Tow Hook suggestion for stuck vehicle

[Whisky19]

Daughters Subaru is stuck in a small culvert in my driveway. We just got plowed out after 4 feet of snow and I have room to pull her car out with my 2 door Rubi. I have a nylon tow rope rated at 8,000 lbs with steel tow hooks. My question is would it be better to hook from the back of my jeep or front? This should be a very easy pull as the vehicle is just over the culvert and with someone driving forward with me pulling should pop out easy. Also with the tow hooks on the tow strap being metal, how can I avoid scratching up the beautiful red
Tow hooks on my Rubi.
Thanks!

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[joker_114th]

I'd go backwards for visual reasons and engine weight on the front wheels but it really is operators preference

 

[Windshieldfarmer]

I assume you don’t have a hitch to pull from. You could probably cut the finger off off an old leather work glove and use it to envelope the tow strap hook.

 

[Whisky19]

I assume you don’t have a hitch. That you could pull from. You could probably cut the finger off off an old leather work glove and use it to envelope the tow strap hook.

Thanks.. actually on further inspection o can just hook onto the steel loop next to my hitch. So all good and I don’t even have to use my red tow hooks

 

[Vinman]

The facts thats that you’re using a strap with hooks on it, you’re worried about scratching your red hooks and you’re using your trailer safety chain connection points for vehicle recovery tells me you should just call a tow truck

 

[Whisky19]

The facts thats that you’re using a strap with hooks on it, you’re worried about scratching you’re red hooks and you’re using you’re trailer safety chain connection points for vehicle recovery tells me you should just call a tow truck

Nah.. I’ll improvise.. like the gent said above.. I could easily rig something to avoid any metal on metal contact on my rig. Half the fun is experimenting.. LOL

 

[Dfideth]

Always pull from the back when you can, front axle has weaker parts and can break. Friend of mine broke front axle universal at wheel pulling from the front.

 

[Whisky19]

Always pull from the back when you can, front axle has weaker parts and can break. Friend of mine broke front axle universal at wheel pulling from the front.

Thanks.. that’s my plan.

 

[aldo98229]

I’d go to Harbor Freight and pick up a proper recovery strap for $30. You won’t have to worry about scratches, and you can keep it in the Jeep afterwards.

Who knows, you may find several other Subarus stuck...

 

[Whisky19]

I’m happy to report.. my daughters car is out. I simply knotted the tow hook end to create a loop on the rear red tow hook. Used metal hook on the Subaru, gave the Rubi a little gas and out of the culvert with absolute ease. Thanks everyone.

 

[Vinman]

I don’t mean to sound like a dick but vehicle recovery is not something to mess around with, here’s a jeep where recovery went very, very wrong.
I’m not positive on the back story but remember hearing the driver was either killed or knocked unconscious and hit the throttle until the Jeep hit something to stop it from moving.
If you look closely at the picture you can see a hook or steel ring on the end of the strap by the front tire.
I also had a friend tell about a recovery he witnessed about 20 years ago where he had a broken tow ball fly between him and a lady he was talking to.

None the less, bad things can happen.

 

[Whisky19]

I don’t mean to sound like a dick but vehicle recovery is not something to mess around with, here’s a jeep where recovery went very, very wrong.
I’m not positive on the back story but remember hearing the driver was either killed or knocked unconscious and hit the throttle until the Jeep hit something to stop it from moving.
If you look closely at the picture you can see a hook or steel ring on the end of the strap by the front tire.
I also had a friend tell about a recovery he witnessed about 20 years ago where he had a broken tow ball fly between him and a lady he was talking to.

None the less, bad things can happen.

Yeah I can see how it could be dangerous. In this instance it was a very simple tug so the Subaru could get traction out of my driveways culvert. My plow guy who also has a towing service suggested the nylon tow strap. Anything more involved and I would have called him. It was very convenient having my 2 dr Rubi in this situation vs a full body pickup as the snow mounds didn’t provide much room to maneuver.

 

[AirportDave]

Never pull backwards unless absolutely necessary, and then only if it's a easy pull. Differential gears are cut for strength in a foward direction, not reverse. Pulling too hard in reverse risks damaging your diff gears.

 

[Warped]

I’m happy to report.. my daughters car is out. I simply knotted the tow hook end to create a loop on the rear red tow hook. Used metal hook on the Subaru, gave the Rubi a little gas and out of the culvert with absolute ease. Thanks everyone.

What a wasted opportunity! This creates the perfect justification for the wench to go out and buy a winch. Seriously, glad it went easy and safely. Some great points on safety in this thread.

 

[Whisky19]

What a wasted opportunity! This creates the perfect justification for the wench to go out and buy a winch. Seriously, glad it went easy and safely. Some great points on safety in this thread.

Funny you mention. My plow guy actually said “ how do you not have a winch on that thing” ..Christmas gift??? LOL

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