I need to tow my car out of the ditch. I search on-line about tow ropes. How do I know what "strength" I need. My Forester weights about 3000lbs. Tow ropes has many rating. Pulling, towing, and of course the material. So I can't go by 3000lbs. OR can I??? I would like to get one a little more than for my Subaru incase I buy a bigger car next time. Any help would be great.

 

Get a rope rated at least 1500 pounds more then what you are pulling. When you pull put a blanket in the center of rope just incase it should break it will stop it from whiping around.
Or better yet you can call the tow guy.He will get your car out.

 

Thanks for the plug, michael, didn't want to chime in and sound like I was drumming up business. Among other things a qualified tow guy will know where and how to connect and you won't risk damaging either the stuck vehicle or the vehicle you are using to pulll the stuck on out. Simple winch out for me is $45.

 

I own a 4wd truck with a front mounted winch and wince everytime I see a newer vehicle stuck in my rural area.
There are getting to be fewer places to fasten a tow rope, especially when the stuck-one is wedged into the snow bank.

The tow rope should have at least twice the capacity of the vehicle you are pulling.
If the rope were to break you would wind up with a fast flying missile.

 

Few days ago, I'd post a question in regards to tow rope or chain. I was able to get my car out of the ditch without any difficulties. I used a 14' tow rope with hooks at each ends. I was fortunate nothing went wrong. I search more info on tow ropes and came across Vehicle Recovery Straps with loops. From what I read IT IS safer for pulling a vehicle out of the ditch vs a tow rope which is design for towing a vehicle not pulling a vehicle out. So my question is, how do i attach the loops to my Forester if it only has a tow "loop" and not a hook? What if both cars has loops instead of hooks. Do I need to buy a D-shackle for each ends or can i be a hook?

 

I'm sorry, but I just can't resist asking; just how often are you planning on being stuck and needing to be pulled out?

Ideally when you hook on to pull out, you will hook onto a portion of the vehicle that is made for it, i.e. t-hook slots in the frame, rear axle (RWD vehicles), class III trailer hitch, or other major structural member that can take the strain. For most of these attaching points, a strap with a simple loop on the ends can be difficult to hook up. Most of my winching job hook-ups are done with a large J-hook (about 90% of the time) or T-hook (the other 10%).

A good source for pretty much anything you might need is www.awdirect.com. NOTE: I DO NOT RECOMMEND USING EQUIPMENT THAT YOU ARE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED TO USE; YOU MAY DAMAGE THE VEHICLE(S) AND INJURE OR KILL YOURSELF.

 

Tonykwong, The Tow Guy gave you a solid advice, please take a moment and think about it, there's some thing you can do it yoursefl and there's something that need a professional touch, in your case, if I were you I'd pay for the tow guy to gets mine out and get it over with rather than risk my life or others if something bad happen, I know you try to save some bucks here but does it worth the risk?.

 

New Guy - I agreed with you. I wouldn't risk my life over a stuck vehicle. I do have AAA but some time is just easier to do it yourself. The_Tow_Guy - I hope I don't need to be pulled out. Out of the 20 years of driving, I have none. But I can't say that about my wife. GregH - "fast flying missile" I was very fortunate that didn't occur. That is why I read about the recovery straps vs. tow ropes when pulling a stuck car out. Thank you everyone for your input.

 

I also got stuck one time in sand with my 3/4 ton pickup long story short I was pulled out with a chain around a frame member under the engine, However a solid brake line was attached to the back side running from one side to the next it got crushed. Did not see it in the back.

 

That is why it is always best to let the person who's stuck hook up the chain if you are going to pull someone out.

I suspect it is one of the reasons TG pays the insurance man more of his pay than he'd like to

 

The proper wording should be "a LOT more". It works out to about $4 per call averaged out over the year.

 

This thread has brought back many fond memories from 30 years ago. I can't tell you how many tow calls I finally got after some genius with a big honking 4wd and a chain:

1) Tore substantial parts off the front or rear of a vehicle; bumpers, sway bars, steering linkages, etc.

2) Hooked up on the high side rather than the lowest point of a vehicle that was off the road on a downward slope, flipping the vehicle at least onto it's side, if not onto the roof!

All because, "If we call one of those tow guys, it'll cost us a fortune."

You just can have that much fun without having to buy tickets!!

 

Anyone who is planning ahead and thinks about a diy rescue would do well to have a trailer hitch installed on their vehicle and a tow ring on the front if their vehicle is "truck like".
I have been planning to install a small loop of wire rope on the front of the wife's mini-van but will likely wait until after she needs it.