# What are those 2" x 2" square things on the back of cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 16, 2013, 7:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-are-those-2-x-2-square-things-on-the-back-of-cars/76730 "2013-01-16T07:32:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 7:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-are-those-2-x-2-square-things-on-the-back-of-cars/76730/1 "2013-01-16T07:32:20Z")
I notice on some cars – for the most part german cars, but others too – a single square about 2" x 2" square on or near the rear bumpers. It looks like some kind of little access door for something. Just curious. Anybody know what this 2" x 2" square is for? ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 7:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-are-those-2-x-2-square-things-on-the-back-of-cars/76730/2 "2013-01-16T07:38:33Z")
If you remove it (or on some cars, flip it up) you’ll find a bolt hole. You screw an eyebolt into it and attach a towrope to it so you can tow the car without damaging the bodywork. Front bumpers have it too. ---
**Author:** ![mark9207](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mark9207](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mark9207)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 7:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-are-those-2-x-2-square-things-on-the-back-of-cars/76730/3 "2013-01-16T07:58:42Z")
Pulling the car is one possible use for it, but it’s usually used as a tie down point for transporting the car. Cars that don’t have this plug will usually have loops underneath the car for the same purpose. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-are-those-2-x-2-square-things-on-the-back-of-cars/76730/4 "2013-01-16T08:09:22Z")
On the Acura its on the front and the bolt is with the spare tire. If you need to get pulled out of a ditch, you’re supposed to screw the eye bolt in to attach the winch to. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-are-those-2-x-2-square-things-on-the-back-of-cars/76730/5 "2013-01-16T22:44:55Z")
It’s the access hole to the threaded bolthole to install a tiedown eye. With my car, a tiedown eye and installation instructions are included with the vehicle, in the speare tie kit and the owner’s manual. On some SUV’s it may be an access door for installing a hitch. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-are-those-2-x-2-square-things-on-the-back-of-cars/76730/6 "2013-01-17T05:48:34Z")
Thanks for the explanation everybody, another _puzzler-while-waiting-in-traffic_ solved!