Got a quick question about towing since this is my first truck. Ill be going to the beach tomorrow with some friends and if i need to pull one of them out, Is it better to pull them out using the tow hitch in the back or the front tow hooks?

 

I'd def use the rear. I've never pulled anyone or anything out using my fronts. #1 don't want to scratch them and 2 they just don't seem as strong as the hitch..

 

Ya from the rear seems more logical. i just wanted some opinions just in case i was wrong

 

If you are pulling someone out always try and pull them out so that you are useing the forward gears if you can. Reverse is usually the weakest gear in the tranny. Granted there are times that you have to pull someone while reversing, but it is not recommended. So in other words use the hitch.

 

Quoted for truth.

Alway, no matter what make the attempt to pull somebody out using the rear as an anchor point and moving forward.

 

The best thing you could do would be stop by a Tractor Supply on the way and pick up one of these:



Along with a 30K LB strap and a D-ring shackle. Spend a few bucks and have the tools to do the job right.

 

Lonestar,

What everyone said is pretty much correct. The tow hooks on the front of the truck is more for when you get stuck and need a strap point, it is best to do recovery operations pulling from the rear if possible. Make sure you use either a strap or rope designed for vehicle recovery, not a chain. And if you are going to use the hitch read the notes near the bottom of this post here. https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=315131 (this pretty much echos JMBdeVotee)
Some people will tell you its fine to just loop it over the ball and go.. Trust me take the time to remove the ball hitch and use the receiver and pin, it is much safer. Cause the easiest way to ruin a weekend is to come back with damaged equipment or God forbid, someone hurt.

Good luck

 

A little of topic here, but I've been meaning to get a tow strap to have in my truck for quite a while now.

What would y'all recommend as the best kind of tow strap to get?

 

The recommendation for our size trucks seems to be a 30K LB strap. Everyone seems to also recommend the ProComp straps. Lots of topics about it if you do a search.
I planned to pick one up when I was going by 4 wheel parts in Charlotte last weekend but realized I passed the exit by 15 miles and did not want turn back since I had about 385miles to go to get home.
Perhaps we can get someone on here to setup a group buy for us.

Any good 30K LB strap should serve you well. Not a place you want to skimp on the cheap stuff!

 

If you have a Tractor Supply in your area, these are a good value. And you can get them in different sizes. They work great as long as you know how to use them. Most people really don't....
http://www.mytscstore.com/webapp/wcs...g=true&cFlag=1

Just remember the "weak link" rule for vehicle recovery. The weakest component will fail first, so you have to look at your set up. Figure out what component will fail first, and how will you do things different knowing that. Bottom line, do you want your strap to break before it rips your receiver off the back of the truck or the hook off the front of the Chevy you are pulling??? Or would you rather deal with a strap breaking and knowing that the energy in the strap will send it in both directions of people and vehicles.
Recovery straps and ropes are the less stressful on the vehicles as they are dynamic and have very little shock load effect when you use them. As being dynamic you need to know the stretch value and figure out how much that is in feet. Hook up the strap and drive it out to the full length and mark it, add the stretch value and mark that so you can see it from the cab of the truck. And NEVER stretch past that mark, as that will break the strap.

Sorry for rambling on when a simple answer would suffice.

 

Great, thanks guys, and Voodoo, that wasn't a ramble but rather a very informative post.

So a strap with loops would be best (as opposed to hooks)? How would you fit a 4 inch strap into a 2 inch receiver to get it around the pin? Can you fold it up and stuff it in there to make it work?

 

Well for the 4 inch strap, then you need a specific receiver like the one JMBdevotee has on his post. With a Clevis type receiver like he posted you can use 4" loop straps, and is a purpose built recovery system that is very easy to deploy.

Using the receiver and pin will work for smaller straps like was in the post I linked earlier.

 

I only want this strap for emergency purposes. I won't be doing recovery work on a regular basis, but it sure would be nice to have something in the truck for when I need one. Also, I'm not an offroader, at least I don't go out specifically to go offroading.

 

That's what they all say

 

No seriously, I don't. I got all that offroading stuff out of my system way back when I had a Dodge :o It was a brand new truck and I bent the rear axle the second day I had it! That was just for starters..lol
I only go offroad when I need to now. My truck is my daily driver.