Recover in reverse/pulling in reverse

[joecool85]

I had to pull a car out of a ditch this morning with the Ranger. As usual I hooked up to the tow hooks in front and did it in 4LOW in reverse. It worked perfectly. I've read it's better to do it in forward gears, but I like being able to see what's going on.

Is it a bad idea to pull in reverse?

 

[RangerSVT]

It's not a good idea cause you're putting all the load thats designed for the rear axle on the front axle, I've busted hubs and drive gears (aka spider gears) doing this
SVT

 

[joecool85]

It's not a good idea cause you're putting all the load thats designed for the rear axle on the front axle, I've busted hubs and drive gears (aka spider gears) doing this
SVT

Yeah. I should probably put some hooks or loops out back at some point then, eh? No breakage yet, and last year I pulled my brother's 2002 Ram 1500 out of the mud in reverse...lots of yanking, swearing and mud everywhere. Haven't broken it yet, but I suppose I shouldn't press my luck at this point.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The transmission is also more set up for pulling forwards.

The front towhooks are not made for pulling anything but the Ranger they are attached to.

 

[heptofite]

The transmission is also more set up for pulling forwards.

The front towhooks are not made for pulling anything but the Ranger they are attached to.

This is more or less false, on both counts.

but i'll only address the latter.

the front tow hooks are made to withstand the force of extracting something that weighs as much as the ranger they are attached to, so as long as you're pulling people out who weigh less than you, you're golden, they don't care which end of the hook has the force applied.

 

[LearjetMinako]

You just do what you gotta do. Use whatever means to get the job done and get it done safely. If when possible, it is best to pull going forward and using the trailer hitch. But mother nature sometimes doesn't allow us for that and thats why we use front tow hooks. For recovery of and other vehicles. Also, use tow straps without the metal hooks. A lot safer to use.

 

[gwaii]

It's not a good idea cause you're putting all the load thats designed for the rear axle on the front axle, I've busted hubs and drive gears (aka spider gears) doing this
SVT

absolutely correct.when pulling backward,the weight transfer unloads the rear axle,putting the load of both vehicles on the front axle of the pulling vehicle.these axles(in stock form)are not designed for this sort of abuse.they are intended as a 'helper' axle to keep the truck they are attached to moving in bad conditions.thats why the gears and shafts on a front axle are (almost) always smaller than the rear axle mounted stock.it will also load most transfer cases beyond design limits.

This is more or less false, on both counts.

but i'll only address the latter.

the front tow hooks are made to withstand the force of extracting something that weighs as much as the ranger they are attached to, so as long as you're pulling people out who weigh less than you, you're golden, they don't care which end of the hook has the force applied.

you are correct on the point you adressed,but not the first.see above.

 

[joecool85]

Good conversations here guys. I'll start using the tow hitch probably, seems like the best solution. I should really get a good tow strap as well so I'm not using my logging chain for recovery.

 

[gwaii]

make sure your tow strap doesn't use a metal hook....ive seen those go right through a tailgate,carry on through the back window,and smash the windshield.luckilly it missed the guy standing in the box of the truck and the driver's head.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This is more or less false, on both counts.

but i'll only address the latter.

the front tow hooks are made to withstand the force of extracting something that weighs as much as the ranger they are attached to, so as long as you're pulling people out who weigh less than you, you're golden, they don't care which end of the hook has the force applied.

If you can explain to me how helical cut gears run just as good one way as the other I am all ears.

You said the same thing I did for the second part.

The manual says you shouldn't do it, don't do it. Back in and pull like like the truck is built to pull.

 

[Surrey]

Here is why you dont pull in reverse...

lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEfnfOfbsi4

 

[heptofite]

If you can explain to me how helical cut gears run just as good one way as the other I am all ears.

You said the same thing I did for the second part.

The manual says you shouldn't do it, don't do it. Back in and pull like like the truck is built to pull.

you said the transmission is set up for pulling in one direction, the reality is reverse is geared the same as first in ranger transmissions, so it doesn't matter one way or another, transmission wise.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

you said the transmission is set up for pulling in one direction, the reality is reverse is geared the same as first in ranger transmissions, so it doesn't matter one way or another, transmission wise.

Not the gearing, the actual setup of the tranny. Like how manuals whine at higher speeds in reverse.

Also automatics run almost twice as much pressure for reverse. Most trannys that get stuck and fried fry reverse first, it doesn't have as much mercy.

 

[fastpakr]

Not the gearing, the actual setup of the tranny. Like how manuals whine at higher speeds in reverse.

Also automatics run almost twice as much pressure for reverse. Most trannys that get stuck and fried fry reverse first, it doesn't have as much mercy.

Isn't the whine coming from the ring and pinion gears in the axles riding on the backside of the teeth?

 

[Viva*the*Ranger]

Isn't the whine coming from the ring and pinion gears in the axles riding on the backside of the teeth?

That's what I always thought, but I'm not a drive-train specialist.