2014 Cherokee - connect tow bar at tow hooks ?

No that's a bad idea. The baseplates are coming be patient. There are a couple of members here already testing them.

The tow hook mounts should certainly be adequate to provide an attachment point. If they aren't strong enough to tow the Jeep with a chain, then they shouldn't be there. I wouldn't be afraid to use them, as long as you use good grade 8 bolts, double nutted. And any brackets that need modifying or welding should be done by a licensed welder. Also, the tow bar should be kept level, same height at the hitch and the Jeep.

Disagree. There's a Big Difference between "pull me out of this sand once" and "tow me thousands of miles."
I helped a neighbor install a Blue Ox "baseplate" onto a Hummer. Whichever model the smaller one, gussied-up Blazer was. Although the attaching points worked off of the tow hook bases, it included extra brackets and bolts that went behind those bases, and required drilling.
An OP here has already had one fabbed by DEMCO. BlueOx and RM can't be far behind. If they're behind at all. Have you called the companies?

I would hope they design a base plate around the tow hooks and leave them on. That way you can go off road and on road.

FANC 1 wrote:
I would hope they design a base plate around the tow hooks and leave them on. That way you can go off road and on road.

BlueOx mounted a baseplate at one time on the tow hooks of either a Ranger or Explorer, and learned the hard way that the tow hook mounting points were not strong enough to handle the bending loads at that point coming from vertical loads towbar to baseplate. These come from acceleration, braking, traversing bumps and dips.

Tow hooks might work for flexible connections, cable or chain, but that won't brake the toad for you, or let you push back. There is also sometimes a situation that those hooks are basically cosmetic, rather than functional, like "fog lights" not really designed for use in fog.

Not all tow hook mounting points may be inadequate, but the requirements are different enough that we can't simply assume that if the hooks are good for a pull they are good for towbar loads.

They're recovery hooks, not tow hooks. As jd said, designed to assist when stuck in snow, mud, sand, not for towing the vehicle down the road.

Well Gang,
I'm not sure of just how sturdy the steel or, frame design or, mounting system in general is for the tow hooks on that Cherokee but, the Blue Ox base plate(s), yes PLATES, are direct replacements for the tow hooks on our present toad, a 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Extended Cab. All I had to do to install them was drill one extra hole per side and then, install two long bolts w/nylox nuts per base plate, right through the frame.

It's a very sturdy system and, I've checked it constantly while towing and there is absolutely no evidence of weakening or, stress, or deterioration of the strength in any manor. Now, again, this is our truck and, not a 2014 Cherokee. So, I cannot vouch for the strength in that kind of system, on that kind of vehicle. If it were mine, I'd take a good look at the system to see if it would/could work.

But, I'd sure as heck do whatever re-enforcements needed to make it work, if I was going to do it that way. Good luck
Scott

Roadmaster has their baseplates up for the trailhawk models, and the installation appears to require the removal of the tow hooks.

sealg wrote:
The new 2014 Cherokee (Trailhawk model) tow hooks are pretty rugged.

Seems I could "modify/replace" the hooks to provide a place to connect my Blue Ox tow bar.

In other words -- no baseplate. That would be helpful since there ARE NO baseplates !

Whatchathink ?

I saw the Demco setup for my Limited after they engineered it. I was amazed at how much metal was on it. I can not imagine that the red hooks are so well secured.

Link to Demco - the black one is mine

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/50497884/Base_Plate_Demco_2014_Cherokee.pdf

Hummer I mentioned was a similar idea to FireUp's setup, but it also included backup brackets behind the bumper, which required drilling a hole or two in each frame rail, parallel to the bumper. The Tow Hook Bolts were also replaced with longer ones and nuts.
Couple points:
1. Chevy Pickup is a Full Frame vehicle, New Cherokee is Unit Body. Frame is more forgiving while UniBody counts on every member to do just what (and probably only what) it was intended to do.
2. I looked at the Demco link, and they're tying into the vehicle several times in several directions. As noted above, Tow Hooks don't do that.
If BlueOx has its baseplate out, the directions should be on line. See what they did. I believe it'll be similar.
I truly want to keep you from losing the toad on the road. I also don't want to be the one it collides with if you do.