3D Printed Tow Hook Covers
Like many four wheel drive trucks, mine came equipped with two tow hooks mounted under the front bumper. They are fairly well hidden, but make an interesting focal point with some color. Until recently, the typical color change process involved hook removal and painting. That is both time consuming and permanent. I found a solution to add some flair to the front of my truck that is both easy and low cost: 3D printing.
Related article: 3D Printing Parts & Accessories
3D Printing
Several companies offer tow hook covers made from silicone or other material. I thought that was a clever option, until I saw the $60 price tag. Since I just took a 3D printing course at our local community Makerspace. I wondered if a 3D print version would work. I found a design online for free and printed them at the Makerspace.
During the print process, the printer ran out of filament. The staff at the Makerspace changed the filament while I was away, but ran out twice in the process. The final product was three colors from the three different filaments used.
Filament Color
The plastic filament for 3D printing comes in a number of colors. Our Makerspace did not have the filament color I wanted, so I decided to paint the printed covers when I got home. As an alternative, PlastiDip would work well on these pieces, if you can find the right color.
To ensure a good finish, I used a plastic adhesion promoter, primer and the finish color. This method turned out well and should withstand our Michigan winters.
The covers looked good, but they cracked as soon as I installed them. The crack developed between one of the filament color seams, but I think it would have happened due to the design I downloaded. I was determined to correct that, so I spent some time designing my own. I’m pleased with that result, and am happy to offer the file for free at Thingiverse.com.
Final Thoughts & Questions
Time will tell if these 3D printed covers hold up, but for $5 and a little paint I was able to create a custom look that is reversible. Most of the modifications I make to a vehicle are reversible, which allows me to return a vehicle to stock form before selling.
Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments section below.
Looks great! How are they holding up? I checked your thingiverse link but it doesn’t exist anymore. Do you have an updated link?
Hi Raj…thanks for your comment. The link I provided from Thingiverse was for someone else’s design. I just checked their link, and as you noted, it is missing.
As it turns out, the covers I printed cracked when I installed them. It was not obvious at the time, but the crack opened over time. I removed those covers and painted my hooks using brake caliper paint. For more detail, check out my newer article DIT Tow Hook Color Change.
I think the problem with the covers I printed was the wall thinkness. I am going to try my own design, which I will add to the original article.
Update for Raj: I designed my own 3D printed tow hook covers, and uploaded my file to Thingiverse. The article has that updated link.