[Yota]

My 16th birthday was Friday, I went and passed my driver's test with flying colors. That night I decided to take my truck muddin' for the first time at Parker's Gap. I was with some friends, Bubba' bronco got stuck in a huge rut, he has 31 A/Ts and I told him I would pull him out. I was in front of him and hooked the tow strap to his tow hook and to the back of my hitch, next thing I know his tow strap broke and I launched my fender into a tree to at the right, Ruined my fender, parking lamp, front valance and front chrome bumper. I should have tried to hit it with my bull bar, but it was right in front of me so I ouldn't help it. I got a good deal on the fender and front valance online $55 for both +S&H, luckily my friend took his chrome bumper offbefore he sold his truck and he gave it to me. So maybe I will have it fixed next weekend. But for right now it looks pretty hardcore.Just though I would share with yall on my first but stupidmistake of borrowing a friend's ragged tow strap. Later
Britt

 

[big pa s]

First glad you are ok.

Second how did you wind up getting you friend out.

Third I don't know if it was but don't use the ones with hooks on them. Cause now imagine the same senario and the hook slips and it come flying at your windows. That can be really dangerous.

Oh and Fourth Happy Birthday!

 

[Yota]

Hey Big Pa, Thanks for the message. We used the tow strap with the metal hooks, the hook stitching broke and the hook came off the strap. After I hit the tree I backed up and we just manage to tie the strap around his hitch and I pulled him out of the big rutt. Thanks Cya later Big Pa,
Britt

 

[LUV24BY]

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPPPPPPPPPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!! Yota!
Cool on the fender thing, it makes fun stories about your adventures! Glad to see you are ok and I hope you don't end up breaking anything else before a few more trail hours! <IMG SRC="/board/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif">
LUV24BY

 

[Yota]

Thanks Luv2By, By the way I saw the pictures of your Dodge Jason posted up and it's nice. I bet you have a lot of fun in that. I also like the dual shocks, When I swap to a solid axle I want to get dual shocks. Good Job on yoru truck, Cya later
Britt

 

[Tahoe Sport]

a few years back I bought ProComp all terrains for my tahoe...no suspension mods yet. They were 33's and I thought i was the sh*t. My friend got stuck in his stock toyota tacoma, and I told him I would pull him out. I hooked up the CHAIN he had to my hitch, and his front tow hooks and started pulling. He had told me that this chain was a tow chain and ensured me it could handle this kind of stress. The chain busted sending a backlash hard enough to break his lights, and put 4 gashes on his hood. The other end of the chain flew over the back of my tahoe, and slammed down on my hood. Countless scrapes and scratches and 3 huge dents. I slapped him around a bit, but I knew it was half my fault. Nothing but tow straps for me now.....lol

-zach-

 

[DieselHrs]

Been there done that. I have seen many windows get broken because of chains braking.
Learned my lesson. I ALWAYS carry a tow strap with me, tucked under my seat, so it's there when I get into one of those unplanned stucks. Rule One: have tow hooks on your vehicle front and back. Rule Two: Have a tow strap. Rule three: Careful choosing who your trusting to tow you out.

 

[Yota]

Finally got me a tow strap now. Hopefully I won't need it anytime unless pulling out a friend that is stuck. Happy New Year

 

[thornbird33]

make sure your tow strap has no hooks and never put it over the ball on the hitch this might be a no brainer for some but for the new guys that dont know they become bullets when they break off.

 

[Biginuf]

If you are ever yanking on someone and there is a chain or metal hook, If you have a tool box on the truck, open the lid to protect the back window from anything snapping into the back of your head.

 

[ComradePavloff]

I've been there. 1 week after I turned 16, I decided to go off-roading with a 2X4 explorer, and the next thing I know, I'm stuck on a hill hidden in the fire trails. Talk about a crappy 16th birthday.

 

[Mike97ZJ]

Dude, you don't want a tow strap. You want a RECOVERY strap. There is a difference. A tow strap is made to do just that, tow a car on pavement. For something stuck, you need something stronger. A recovery strap is much heavier duty than a tow strap, and is designed to give a little to decrease the shock when you take up the slack while pulling.

I carry a 3" wide by 30' long strap in my Jeep, it has loops at both ends and is rated for 30,000lbs.

Steel hooks are bad, mmmkay?

Also, don't hook to a hitch ball. That thing breaks, and it's like a missile. Anther good idea is to put a heavy blanket or tarp over the center of the strap while pulling, that way if it snaps the tarp will absorb the recoil. Same thing goes for a double for a winch cable.

And congrats on the trail scars.

 

[White Z]

gatta watch those flying hooks. if you want some heavy tow straps look for some kind of construction company that has em. a buddy of mine got some that were massive!!