never underestimate a ranger

[dixie_boysles]

i had the chance to pull a Dodge out of its own driveway in the snow..lol. He didnt think my "little" Ranger would do it...lol. I put y beast in 4l0, 1st gear and pulled him backwards up his driveway

 

[07rangerfx4lv2]

...ive got about 60ft of heavy chain with me in the toolbox at all time...but i have seen them snap before, makes life a little more interesting

 

[Frank The Tank]

I rescued an Escape today..... two women, no idea how to drive were going up a hill on bald tires.
They began to slide, locked the brakes and spun into a ditch.

I pulled up and was letting her dig coming up the hill beside them, they thought I was an idiot (but I was actually tearing the ice and snow off the road so I could get some bite).

I hooked my CHAIN up to this puny tow hook thingy on the front and ran it through my clevice mounted to my hitch. and said, when the chain pulls tight cut the wheel and ease into the gas.

Chain pulls tight and I start digging like hell in 2-low. cracking on 5k rpms and finally get traction to go, I'm watch her tires not spin at all The F-ing emergency brake was set!!!!!...... and drag this pos to the top of the hill, then I said ok, pull on up to my truck.
She mats it and slides off in the ditch a little bit, I said, tell you what jump in my truck I'll take you on to work......

I took them to work (actually 2 miles away cleaning my dads house, then they go to my moms house and clean it) I couldn't leave the ditch, my parents both get mad if there house isn't cleaned (i live in my own house in town).

My buddy finally shows up in his chevy and gives me a lift to the womans truck, he's barely going in 4hi to begin with, he cussed his chevy like a dog and vowed to buy a loaded ford next time.

I put their escape in 2wd and drove it to my dads.... just to prove a point that some people can't drive, they should not leave if it sprinkles out!!!!!!!

Gentleman, if you have a wife or daughter that you care about, teach her how to drive so that they are never in the situation those two women were in.
At the mercy of a creapy bearded mountain man riding in a truck that smells of pork-rinds, and farts.

Frank

BTW: they never thanked me, they acted like it was somehow my duty to pull them out because I had a 4x4. And the young one kept going on about how Fords are junk, and I should call somebody with a full-size truck, or get a tractor.
After I pulled them out, her mother said, shut up about Fords, a Ford just saved us.... nice truck btw.
I was like.... your damn right.

4 the record: no I did not try anything, I was very respectfull, and the cute one was so rude I'd just as soon have sat her out in a blizzard as even look at her.

 

[rngr4x4beast]

i prefer a chain because they cant get cut like a strap and imo theyre stronger maybe heavier and rust but i like em better.

 

[STingray1300]

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.

Yes, you have to buy a good one (Warn, Smitty, etc.)

And yes, I'd like to see that article. 'Cause I doubt its validity. Sounds more like the shackle (clevis) let loose and was the projectile leading the strap. I've seen several straps let loose in my day. And all they did was whack the truck real good. Not even a permanent mark in the paint.

A 2" strap is good for 20,000lbs pull. A 3" is good for 30,000lbs pull. Pretty hard to max those out with a "normal" truck.

And as Viva mentioned...I've been one of those who have left a truck stuck rather than pull it out with a chain. I'd give the guy(s) a ride to town, but there's no way I'm attaching a chain to my truck. (for the rare times I don't have a strap with me).