Two questions:

1) The previous owners had the rear tow eye cover when I recently bought the truck, but it was inside the vehicle rather than mounted. Given that this LR3 wasn't fully set up for towing when it was new (they didn't have the OEM removable tow hitch and there are empty holes where the electrical connection sockets ought to be), my guess is that they got tired of having to drive back down the road and find the cover when it fell off again and again. The cover I have has working fasteners and they do provide some measure of stability when locked in right, but I can't imagine that a particularly rough stretch of washboard wouldn't pop that sucker right off. Thankfully they aren't expensive, but I hate paying money for things I already have. So my question is whether Forumites have come up with more durable alternatives to the cheap looking plastic fasteners (which wouldn't look out of place on the inside of a 1973 Chevy Vega). I'm thinking about stainless steel wingnuts\bolts\washers. Right now I've double secured the cover with a discreet applied plastic zip tie but I eventually want to quick access. Any ideas?

2) Alas, the front tow eye cover was missing at the time of purchase, presumably due to failing fasteners. This isn't really important to me as I don't even notice its absence and am happy to save the approximately $80 to $110 that it would take on eBay to pick up a replacement. But if that cover has some sort of significant air ducting purpose, either to get more air up to the radiator or increase air flow efficiency by a measurable amount, then I'll spring for the sucker the next time I have a c-note with nothing else to do (unlikely). So my question is whether I should get the front cover or just ignore it?

Thanks!

Nick in Palm Springs

 

For the front with the recovery point exposed. I like it a lot. It looks like the original, especially after I painted it black.

 

Both of mine are sitting in the shed with the growing pile of parts i remove when accessories get fitted.

 

I have never had an issue with the rear cover, its never come off on its own and yet I have removed it many times, usually when I am about to hit the trails. The front, well I lost one on a trail once and never found it. Its not a critical part to have installed but it DOES provide protection from things hitting the AC condenser. While sticks can be a problem, broken up ice on water can be if you are on the trails. I have no protection there and some ice wedged up in there and hit my condenser, too cold to test but pressure sure my AC is dead now - I am getting codes for low AC pressure.

 

Not everyone has to deal with Green Bay winter conditions, but DakotaTravler's story has convinced me: the front tow eye cover does serve a meaningful purpose other than aesthetics, specifically in providing some small measure of protection for the sensitive parts in and around the radiator. But I'm unconvinced that I can reliably depend on the cheap OEM plastic fasteners to secure either the front or the rear tow eye covers when leaving smooth asphalt. I've decided that I'll just continue to give the covers an extra dash of security by looping a plastic zip tie in and around one of fasteners holes. Hopefully I'll never have to remove the front cover (which means I got myself stuck...) and I'll only need to remove the rear if I'm towing a trailer (for access to the not-yet-installed trailer lighting electrics), but not when I'm simply using the hitch receiver as a mount for my bike rack. The unit cost of one 11-inch zip tie is US$0.03 at Harbor Freight, which means I shouldn't hesitate to cut them without mercy if and when I need access to the tow eye areas.

Thanks for everyone's input... Now help me find the US$100 for the front tow eye cover...

Nick in Palm Springs

 

Did you miss the part where I said a metal version is available for the front???

 

Didn't miss it all, but I interpreted the post to mean that you made something out of aluminum that worked for you and it's on your vehicle. I was actually looking for info as to whether the front tow eye cover served any meaningful purpose. It now appears that at a minimum it would help protect some important parts. If this aluminum version is for sale somewhere, I'll appreciate learning where one could find such a thing.

Cheers,

Nick in Palm Springs

 

There are bash plates/guards available from several sellers and producers. Google image search can give you some ideas of what you may like. They are not what I would consider cheap, but they do the job.

 

Mantec made mine.