I did the tree stump thing with my 2003. When the tree stump decided to lose the battle it sling shotted about 100 feet past my truck. If it hit my truck it would’ve caused serious damage to my truck or my head.

The clunk, i tried to pull someone off a rear bottom out on a mountain road…my truck creaked. Transmission rebuild. Bent a gear. Every time id go from reverse to forward the truck would clunk? (Think someone hitting your driver door with a baseball bat).

I'm not sure if you're familiar with the differences between nylon and polyester tow straps, but if you aren't you would be well served to read up on them.


Nylon straps stretch, like a rubber band. That makes them good for recovery, like pulling out someone who's stuck, because the strap will give, and smooth out some of the jerks, loading up and helping to yank out a stuck vehicle.

For a tree stump, I would think you would want polyester, since it doesn't stretch as much, or maybe even a suitable "static" line -- I'm not a climber, but if my understanding is correct, it's a rope that hardly stretches at all.

A nylon strap is definitely a no-no for something like pulling a tree stump, unless, as you experienced, you'd like a sling-shot effect if the stump does come free.


For towing one vehicle behind another, you don't want nylon, because it can act like a rubber band, loading up, and then slingshotting the towed vehicle towards the one in front, so you have to watch that and the person in the towed vehicle has to be ready and handy with the brakes!

Forgive me if you're already familiar with the differences. Even if you are, this info may help other readers who aren't.

Good stuff to post.

We have to learn somehow! Not an excuse but the reason I didn’t know anything about it was I grew up in Florida and always drove sport cars. I bought my first truck when it came time to move up north. We were cleaning up our house for sale and I wanted to get rid of some tree stumps. I bought some straps and the cheaper the better! Lesson learned.

I have experienced the same thing from time to time. I have greased things a few times since picking mine up a year and a half ago. I think I might drop my driveshaft and try to clean it up sometime here soon.