4x4 Pulling a Vehicle Out of a Ditch in Snow

Hi everyone,

I recently bought a 2022 Trd off road. The truck has been great but today I attempted to pull my buddy out of a ditch (in a snowstorm). I put the truck into 4 low but was unsuccessful in pulling him out. While I was trying, all 4 wheels were spinning in the snow and the truck started shaking from the wheels slipping. My question is, did I do any damage to the transfer case, transmission, etc. by having the wheels slip and the truck shake? It’s my first truck and new vehicle so I am paranoid about taking care of it. Any advice and info helps. A lot of this is new to me. Thank you.

 

No

 

No. Welcome to owning a truck. Aren't they cool?

 

No, you likely didn't do any damage. Prolonged shaking, or doing that on a surface with lots of traction can do some damage though.

For an extraction get a dynamic recovery strap or rope, learn how to use it properly. And ease into how much bounce you give on a pull.

Just pulling a static strap tight and pulling isn't very likely to unstuck a vehicle unless you have a lot of torque and a good surface to pull from.

 

Truck is ruined, it's worth maybe $1 now.

Out of the kindness of my heart I'll give you $10 though.

 

I'll take the locker, I doubt there is much damage done to it!

 

No.

Get a kinetic rope for recoveries.

 

It's fine. Don't need to baby a Toyota. Just do the maintenance and you're good for 20 years.

 

This ^
I would recommend the deadman kit

 

Also, take an off roading and recovery 101 class. Will help out tremendously.

 

You’re good man. Tires were slipping because the stock tires suck

 

On my first 4wd I tried to pull a guy out of the ditch. I had the same result as you. Next I left slack in the rope and sling shot him out of the ditch no problem. So lesson learned !!

 

Thank you everyone! I appreciate the feedback and jokes lol. Happy to be a part of this little community. Super cool. I’ll look into getting a recovery kit!

 

Welcome to Tacoma World and congratulations on the new truck!

 

No, you’re fine.

The truck doesn’t isn’t heavy enough and doesn’t have enough traction in snow to pull out the other truck.

Especially if you stretched the tow strap out until it was tight and then began pulling - no way.

Best bet in this environment is a snatch strap that will stretch and kind of gently work your way into the pull so it’s more of a “jerk” as opposed to a slow and steady pull. Don’t try to yank like this with a strap that doesn’t stretch though, you’ll regret it.

 

I'm more surprised the op's tacoma didn't pull his buddy from the ditch. It had to be in there really good. These trucks are unreal in snow, and i have only the goodyear adventure tires on mine that are suppose to suck.

 

As mentioned above, it's technique as much as power. My snatching strap is well over 20 years old and it's snatched a few stuck vehicles (including mine once) as well as tree stumps out of the ground. It's on it's third 4x4 Taco and still going and I don't leave home w/o it.

 

All 4 wheels spinning? Tacoma's come with front lockers nowadays?

 

What was your buddy's vehicle. I pulled out a little VW something or other with just a regular strap but I would struggle probably to pull out a Kenworth C 540.