pulling a vehicle out: do it in R or D?

simple · January 13, 2005

Was wondering if it makes any difference if I use my tow hooks in the front to pull a vehicle out using reverse, or if I should just attatch it to my class 3 receiver in the rear and use drive. Are there pros and cons to each method? Does it matter stress wise on the transmission or the engine which method someone uses?

1998 Z71 5.7L

Shawn T · January 13, 2005

I would drive forward and use 1. I am almost posative that 1st gear in the 4L60E is lower than reverse. Also those tow hooks you have on the front are for emergencies only. They should be used only when you have to be pulled out from the front end. I have seen these hooks snap before. It is not pretty. They are cast iron, so they are weak and non-forgiving. Use a reciever hitch on the rear that has the large clevace or a reciever with a welded eye. Even a reciever with the tow strap looped over the ball is better than tying to the recovery hooks. Besides if the chain or strap brakes I would rather have a dent in my tailgate than in my forehead.

asilverblazer · January 13, 2005

I've heard first gear is built stronger than the reverse gear.

71GMC_3/4T · January 13, 2005

I guess I'm not with the majority here. I pretty much always use the front of the truck and pull backwards.

I use 4-low on the 5 speed in reverse, so gear reduction helps a lot. I also don't yank, just ease up tight and increase tension slowly. If the person being pulled spins his tires wildly, I let off, drive forward, unhook, and leave. I ain't gonna pull out a moron like that.

I also like the fact that I can 'wiggle' the truck side to side if I need to hunt for an area with better traction.

To each his own...

Raymond Lowe · January 13, 2005

Your rear differential and driveshaft are able to take far more abuse than the front. Check out the size difference! Reverse gear is usually much more fragile than a forward gear on a manual transmission. Can't speak for an automatic.

If the pull is a light one, such as a small vehicle on the level, it probably wouldn't really matter. If it's a hard pull, such as a full-size vehicle out of an incline, face the vehicle away from it.

redvett · January 14, 2005

Was wondering if it makes any difference if I use my tow hooks in the front to pull a vehicle out using reverse, or if I should just attatch it to my class 3 receiver in the rear and use drive. Are there pros and cons to each method? Does it matter stress wise on the transmission or the engine which method someone uses?

1998 Z71 5.7L

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Pulling from the tow hooks is putting a real strain on the frame. I have seen vehicles that pulled a vehicle actually pull one rail and cause the truck to drive side track. Best is to pull from the platform hitch since its equal distribution on the frame. And all transmissions are stronger in there forward gears.

mw243 · January 14, 2005

If it's a hard pull, go with foward. I broke an 18,000# rated tow strap before, and was glad the back of the truck took the abuse. You can also see where your heading better in foward.

Reverse should work if it's a light pull, like a car stuck in snow, IMO.

hihosilverado · January 14, 2005

Well this is what someone with my off road credentials would recommend. Only use your reciever attached to a clevis and use a kinetic recovery rope with looped ends (no metal hooks). This is a pretty foolproof method as the rope gives a little so it will not be as hard on your truck and springs back almost like a bungee helping free the stuck vehicle. I would never use a chain or one of the front hooks to yank someone out of the mud. Now, I will mention that I have no off road credentials, which is why this is the perfect method! It is very hard to damage your truck doing it this way. I am sure that professional off roaders and tow people know how to properly use front tow hooks and a chain, or metal ended straps. I have just seen too many people who dont know what they are doing get caught up in the moment trying to jerk someone out only to find a hook come flying through their back window. Personally, I would never use a method that could potentially damage your truck. Also, I have heard you should never attach a rope to a hitch ball.

Yukon04 · January 14, 2005

We make a sport out of getting trucks stuck. Always use forward gears if you can..

tmf6902 · January 14, 2005

I always use my hitch and drive forward.....My license plate and I can attest to having ropes snap, it's not pretty, and I am pretty d**n sure that had I not been using the hitch, I would be the proud new owner of a new radiator......I also like the kintetic tow straps that someone mentioned....not sure if we're thinking of the same thing...but they have a bit a stretch to them...so it simulates yanking.....I usually do it in 4 lo 1st gear and just use brute power(but no wheel spinning and no yanking)......Of course I only do it in sand...never tried snow.

All that being said.......if it's some jackass in a rental AWD subaru......all bets are off.......then it's just time for fun.....

carguru · January 14, 2005

Forward gears and definitely the tow straps with a receiver mounted clevis. Much less likely to damage either vehicle.

potz1999 · January 14, 2005

Most everyone has said hook from the rear and drive forward. I would agree with the logic. As an interesting note, when I had my Jeep, most other Jeepers said the opposite: hook from the front and back up. I don't know if that is a Jeep thing, but I had more success that way with my Jeep. With my GMC, definately use the rear hitch to mount the strap.

bigdogs · January 15, 2005

On the Allison, reverse is a lower gear than 1st, so in that aspect it may help. However I do agree the tow hitch and the rear axle are built more for pulling than the front. (altho Ford's commercial shows them pulling 19K backwards with the tow hooks). I have done both ways, thankfully with no bad results.

Truckman031 · January 15, 2005

I would pull from the back. The main reason being, it is easier on the frame, and the hitch is stronger. Also, like someone said, if the rope breaks I'd rather have it hit my truck then me.

Matt_ · January 15, 2005

Food for thought...

anyone ever seen the inside of their differentials? The teeth are curved. They're meant to take abuse going forward- not reverse. I'd be weary trying to pull a lot in reverse thinking about the damage to the diffs alone.