So what's the best way to pull stuff.....in forward or reverse?

I know 4 wheel low for the hard and heavy pulls but what direction is easier on the drive train?

The answers I get from my circle of friends is about 50....50

 

personally I'd try to pull forward.

 

The gears in your differentials are designed to be stronger in a forward direction. Pulling in reverse=more likely to break teeth in ring and pinion. That is what I have been told anyway!

 

I've always heard this, too.

 

This is true. The ring gear teeth are not symmetric. One side is very steep, (the forward drive side) and one side is slanted, (the reverse/coast side.) applying torque in reverse puts severe stress on the pinion and carrier. Usually it doesn't matter, as it would take a serious load and power to actually break them. Tires will usually spin first. But it is best to pull forward.

 

The gear design is is just one reason to not pull in reverse and a very good one but The transmission is a bigger issue, 1st gear is designed to take anything the stock engine can throw at it, very rare it fails but reverse is only designed to back up a truck and trailer slowly and more likely to fail.

 

What exactly are you wanting to pull? Tree stumps, loose material like logs, trailer, etc?

 

I don't have anything to pull yet......but I would like to know so I'm ready.

 

If what you are pulling moves freely(trailer, car in ditch, etc) then it doesn't matter. If it is immobile and heavy enough that you could break something on your truck(like pulling stumps), then you should be using something other than your truck.

 

You are referring to an automatic, I assume. Many manual transmissions are just as strong/geared as low in reverse.
Saying that, I agree about the direction of the ring and pinion gears. Your drivetrain is designed to be stronger moving forward.

 

I was referring to transmissions in general, some do have a strong reverse but it's often geared higher than first gear and that is harder on the clutch.

 

I never understood why that is. IMO reverse should be as low or lower than 1st

 

The zf5 has a 5.72 1st and a 5.24 reverse, so not much of a difference on the manuals.

 

I have a 2.40 first and a 2.00 reverse

 

You referred to the strength of the transmission in reverse, not the gearing or the clutch. My ZF is geared almost as low in reverse, as first (as mentioned), and so is the SM420 in my GMC. Add low range to that, and the gearing isn't an issue. Neither is the clutch, if used properly.
High gearing and transmission strength are two seperate issues. Autos are geared high because of the torque multiplication in the convertor. I've had to use low range with an auto, where I wouldn't have to in a manual, to get the truck moving.