Attaching Winch Lines to Tow Eye Bolts

When attaching the winch line directly to the tow eye bolt, position the bolt so it is parallel to the ground and insert the winch line with the hook tip facing up. Watch the bolt during the loading process as the twist or angle of the winch line could cause the bolt to unscrew. On some bolts, the eye is too small to hook the winch hook into so use a small, rated strap. With either method, using a strap to connect the tow eye bolt and the winch line hook helps prevent twisting or side-loading the bolt.

See more tow eye bolt tips in the article “Tow Eye Bolts Part II” in the Tow Times March issue.