Can you now install front tow hooks on previous 2024 Bronco Sports?

[laurent1784]

Hi everyone. I have been checking out the parts catalog for the 2025 bronco sport that now comes with the front tow hooks and was talking to my mechanic if it was something feasible to do with my 2022 Big bend. By the looks, it seems the new front tow hooks are attached to the front bumper assembly (metal cross bracket) instead of the old layout that went below the bumper. The third image is the 2022 bronco sport bumper. It seems you could Dremel or make a cut on the black plastic bumper, and get the set of front tow hooks attached by drilling some holes on the metal bumper and insert a nut from behind. Anyone tried or dig into this?

Sponsored

 

[Mark S.]

The attach points on the unibody frame for the tow hooks are different on the Badlands. Because they are meant to be recovery points they must be capable of holding a multiple of the vehicle weight. The attach points are reinforced with significant bracketry and weldments on the unibody.

See here for pics.

 

[laurent1784]

Indeed but the 2025 big bend and outer banks have them at the bumper level which is on a different location when compared to the badlands, as you can note in the attached diagrams which raises an interesting question.

 

[Mark S.]

I would want to get a close look at the differences (if any) in bracketry/attachment between the two trims before making any decisions. Please keep us updated.

 

[Mwittke5857]

I have a 21 BB and was [now] wondering as well

 

[Trist0n]

Interesting! A few notes, I went down a rabbit hole the other month looking at possibilities for winch mounting so I’m very familiar with the front end geometry

On the previous gen that entire front crash bar (blue large piece) is/was aluminum. Obviously not strong enough on its own. It bolts onto the front part of the frame/unibody, which is reinforced steel and is plenty strong to tug on. The tow hooks have basically a giant bolt on the back that bolts into the frame through the front crashbar, giving them their recovery rating.

The bit it bolts into is welded onto the frame, only the badlands have it. Little hard to visualize, just look at the curvy bit at the bottom and compare it to the crash bar, see how it’s just supporting the tow hook and not actually what’s being pulled on?

In this new gen you’re totally right, the hooks sit higher and directly bolt to both the crash bar and the frame. However they still have the long bolt that goes into the frame in what looks like the same location….I feel like that’s still where they’re getting their strength from. I doubt they’d make the front crashbar something that wouldn’t bend. Once the damn shop manual finally gets out I can see if they’ve changed the metal up

Either way nice find, that’s interesting!!

In case you’re curious the new rear tow hooks are in fact just bolted to the rear tow bar, which replaces the rear crash bar (which was boron steel anyway, if you didn’t have the tow package the recovery hook threaded directly into it). Should be a relatively simple swap, planning on doing it when parts are around. Every other mounting point looks the same!

 

[laurent1784]

Thanks for your input @Trist0n . If you get a hold of a service manual that provides details and clears my doubts, please share it. I have the feeling that I might just get that steel crash bar from a 2025 bronco sport and replace mine. Would be expensive but it seems to be the only way to get front tow hooks in a Non Badlands model 🫣

 

[Trist0n]

Thanks for your input @Trist0n . If you get a hold of a service manual that provides details and clears my doubts, please share it. I have the feeling that I might just get that steel crash bar from a 2025 bronco sport and replace mine. Would be expensive but it seems to be the only way to get front tow hooks in a Non Badlands model 🫣

Unfortunately even with the new crash bar I think it will still totally depend on if the 2025’s ALL have the welded tow hook support bracket or not since that’s where it’s getting its strength

also unfortunately the crash bar is a pain in the butt to remove it looks like, I’m pretty sure the radiator has to come out. Could be wrong but that’s what the manual wants you to do

again, totally not what you asked but rear is a completely different setup at least and totally possible!

Sponsored