never underestimate a ranger

[rngr4x4beast]

alrite i have 99 ranger 4x4 5 spd 3.0 tonite i pulled a dodge 1500 4x4 360 with a 4 inch lift and 33s up a bank. he was all the down the bank with his front end facing up the hill it was a pretty steep bank to. i hooked up my chain and kicked it in 4 lo and stomped it i gave him about 4 or 5 tugs and up he came. the road was still covered in snow and ice and ol sally got him out. i was hittin the governer the whole time lol im preety dam happy with her i didnt think she could do it but she did

 

[countryboy]

congrats imagine if you had the torque of a 4.0 lol did u get pics

 

[rngr4x4beast]

lol yea no kiddin. it was so dark i cudnt get any good ones trust me if i coulda got some i would took a ton

 

[STingray1300]

Don't forget, he had a handicap: it was a Dodge. Better get used to pulling those things outta stuff

Do yourself a favor though: lose the chain and buy a strap. A 2" wide one works great for most trucks. About $30. It'll save you cutting your cab off sometime if a link breaks (I've seen the results of it happening...the 'cab-less' truck had to get towed out. Never found out what happened to the driver. Maybe I don't want to know <eeesh!>)

 

[rngr4x4beast]

lol i just carry the chain around because it was free and thats what i had on me to pull his junk out

 

[Nhaz]

With the 4.0 you would have only brought it up to 2k and never slowed down in 4lo !

 

[James86]

All the horsepower in the world won't mean a thing without traction though

 

[rocks]

4 low, lockers, 4.88 gears and a 4.0 people are suprised at the shit i drag around.

 

[Frank The Tank]

I like to live dangerously.......
I give tow-straps away when i come across them, chains are where it's at!!! keep one in every rig.

Frank

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Don't forget, he had a handicap: it was a Dodge. Better get used to pulling those things outta stuff

Do yourself a favor though: lose the chain and buy a strap. A 2" wide one works great for most trucks. About $30. It'll save you cutting your cab off sometime if a link breaks (I've seen the results of it happening...the 'cab-less' truck had to get towed out. Never found out what happened to the driver. Maybe I don't want to know <eeesh!>)

Chains work fine, just don't jerk them. If it is the right rating you should be ripping parts off before it breaks. Straps can break and cause major damage too.

 

[STingray1300]

Chains work fine, just don't jerk them. If it is the right rating you should be ripping parts off before it breaks. Straps can break and cause major damage too.

For those where "nothing has ever happened when I do.....", my new old saying is "and nothing will happen...until it does"

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. You're right though, many really heavy chains work fine if there's no tugging. But even then one runs the risk of that "weakest link" giving up. Plus, the weight one carries around with a chain. No thanks.

A strap is nick-named a "tugg'em strap" for a reason. Hook one up, leave about 1/3 slack, and take off running. The soft "hit" is almost undectable, and the actual pull is multiplied 3-5 times the weight value of your truck.

I have used them for about 30 years, and have pulled out much bigger trucks than my own in really sticky situations (mud, e.g.). I used a 2" in my Int'l Scout II, and the only time I ever got close to "breaking" one, was when it got sraped on the guy's bumper and it started to cut it. I made him buy me a new one. Lesson: use a softener on sharp edges. Plus, the strap is light and rolls up nicely in my side-arm box.

To each his own, but I personally will not ever use a chain. Just scares me too much. (that cut off cab made a believer out of me!)

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

For those where "nothing has ever happened when I do.....", my new old saying is "and nothing will happen...until it does"

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. You're right though, many really heavy chains work fine if there's no tugging. But even then one runs the risk of that "weakest link" giving up. Plus, the weight one carries around with a chain. No thanks.

A strap is nick-named a "tugg'em strap" for a reason. Hook one up, leave about 1/3 slack, and take off running. The soft "hit" is almost undectable, and the actual pull is multiplied 3-5 times the weight value of your truck.

I have used them for about 30 years, and have pulled out much bigger trucks than my own in really sticky situations (mud, e.g.). I used a 2" in my Int'l Scout II, and the only time I ever got close to "breaking" one, was when it got sraped on the guy's bumper and it started to cut it. I made him buy me a new one. Lesson: use a softener on sharp edges. Plus, the strap is light and rolls up nicely in my side-arm box.

To each his own, but I personally will not ever use a chain. Just scares me too much. (that cut off cab made a believer out of me!)

Not all straps are tug'em straps, most of the cheaper ones do not carry the stretch and recoil properties of a true tug'em strap.

And what about the energy stored up when that strap is fully tensioned? Wish I could find it, I used to have an article about the dangers of using straps. Basically what happened was a tug'em strap was pulled tight and the shackle where it was attached to the other vehicle gave way. The strap violently recoiled through the back window of the Jeep that was pulling, through the driver's HEAD, out the windshield, then back under the Jeep. It was pulled so tightly they had to CUT the strap to get the remains free of the seat.

Pulling with chains or cables can be done SAFELY and when properly done with a properly rated chain, if it breaks, it will fall safely to the ground. But when you hook up a cheap chain and go balls to the wall running into it, yes, something may give and take out your truck too. They are designed to have the slack taken up easy and then just continue to pull.

Straps are more idiot proof, but they can still be VERY dangerous.

 

[4x4wannabe]

this doesnt have to do with whether I prefer chains or straps, but back to the original subject of the post... I pull my uncles 23 foot sea hunt on a tandem trailer, all around my grandmas (usually wet yard) in the summer to cut grass around it. Keep in mind I have the smallest engine and its 2wd. You would be amazed how easily that ranger pulls it.

 

[Viva*the*Ranger]

I know it's not the original subject but, I've been stuck in the Oregon dunes with only a chain, and had most people refuse to pull me out because of it. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I would much rather use straps. They weigh less and are easier to store, don't rust and are less likely to take your head off when they break.

 

[4x4wannabe]

usually the only time anyone uses a chain around here is if there being pulled out with a tractor and the guy with the tractor has a bunch of chain on his tractor. Most people I know use straps. Like other people say there easier to store and don't rust.