How to rescue a car stuck in the snow.

[tom4bren]

My old Dodge spent the last 1/2 of it's life with a chain impression down the hood from a similar situation.

[Cobrajet]

If any of you watched the Top Gear: Polar Special, you will know that they used a special "bungee" strap to pull their stuck Toyota Hilux out of snow/ocean slush. It took a couple of attempts, but they said it was a very gentle way to "yank" someone out of the snow. Hook up this long bungee cord, get a running start, stretch to the limit, then stop and wait for the other vehicle to snap back. Sounds good to me.

[tom4bren]

If any of you watched the Top Gear: Polar Special, you will know that they used a special "bungee" strap to pull their stuck Toyota Hilux out of snow/ocean slush. It took a couple of attempts, but they said it was a very gentle way to "yank" someone out of the snow. Hook up this long bungee cord, get a running start, stretch to the limit, then stop and wait for the other vehicle to snap back. Sounds good to me.

That's good for muck where there is a measure of 'suction' to overcome. It's not really needed for a snowbank.

BTW, the running start ... really isn't. You're supposed to inch forward until the strap becomes tight but not stretched. At that point, the recovery vehicle guns it. The stretch of the strap will provide a measure of momentum to overcome the suction of being stuck in muck.

A running start will only guarantee a broken strap, potential damage to both vehicles and possible injury to anyone within reach of the strap.

... or so I've heard ... I've never experimented to find out.

[BigSwede]

BTW, the running start ... really isn't. You're supposed to inch forward until the strap becomes tight but not stretched. At that point, the recovery vehicle guns it. The stretch of the strap will provide a measure of momentum to overcome the suction of being stuck in muck.

A running start will only guarantee a broken strap, potential damage to both vehicles and possible injury to anyone within reach of the strap.

... or so I've heard ... I've never experimented to find out.

There are two different kinds of straps out there...the standard "tow strap" has a little natural stretch but isn't elastic per se, so the running start is not a good idea with this kind of strap.

There are also "snatch straps" (or other names) that are made to be elastic like a giant bungee cord, these are intended to be used with a running start such as on the Top Gear episode (just watched that the other night).

Most of our vehicle have tow points, that is the easy part. As noted, most cars will not have anything easy...you might be able to find the tie-down point which is your best bet, but even it is not intended for heavy tugging. If you're very lucky they will have a tow hitch and you can insert the tow strap loop into the receiver and put the pin through the loop of the strap (this also works well for those of you that have hitches as a pull point).

If I were y'all I would buy a tow hook and install it on the rear, those tie down points just aren't made for serious tugging.

[JAMAS]

If I were y'all I would buy a tow hook and install it on the rear, those tie down points just aren't made for serious tugging.

Is this a concern for pulling a car out of a snowy spot?

I suppose I could replace the tie down point with a shackle mounting bracket.

[Scott Harness]

If any of you watched the Top Gear: Polar Special, you will know that they used a special "bungee" strap to pull their stuck Toyota Hilux out of snow/ocean slush. It took a couple of attempts, but they said it was a very gentle way to "yank" someone out of the snow. Hook up this long bungee cord, get a running start, stretch to the limit, then stop and wait for the other vehicle to snap back. Sounds good to me.

That's such a great show! Nice truck on that episode

[JAMAS]

So what type of tow strap should I get?

Hook end ....or loop end?

and any poundage limit?

anything to keep in mind when I buy the shackle?

I think I am going to buy something this week, just to be on the safe side.

I think I am going to get a strap instead of a chain, mostly for the ease of storage.

[Triathlete]

and any poundage limit?

The higher the rating the better. I believe I have 2 20,000 and 1 30,000 pounder.

[Triathlete]

Speaking of pulling people out...here is a good one.
Heres the forum post that talks about it.

[AlaskaVX]

Loop ends and shackles! Hooks are for fishing

Make sure you get 2 shackles. (that is if the towee has a shackle point of connection)

And yes the higher lb the better as long as it is still able to bend to get to the tow point needed

[alterastro]

Speaking of pulling people out...here is a good one.
Heres the forum post that talks about it.

Here's one of me pulling a stuck truck last February http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNeGOeGvYdE

I used a kinetic strap. The lorry had a recovery pin and I have a NATO hitch on the rear of my Paj, so nice and easy.

Another point when buying shackles... Most modern cars have screw in recovery eyes (well they do in the UK anyway!). I know from experience that they are very small. So buy a small shackle. Make sure it is rated to the required strength, which shouldn't be a problem as they are very strong. I spent lots of time during heavy snow back in February not being able to help folks as I only had a large shackle which didn't fit a lot of eyes.

Nick

[Triathlete]

Tow strap 101 (I'm no expert, don't claim to be one, may not be 100% right...but, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night)
NEVER buy a tow strap with hooks. Get a good quality strap with loops on the end to be used with a clevis shackle.
Tow straps have a built in "stretch" and make pulling/yanking/tugging smoother.
Clevis shackles come in different sizes...make sure to get ones that will fit your mounting points. For the VX 1" will work with some effort but the 3/4" fit better.
You can get a good quality strap at most good 4x4 shops.
Personally I would never use a chain...they are not pretty when they break.
Placing a blanket/jacket or something over the strap is a good idea but not a necessity. Straps don't store enough energy (much like sythetic winch rope) to do damage...but always error on the side of safety. I think most were thinking of wire winch rope. Unless of course the strap has hooks on the end...but again refer to the first tip.
And a strap can be doubled over to shorten it in half.
I am sure there is a lot more and not everyone will agree with me but this is just my 2 cents...take it for what its worth.