Do you folks have any recommendations for equipment to keep in the truck for pulling out vehicles stuck in snow? I have an F-250 SD 4X4 with tow hooks in the front and a receiver mounted hook in the rear, but do I use chain with grab hooks or J-hooks, poly rope with hooks, straps with loops or with hooks? Any recommended sources? Do you tend to stay away from the very inexpensicve import stuff? Thanks

 

I've used all three.

Forget the poly rope. It stretches too much and will usualy break. It's hard to get tight knots untied, especially with cold fingers.

1/4" chain w/hooks is good, but it doesn't stretch at all. This can jar your truck pretty hard if you take a running start.

Nylon or poly straps with loops are good because it's as strong as chain, but has a little more give to it. Plus is lighter and won't rust.

If you're going to make a habit out of this, an old car tire in between two chains or straps makes a great shock absorber. It won't jar your truck so hard if you have to make running starts to jerk out a stuck vehicle.

For straps, try an offroad or outdoor sporting goods supplier. [link:www.cabelas.com/|Cabelas] For 1/4" chain, try your hardware store.

 

Peter, I use those yellow nylon straps. Mine are 30 ft long and 4 inches wide. On my end there is a D ring in the reciever. I also carry two heavy chains 6ft long with hooks on both ends. This way I can hook to both sides of the stuck persons frame. Even unibody construction cars usually have someplace where they were originally tied down on a trailer that you can hook to. DF

 

You have allready done the best thing for yourself. A hook insert for your reciever. Most people dont think much about making provisions for someone pulling you out!

Chains work great. they are heavy, they rust, if it breaks while your pulling someone out it can (will) find it's way through your back window. Allways put something over the chain about mid span. if it breaks it will fold at that point. I use a 5 inch pully with a clevis to attach it to the chain. I have seen a T-shirt work!! just something to change the direction of the inbound (OH SH#&)

The Looped recovery straps work great. no metal ends, light, easy to store. But you can't pull someone down the road with them. They come at a higher cost.

The answer to your question, the one I came up for my own use. I use a 48qt cooler. in it is 2ea 20' 3/8 chain with several choices of hooks and pullies and several different types of clevis's. 1 recovery strap. (3 1/2 inch x 20) 1ea 4 inch wide strap with D rings to wrap around trees etc. 250 ft of nylon rope and a semi-sharp knife and a Hooked insert for the reciever, and 50ft of 1/4 7x19 cable. It is bungie-chorded to the front wall of my bed. It stays there unless I have to use the truck as a truck. Then with the nice attached handles, I set the cooler in the garage, everything in one neat package.

48qt Cooler #2: winter only. complete change of clothes, an old pair of boots, insulated coveralls, gloves, hat, candle in a coffee can, matches, flashlight, 6 MRE's, an old Tom Clancy book, and a deck of cards. Again in a neat easy to handle package.

If Ford would just go back to those tool box's they used in the 70's. Lockable doors, just forward of the wheels, and filled the space between the bed and the frame It's Christmas, I can wish!!

have fun out there

 

I'll throw my hat in the ring in favor of carrying both a chain and a heavy nylon tow strap. A heavy nylon strap is much easier on cold fingers or tired bodies. Also, the strap doesn't sink as fast in water or snow if you drop it while hooking it up. On the other hand, the chain doesn't mind being wrapped around sharp corners,(when the optimal attaching point can't be had) and the length can be adjusted whereas the nylon strp is somewhat fixed.

I once had success pulling a stuck truck (and gooseneck stock trailer)out of the mud using my nylon strap, but with my chain laid out zig-zagged on the ground in front of the rear wheel to give that added bit of grab on a mucky ranch road.

I suppose the real answer the whole problem is to not get stuck. ...we all have dreams.

 

2-30' nylon straps, 2-20' 5/16" chain w hooks, 1-20' 1/2" chain w/hooks ( VERY F***IN HEAVY, but hasnt broke yet), 100' 3/8" aircraft cable, 8 ton pulley, D-rings, clevis'. You never know where you will get stuck and how far from the nearest anchor point. Always prepare for the worst.

Stryder


:-X11

 

Thank you kindly for all of the responses. I have 5/16" Grade 70 transport chain which I hope doesn't snap, but with the brute power of a FORD, you never know. I'm piecing together some of the other items mentioned. Thanks again.

 

If you are serious about recovery or pulling out yourself or someone else, try purchasing items from a towing or recovery supplier. I have had great luck with an outfit called AW Direct. Their website is found at AWDirect.com. Lots of straps, chains, hooks, etc etc and fairly reasonable prices with next day deleivery to most parts of continental USA.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Dec-01 AT 10:03 AM (EST)]I am an emergency services worker with SCCA. I spend a great deal of time pulling out race cars from gravel traps. Gravel trap extractions are tougher than snow in most cases. I purchased a tow strap from racesearch.com. They even sell a little storage bag to go with if you want. I also have purchased some hooks from AW direct. Here is a list of the equipment I use at the track. I will include web links where I can.

Shock tow, 30ft Tufflex item 2720 (best price on the net!)
http://www.racesearch.com/CGImp/mhp?cat=1904;mode=sbpn

Transport cluster. Includes several types of hooks that fit into frame members and such for ease of attaching to vehicle.
http://www.awdirect.com/awdirect/catalog.cfm?dest=itempg&itemid=9253&secid=71&linko n=subsection&linkid=110

I found a hook at Walmart in the boating section

Lastly, purchased at the local hardware store anchor shackles to hook it to the truck


Have Fun,
Bill

 

After almost 30 years of 4 wheeling in just about any terrain and weather conditions I have found the best, read that BEST is a 30 ft lenght of 1 1/2" nylon rope, the type used to tie large boats or small ships to the dock are the cats meow. It should have a braided loop on each end, a couple of short, 6ft or so 3/8" chains and a selection of hooks and such to accomodate various hook-ups.

With this you can do a slow easy pull or if need be a full throttle ****** with out the jaring snap a chain or cable. Oh yes a 8,000 lb winch with ****** blocks is also a must.
Only way to go.

 

Ya know...Chevy, Chrysler, and those other off-brands would save us Ford folk a whole lot of trouble if they just issued tow straps with their brand of truck when they sold them!

 

Well it wasn't much of a winter here in the seacoast area of New Hampshire, so I didn't get to rescue any little old ladies out of snow banks. But my wife did get our '88 2WD F-150 stuck in the mud out back in the woods this weekend. Armed with chains and straps, I was able to hook her up to my F-250 SD 4X4 and save her from the perils of nature. I received a hero's welcome. Fame....for a moment. Thanks again for the help. Perhaps I will be profiled in Time magazine?

 

SecondBass, I'm sure the *hero's welcome* was ample reward!
But forget the T.M. profile. You only scored enough husband points to hold you up until the next time you have your buddies over for a barbeque, LOL!

Scott