? regarding recovery of another vehicle

[T?@\7]

Well today after school I decided to hit up some trails that are on my way to the interestate (im a commuter), and its a place ive been many times and its never a problem (95% sand). Anyhoo im cruising around basically trying to find some mud or something to get stuck on, just blowing off steam..
One my way out to head home I encounter a 2wd dodge 1500 (not newest body style) rear wheels buried to the frame in sand...I roll up and ask if hes got a strap, whch he does. So we hook up, and I thought I may be able to get this guy out but I could NOT. however in the process of pulling (NOT yanking) I noticed that when I could no longer make progress and still under NOT HEAVY throttle that it seemed like (dont know 100%) the power cut out to all wheels and almost like the motor was in neutral and just revving.
It was pooring rain so my windows were up, and their tinted so I couldnt really see much, but judging on feel alone and the look of the tach it seemed that the motor was just revving with no wheels spin. I was locked and in 4lo, so i think that I would have been able to feel if the wheels were spinning?? but maybe not. I hope im just being paranoid about it, but either way is it bad that 1) the wheels WERE all spinning locked&4lo and the rpms got kinda high or 2) that the power cut out to all wheels, which i dont even know is possibility?

I just love my truck and hate to think that I maybe damaged something (cent diff lock/4lo/axle?) doing what I feel she was meant to do....

ps- i DID once recover an f150 on 35" TSL Superswampers, needless to say he was impressed (as was i).

ray

 

[T?@\7]

ALSO

I was immed. concerned so when I was leaving, after sufficient help arrived, i did want to unlock ,lock and unlock again the diff lock just to test it and listen for smoothness or possibly weirdness. Same with the 4lo knob.
I did notice that the diff lock at one point on my last test (i thought)when I finally reached the pavement that it stuck in the on position ONE TIME... could it just have been bc of the heavy use of the system or maybe the comp didnt like me engaging and disengaging the unit so much (4 times in 5 min)
Im just being an anal assbastard probably but I just wanted to know what Y'INS thought! Thx and sorry for hopefully wasting your time, again!
:artist:

:biggrin2: Ray :bigok:

 

[boston_kevin]

Since it was raining, I doubt you did any damage to the running gears/drive train. You have to remember that Dodge trucks weigh in around 6000 lbs (especially an older style). if he was stuck in the sand/mud, you could potentially double the amount of weight being pulled due to the resistance of the truck and the sand/mud holding it back. Best thing would have been to dig out the back wheels a little and give a lower angle to pull those wheels up and over. Since you were on a wet surface, you probably had some spinning of the tires.

Best things to have when off-roading:
shovel
snatch strap (stretches when pulled to provide greater pulling power)
36" board (I use a leftover piece of Trex decking)
a CB/cell phone.

 

[T?@\7]

YEAH, all things considered I honestly wish I would have just driven past em..... since I couldnt even get em out and potentially (but doubtfully) could have damaged my truck. :nono:
There were NO disheartening sounds made, no beeps or alarms of any type going off.... It just really caught me off guard when I realized that my engine was revving so high and freely while being locked + lo. I dont know if it was just the sound of the otherguys dual exhaust drowning out my hearing or something on my behalf, but I dont really think any damage has been done.
Today I tested the systems out again, engaging and diseng. thediff lock a few times and just listening as hard as I could for anything that sounded off and nothing did. I did hear a slight noise the first couple of times I engaged 4LO though, which i had never noticed before. I always liked how you could barely hear everything working.... but like I said, once or twice, there was a noise (not loud, i think/hope im being a pussy) when going into and coming out of 4lo. but i tried it again later this afternoon once i got home from school and it seemed to be back to its usual NOISELESS shift.
Im gonna take my truck in in about 500mi, so if anything strange happens between now and then ill have them weigh in and see what happens.


Its crazy how much this has been bothering me. The thought of damaging her like that brings me right to the thousand yard stare and cold sweats. :upset: :upset:

Thanks for the input BK! I def. should have let that drunk idiot sit there, and not wasted my time! live and learn.

 

[Even Steven]

What kind of strap did the guy have? Was it a snatch strap? You might want to try yanking instead of pulling next time. As long as you have the strap secured properly, it will be much friendlier to your 4Runner.

 

[T?@\7]

What kind of strap did the guy have? Was it a snatch strap? You might want to try yanking instead of pulling next time. As long as you have the strap secured properly, it will be much friendlier to your 4Runner.

It was a SUPER WIDE (4") yellow nylon, i think, strap. Your standard issue type..... I had it secured to the hitch fine...
Im always nervous to yank...... it just doesnt seem right. But i DONT have that much experience recovering folks, OR being recovered (HELL YEAH!), but practice makes perfect for sure.
It will take me sometime but I will eventually get over this
Since tommorow is friday, I think after class im going to cruise by the same spot and some others to more thoroughly analyze everything.

Thank you.

Ray (mr trucksensitive) :biggrin2:

 

[boston_kevin]

I think you did okay... Better to err on the side of caution than go full bore and regret it later. I got to see the full effects of a snatch strap versus a tow strap when I had my Jeep a bunch of years back. I tried to pull this guy out with a tow strap and the thing snapped and bent one of the tow hooks.

 

[Even Steven]

I think you did okay... Better to err on the side of caution than go full bore and regret it later. I got to see the full effects of a snatch strap versus a tow strap when I had my Jeep a bunch of years back. I tried to pull this guy out with a tow strap and the thing snapped and bent one of the tow hooks.

Yeah, the snatch straps seem to have an advantage when it comes to getting someone out of a really sticky situation because you can use the energy in the strap (the spring action) to help get the other vehicle moving.

 

[T?@\7]

What are the snatch straps made from?
looks like im going to buy one and also maybe a couple of hooks for the front, those 'hoops' are a pan in the ass.

 

[Even Steven]

What are the snatch straps made from?
looks like im going to buy one and also maybe a couple of hooks for the front, those 'hoops' are a pan in the ass.

You should never use those metal hooks! They can become a projectile!

 

[boston_kevin]

On the 4Runners, the metal hoops in the front are for tying the truck down during transport across the ocean and on the trains. These should not be used as a pulling point.

ARB has a nice snatch strap:
http://arbusa.com/snatch_straps.php

Most straps are made from nylon.

 

[T?@\7]

You should never use those metal hooks! They can become a projectile!

Shit, I guess you're right! Learning everyday
So if one is to not use the hoops on the front for recovery what would be a valid point of hookup up there, god forbid its needed.
Man if those things arent good tow point and used only for getting the truck across the pond then they should take em off once they get here! i have thought since day one that those were basically my 'tow hooks'.......damn, good thing i never stressed em.
Thanks alot guys for the input!
Im gonna buy one of the ARB straps, and say fvck pulling people out unless they are my friends....

 

[Even Steven]

Shit, I guess you're right! Learning everyday
So if one is to not use the hoops on the front for recovery what would be a valid point of hookup up there, god forbid its needed.
Man if those things arent good tow point and used only for getting the truck across the pond then they should take em off once they get here! i have thought since day one that those were basically my 'tow hooks'.......damn, good thing i never stressed em.
Thanks alot guys for the input!
Im gonna buy one of the ARB straps, and say fvck pulling people out unless they are my friends....

Get yourself a nice quality hitch schackle and you can pull all day long without causing any damage to your 4Runner.

 

[techno]

Im pretty sure the engine seeming to cut out on you is the traction control kicking in. It senses wheel spin through the abs sensors and automatically reduces engine power to the wheels, the theory being that you had more torque than available traction. It sort of works well but can scare the crap out of you when in snow and ice on busy roads. (probably not to much of that in FL tho!!)

 

[T?@\7]

Im pretty sure the engine seeming to cut out on you is the traction control kicking in. It senses wheel spin through the abs sensors and automatically reduces engine power to the wheels, the theory being that you had more torque than available traction. It sort of works well but can scare the crap out of you when in snow and ice on busy roads. (probably not to much of that in FL tho!!)

Im actually REALLY glad you chimed in, I was actually going to PM you to this thread.... but your here!Thanks for the input, and it seems as tho that is what happened, no damage done. But is it normal for the motor to rev to 3k-3.5k during that? Im pretty sure that ive experiencd the Trac. Control but....maybe not all the way..?Im really glad that no indicator lights have shown or no alarming beeps from the system at anytime (even at the most critical point) so Im feeling more and more comfortable with that fact that i didnt fuck anything up :-D

However, ive yet to get out and retest everythung again

 

[boston_kevin]

I thought you had the center locked... If this wasn't locked, the TRAC would have definitely kicked in and cut power. If this is locked, it should disable the VSC/TRAC.

 

[T?@\7]

Yessir, I had the center locked.

 

[CosRunner]

hitch shackle for pulling

T?@\7, good questions man. I'm trying to learn too and I've got a lot of the same questions.

I'm not sure I followed regarding the front hoops. Even Steven said not to use those if we get stuck and need pulled out, right? He said to use a quality hitch shackle. I'm not very familiar with what a hitch shackle is? Can you explain... any pics of one? How does a hitch shackle attach to the 4runner then?

And if we're pulling someone out, what's the best way to attach a snatch strap to the rear of our truck?

Thanks.

 

[T?@\7]

i have warpped a strap around my hitch and/ or used a shackle in the hitch reciever

 

[carpcguy]

Re: hitch shackle for pulling

Originally posted by CosRunner He said to use a quality hitch shackle. I'm not very familiar with what a hitch shackle is? Can you explain... any pics of one? How does a hitch shackle attach to the 4runner then?

Here's a pic of a hitch shackle... goes into your receiver like a normal trailer hitch.

http://www.tellico4x4.com/product_info.php/products_id/433