambient temps, I felt temps were running high with the IPSCO tow. So I took this off and temps seemed to run cooler. As I said I cannot say with 100% certainty that the IPSCO base of the tow was at fault, however I decided to remove this and install the Viper parts one that bolts to one of the splitter cable mounts. This very substantial bolt by the way is secured to a very substantial frame of the front of the car and I am certain it should be able to pull the car out of a kitty litter if need be. Also as its not permanently on, so you take it off after track and so don't run the risk of hitting against it all the time as the IPSCO one. There is absolutely no abrasion or marks either on the paint work from the strap as someone mentioned above.

[A C R]

I have IPSCO Gen 5 front and rear tow hooks ---good price great quality

[Toxic]

I used the strap style you posted in the first photo for my two Gen 4 track cars of the front and rear. Had to be pulled out of the gravel/dirt at TWS and it flexed up and ground into the paint on the front. Never had problems with them for trailering purposes. On my ACR-E I went with the Ipsco versions. I was very impressed with the quality and stability when installing them.

[stradman]

I used the strap style you posted in the first photo for my two Gen 4 track cars of the front and rear. Had to be pulled out of the gravel/dirt at TWS and it flexed up and ground into the paint on the front. Never had problems with them for trailering purposes. On my ACR-E I went with the Ipsco versions. I was very impressed with the quality and stability when installing them.

Interestingly, technically the strap is not absolutely necessary and so one can just cut it off and have just the tow eye like most cars have...

[Arizona Vipers]

Not sure why you think IPSCO is over charging for their products, IPSCO has always made quality parts at a very fair price, but the good news is there are other vendors to buy from, so you are not forced to buy parts from IPSCO. Additionally why do you think that IPSCO's price is too much when it is less than the other guys?

I've had great luck with IPSCO products and feel they are a great value.

[Space Truckin]

I've had great luck with IPSCO products and feel they are a great value.

Same here, quality and service without the Viper Tax...JM2C..I could be wrong...

[512BB]

I am using these on mine and they are extremely well built and more importantly they mount to solid points on the car. I got them in black so they blend with the car a bit better. I would definitely get both front and rear.

http://www.ipsco.org/Viper_files/GEN...Tow%20Hook.htm

[dewilmoth]

I am using these on mine and they are extremely well built and more importantly they mount to solid points on the car. I got them in black so they blend with the car a bit better. I would definitely get both front and rear.

http://www.ipsco.org/Viper_files/GEN...Tow%20Hook.htm

Is everything black or are parts of it still silver? Would love a pic if you don’t mind.

[ViperSRT]

All black except the screws.

[pMak26]

I appreciate everyone's feedback and responses, thank you

[ek1]

I have the IPSCO front tow hook. I had to get the car flat towed to the pits once and the hook bent - the eye opening is no longer perfectly round. It's a bit of an oval now