Everyperson I have ever passed that was stuck in a ditch were young, and had been mud hoggin. I understand that sometimes people have accidents and end up down there, but I have never run across an a real accident like that.

So what I usually do is give a friendly wave with the cell phone in hand & the sheriffs dept. number dialed.

 

A few weeks ago I helped an Alabama State Trooper get out of the mud. That was when I found out that a Crown Vic has no place to hook for flat tow or pull out.

 

You can usually find something to hook a shackle too.

If there's nowhere to hook a shackle to then there's nowhere for the tow truck to hook to either.
Even a flat bed tow truck needs to be able to attach to something to winch it onto the deck.

Let them hook up their vehicle, then it's their fault if you rip off their plastic bumper.
Most states have a "good samaritan" law to protect you if you damage their vehicle.

I have 30 feet of 4 inch-36,000 lb strap with looped ends.
2 3/4inch shackles rated at 6 1/2 tons attached to the front bumper.
2 identical shackles for attaching to the rear of my vehicle and/or the stuck vehicle,
if they don't have tow hooks already.

I also have one of them wimpy 2,000lb straps with hooks on both ends, left over from my Toyota, for pulling out the little cars (beetles, mini's, yugo's, etc.) but I don't use the hooks, I tie the strap to whatever attchment point.
One of these days I'm going to chisel the hooks off and just use my shackles on that strap as well.

Of course, I'll have my winch within a month or two.


phox

 

O.K. Here's a thought... We hook a stuck vehicle to a strap/chain that's connected to our vehicle via the reciever/ball. We tug and pull and finally we are successful. Did we put too much stress or shear on our hitch, since it is designed to pull "rolling loads" with no resistance? Most hidden hitches are designed for 400 lbs. of tongue weight, are we creating a potential catastrophe down the road?

 

Yes, you are.

***** are known to break off and become missiles through the windshield.

So far, when I've had to pull someone from my rear, I just tie the strap around the reciever.

Best thing is to get a reciever mount shackle,
or put the strap into the reciever and then put the pin through the loop.

Then if you follow the advice mentioned earlier in this thread, coat or blanket over the strap to keep it from whipping around if broken, you'll do just fine.


phox

 

I had a friend pull someone out with the ball. It broke off and went right through the rear window and front windshield between the left and right seats. Luckily it didn't hurt anyone.
I use a strap inside the receiver with the pin.

Mike

 

I have a clevis type drawbar that I put in my hitch. I just pulled my son's ride to the garage this morning. His 88 cheby halfton has set for a while in the same spot. We got hooked together and I eased the slack out of the chain. It felt awful heavy and I spun a little bit, which I expected(it was an uphill pull on gravel) I could have sworn I saw him lean down, like he was releasing his brakes. He signaled, yes, he did have them released. So, naturally, I locked her in and showered down on her I got him up to level ground and stopped, to see what the problem was. He had the brakes released, but still had it in PARK I have a pretty good record as far as freeing stuck vehicles. Only one rule....dont hook to more than you can pull