stunt51

 

Uggghh..old thread but with snow on it's way in a few months...what is the proper way to tow someone out of the snow with a "****** strap" or nylon equivalent?

Hook up to one front tow hook? or use the axle? Is it better to use the back tow hook and go forward?

 

it might sound selfish and cruel but id use my 4wd to get them to a safe place where they can call a tow truck. hey if its your wife u might try it! assume you tug and pull and "******" and get them out and they thank you profusly and roll dowm the road while you gather up your stuff. when you leave you notice a slightly different feel, oh well its just the tranny or engine a little heated up,,,(denial setting in). at a few lights its noticable and next day you're in the tranny shop. if you know the people you helped you can call them to help pay the $1500 bill. good luck.

call them a tow truck,,,or be a hero,,your choice

edit,,,did you read this entire thread,,,its a repeat, been there did that! go back to the beginning

 

Tom you'd be surprised at how much of an abuse these trucks can take! However it's still abuse and sure some componenet may already be showing signs of wear... The vibration or slipping could spell doom.

I honestly would be more concerned on what damage would be caused to the "other" vehicle... More than likely they would not have a good mounting point for extraction, if they did chances are they wouldn't be in that situation in the first place...
(NO, those little hooks on the back of the ricers do not count!)

If you were seriously thinking of trying to get someone unstuck I would suggest the route of getting a winch... Maybe a front and rear receiver w/ cradle mount? Or something more permanent. It would allow for both vehicles Less risk of damage.

Just my .02

 

yeah,right!! an even better reason to not hook up. ill just get them hot coffee at the truck stop and give them your number!!

i wouldnt mind being a taxi svc but not a wrecker!!

anyway,the previous posts cover techniques for dragging them out if you want to risk your truck for a stranger

 

i noticed in the manual that it says not to use tire chains with the stock tires unless the tire sizes are different or the clearance or lift has been increased thus minimizing damage to the wheel, suspension, etc., which wouldnt be covered under the warranty. however, i noticed some roads require the use of snow chains in winter. i was assuming that tire chains were the same as snow chains and if you havent increased your lift, then i guess you shouldnt use the chains? or is this just another manufacturer warning that really doesnt affect the truck?

 

See correct answer below.

 

From the OM:
"Notice: If your vehicle has a tire size other than LT285/75R16 or P265/65R18 use tire chains only where legal and only when you must. Use chains that are the proper size for your tires. Install them on the tires of the rear axle. Do not use chains on the tires of the front axle. Tighten them as tightly as possible with the ends securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you can hear the chains contacting your vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the contact continues, slow down until it stops. Driving too fast or spinning the wheels with chains on will damage your vehicle."

I emphasized the pertinent part, the clearance concern is caused by the tight turning radius of the 3. If you have chains up front and turn sharply, chains will be banging the sway bar, can break (the chains and/or the sway bar links), and wrap the suspension. By now I would hope that everybody understands that with 305 and 315 tires, they can rub the sway bar at full lock.

So if you have itty bitty skinny tires, you can use chains on the rear if required. (It's a western states thing - great for grandma's station wagon if she just has to go to the bakery over the pass )

First off, you do not need tire chains to run a 3 in deep snow, you just need real tires (not that BS OEM highway tire crap). If you are on a snow covered road with stock the only thing that will stick you is stupidity. Sorry to say, but like the guy who started this thread.... ie. WHEEL SPEED can not only tear chit up, it can kill people. Slow and easy is how to gain traction, as soon as tire spin occurs, more spin is not going to equal more traction.

On ice, tires can help, but it is still ice and slow is the only way to go, at least with AWD and 4 Hi Lock, you can move and climb slopes. Everybody has the same brakes and 5-6000# trucks don't stop so quick.

 

I would never stop to pull a stranger out of a ditch.... NEVER, NEVER EVER! Like stated before, stopping to make sure everybody is OK and there is no medical emergency and offering to call a tow truck is all that I'm gonna do.

If you are on the road with a strap/winch cable hooked to the vehicle in the ditch and you do not have the emergency lights required by your state, and some clown driving down the road smashes into you and kills or injures himself, his passengers, you, your passengers, or the guy in the ditch or his passengers, guess who caused the accident? You did! Are you in good hands with your auto policy not written for commercial emergency use?

Let me tell you about one of my life long friend's brother-in-law (Chris). About 16 years ago, he stopped on a snowy night to help a dude that slid of a rural road into the ditch in IN (between Elkhart and Goshen). Complete stranger, the guy said he'd give him $20.00 to help, which Chris declined of course. When Chris got down on his knees in the 6"+ snow to hook a strap to the back of the stranger's pick up truck, the guy came up behind him and slit his throat with a knife! Kicked him into the ditch for dead, and stole his truck.

Somehow Chris crawled out of the ditch and almost a mile down the road and across a field to the first farm house he could see to get help. He spent weeks in the hospital, lost 3 months from work, and had plenty of medical bills to pay. The MF'er who slit his throat had stolen the first truck earlier that night. The cops found Chris's truck a few days later, but have never caught the scuz bag that we know of.

Tow trucks have the proper insurance and equipment to do the job, they are in the business, not us.

 

Like Doc said, the 3 with good tires will go through snow fine, as long as you use your brain. I regularly run through unmaintained forest roads in northern Idaho in the middle of winter with chains. There's alot of snow for you.
I don't stop for strangers, If someone is smart enough to drive around on half bald tires on there honda in the snow and go into the ditch then they can be smart enough to get themselves out.