Sorry to hijack, in your pics 2nd one, I was there when the F15s dropped those 2000 lb bombs on that cave in Afghanistan. I was over on the other ramp with the F16s at that time. They dropped 10000 lb on a granite cave and nothing happend to the cave.

 

I've pulled a lot of people out of the sand at the outer banks, some out of the water there. I to use a 30ft long, 6in wide strap. One thing I've learned, use a drop hitch with a shackle, turn the hitch upside down so you have a 6" rise on it and it will help a ton. pulls you rear down and his front up. I also carry a couple of these SmartStraps Web Sling — 6400-Lb. Capacity, 6ft. x 2in., Model# 840 | Slings | Northern Tool + Equipment
for hooking to the smaller front hooks. Chains are dangerous and no give at all. Very hard on both vehicles. Straps will stretch enough to aid in the pull. And I always let the owner of the stuck vehicle hook his up with the words, hook it to what you want to follow me down the beach. With the smaller chokers, you can wrap the frame if nothing else is available. And like Rick, I've pulled some things that wasn't suppose to move by themselves. And if I see a winch or chain being used, I stay clear and suggest they dampen it with something. A coat works great, a blanket or beach towel works good to. I have seen a winch cable snap under a load and that's scary. It will take you head off. A 5gal bucket in the middle with some sand in it will also work, but to be safe, us a strap and one that's heavy enough to lift your truck and two more like it......

 

Sound advice right here and I'm glad it was brought up. This is pretty common knowledge in the offroad world but is something that needs to be passed on to anyone who may even get close to a winch line, chain, come along, etc. An innocent bystander is in just as much danger as the ones putting on the show. Ever use a come along to yank a dead vehicle up on a trailer? While your back there ratcheting on that come along, your in the direct line of fire for a broken cable. Even if your winching/pulling a light load, use some sort of line weight and help ensure you and/or your friends wake up the next morning.

 

Why is that jeep pulling you up that little hill?

This is a great thread. I have witnessed some serious carnage from poor recovery techniques. Seriously, doing this wrong can kill someone. What have we learned...

- sometimes its best left to the pro's Its not being a good citizen if people get hurt or cars are unnecessarily damaged.

- avoid using CHAIN for recovery. Besides not being the best material, the GRADE of chain varies wildly along with the rating of anything attached to the chain.

- a proper tow-strap rated for at least 2x your vehicles weight is best. NOT one of those wallyworld things with metal hooks on the end!!! Get a some shackles (check load rating) so you can hook up to anything.

- a drop-hitch is a POOR attachment point. It was never designed for that kind of loading. You'd be better off attaching strap directly to hitch pin.

- I won't pull someone without making sure what they hooked to isn't gonna scratch my truck when it flies off!! You guys are crazy...

- using a dampener over the tow strap AND staying out of the line of fire is always a good idea!!

- I had a set of these once-upon-a-time, there are a couple other 'shapes' for different sized holes in a frame. (what else do ya hook to on most FWD cars?)
Pierce Arrow Towing T-Hook | Towing Hooks | Northern Tool + Equipment

Any other tips and tricks?

 

Straps can be dangerous also - even if one doesn't break, attaching hardware can fail. Who wants a D ring or a 1/2 inch bolt, or any kind of hardware launched at them by a stretched strap when something lets go. Whole bumper, perhaps? It can happen. I saw a fence post - 6" diameter 8 foot long pressure treated post go approximately 15 feet in the air, launched by a strap when it came loose from the ground.

Anyway - everyone has a worn out pair of jeans around, right? Cut the legs off about 18 inches long. Sew across the bottoms of the legs, double seam. I use kevlar thread, any strong thread will work. Fill about the first 4-5 inches of the leg with sand. Now arrange the bags so that the closed ends are to your left and right, with about a 4 inch overlap. Sew securely.Done. Just make a couple pair, and drape them over the strap or chain, cable, whatever you're using. Cheap, easy, and just might save your a$$ someday.

 

This is awesome info, guys... like izzy said, people like me who aren't familiar with the 4x4 world don't always know this stuff, nor is there any reason they should. I just pulled a single axle International dump truck that stalled off the interstate last month with a chain... the situation was perfectly suitable for a chain. The truck wasn't stuck nor was it loaded. As soon as I put it in gear (in 4x4-Low), we started rolling without me giving it any throttle. Now if it was a stuck friend, then I would've used an undampened chain. I'm glad I read this info... I'll be looking into tow straps here soon. When I have time (if I have time), I'll see if I can rep everyone in this thread!

 

Old 4x4 trick.Great advice

 

Where is this at Justin?

Pat, LOVE the gun ban neighbor sign.

All great info here. It does feel good to be able to help someone out of the ditch.

 

This was taken at the top of Test Hill at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. SLSD is in Mears, Michigan. Mears is right between Ludington and Muskegon. West side of the state. That is Lake Michigan in the background. Awesome place!

 

i pulled a 15 passenger van out last week it was nose down in a 4 foot ditch and i used my 3/8 inch chain thats 24 foot long. i have only broke that chain once and the two wreckers that tried pulling that truck out that was stuck broke there winch cables as well. it took a semi wrecker to pull the truck out. the chain was almost 30 foot long orginally. would yall still reccomend a strap?

 

Like I said before a chain has it's place and it's you the ones around you who are at risk. If the chains been broke then it's been stressed. Just think all the links were on the verge of breaking! Not saying you can't use it but use the info in this thread to help protect yourself and others around you. Here I am preaching to myself, if only I would take my own advice!

 

Know your limitations. Tow trucks succeed (frequently) because they LIFT and PULL - not just PULL. By picking the stuck vehicle up, you break the friction between the stuck vehicle and the sand/snow/mud in which it's stuck. If a truck is hopelessly stuck, don't sit there and break chains and rip parts off the truck for 4 hours. In some situations, you may have to, but I see people taking incredible risks to DIY when they should call a pro. Spend some time digging, rigging, ramping - whatever - to make the pulling go as it should, and know when to quit!

 

the only other thing i would add to this is never pull in reverse !!! the trucks are much stronger in forward gears . ive pulled out stuck trucks since i was able to drive we lived in the woods and mud for twenty years. ive put my rear bumper ten foot from some stuff and hit the gas! my best puller as my diesel hasent seen much mud was my 70 bronco with built 351-w a built c-6 detriot lockers frt and rear 456 gears strange axels and 42 swampers hell of a wheeling machine i useally played in 2 wheel drive until someone got stuck and for me thats when the fun would start .id pull im out and than go and sit where they were stuck and than floor it that truck jumped like a rabbit out of holes much fun!!

 

good to know guys, i recently towed a old 1947 firetruck.

we couldnt get it started and wanted it out of the firehouse before the snow hit...more room to park people inside so plowing would be alot easier. the front of the firehouse slopes down so we figured bump start would be the best(batteries were dead) well the firetruck didnt start. without a battery charger we didnt know what to do, the firetruck is 6v system. i pulled it back up the hill in 4x4 low and it seemed pretty hard on the truck. 12 tons worth of steel.

good info here. thanks guys

 

Robin's gotcha' covered. Always use a "chain brake" when pulling someone or something out. Even with a strap, I always use a floor mat or jacket or something draped over the strap to stop the recoil if it breaks. saved many a windshield, headlight, tailgate, paint job and probably a few heads!

Barney