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So you were walking by a parked Jeep and noticed something odd: hooks sticking out of its front bumper. Whether they were painted bright red, bright blue, or gold, they are called “tow hooks.” They are so another vehicle can tow the Jeep out if it gets stuck.

Imagine you take your Wrangler or Cherokee off road. The trail ends up being muddier than it looked and next thing you know, your 4WD SUV sinks up to its axles. You gun the throttle and your tires just spin without any traction.

For a prepared off-roader, this isn’t the end of the road. In fact, it can be a relatively common experience. But before you take another go at the trail, you’ll need to get unstuck. Luckily, you aren’t alone so your buddy throws you a tow strap from his Jeep. Only one problem: what do you hook it to?

Blue tow hook on a plug-in-hybrid Jeep SUV
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe tow hook | Stellantis

On many vehicles, you’ll need to loop the tow strap around an axle or suspension point. Not a problem if you’re on dry ground. But if your Jeep buries itself deeper into the mud every time you hit the gas, getting to an axle could take an entire afternoon of digging. Thus “recovery points” on the bumpers of many SUVs. Jeep has gone a step further, with big hooks attached to the front and rear bumpers.

So why are some tow hooks bright colors? This is a tradition that began with aftermarket bumpers. Bright tow hooks can be easier for others to find if they are trying to pull you free. Most Jeeps with tow hooks are red from the factory. But sometimes, Jeep paints the tow hooks a special color for a special trim.

Jeeps with bright red tow hooks are off-road-ready configurations from the “Rubicon” trim level. Jeeps with gold colored tow hooks have a Hemi V8 engine. Jeeps with the latest plug-in hybrid powertrains have blue trim, including bright blue tow hooks.

In this video you can see what it takes to recover a Jeep with no tow hooks:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.