Our Tacomas and recovering other vehicles- what to do and what not to do?

So I was at the beach the other day with my two boys and brother. An old school, diesel, full sized Ford was dug in pretty deep in the sand ahead of me. I walked up offering to help and maybe yank him out. Long story short, he had difficulties engaging his locker but once he was able to engage it, he freed his truck.

So my question, would I have made a mistake trying to snach him out with my Taco?

Are there certain trucks you wouldn't try to snatch out using your truck?

Thanks!

 

Any time you can help out a fellow citizen get out of a bind, do it. Doesn't matter what they choose to drive.

 

There is no reason not to offer your assistance. If you help effect a recovery, you're a hero, if not, you get credit for the offer. Win...Win

 

As long as the gear you are using is for full size trucks, like shackles and straps. It should be fine.

Any recovery gives you knowledge for next time.

 

I don't know...I used to feel that way but one time up in Big Bear a few years ago, there was an enormous snow storm (biggest they'd seen in 10 years) and people were stuck left and right all over the roads. I was trodding along in my truck and saw this Nissan Sentra or something stuck in a snowbank trying to get out. Pulled over, grabbed my recovery strap and shackle and told him I'd help, and to wait while I hook up my strap.

As I have my hand in his wheel well with my head in front of the bumper trying to look for a recovery point, the idiot gives it gas and starts spinning his tires. If my hand had been elsewhere in there it would have taken it off, or if he had gotten traction he would have run me over.

After that I stood up, calmly but full of adrenaline walked back to my truck and left him there lol. He had no idea what was happening. I don't feel bad about it one bit

 

I have always helped all stuck folks if they are in need and not already being helped out. Paying forward good deeds like that go a long way when you are in a similar situation.

That's always the way I have seen it.

 

Yeah... I get your point. Need to assess the situation ahead of time and only help in cases where you won't put yourself or others in danger.

 

yeah definitely assess, but one thing I should have done (and always do now) is make it very clear to wait until I'm back in my truck and pulling before they give it gas. I figured that time by saying 'wait till I hook you up' it would have been clear to the guy but some people can't be trusted to be smart

 

Okay good to know. I was more then willing to help for sure. Just wasn't sure if there was a risk I was taking with his truck being the size it was. I have solid recovery gear, so in the future, Ill be there to help guys if need be!

 

with a proper strap that can do two things:

stretches under load
drops to the ground when/if it snaps or busts, instead of whipping back

the sky is the limit really.

suggest 4lo and your own locker if you got one for the first attempt, don't
beat your trucky up needlessly

 

Ran across a lady Friday night that somehow missed her turn into an apartment complex and was teetering over a ditch. How she managed that is truly mind bottling . I have a tow chain in the truck and offered to help. But apparently she had already called a tow truck. So I went on my way.

I'm assuming a strap would be better than a chain (the chain was free)? Maybe something like this:

$46 SmittyBilt TOW STRAP 3IN X 30FT - SBCC330

https://www.amazon.com/Smittybilt-CC330-30-Recovery-Strap/dp/B001CF4UXU

Also on a stock truck, would the front recovery hook be a good place to hook up?

 

Pulling big full size trucks isn't an easy task for a Tacoma, especially if they are stuck in sand. When I was at Pismo dunes last year we tried to help pull out a 2wd Dodge Ram that somehow miraculously made it a mile or so out into the dunes. We had to link our 3 Tacomas up to get him out of the deep soft sand he buried in, and even then couldn't get him very far before he'd sink again and stop all of us. He ended up having to flag down another big full size that was in the area (with 4wd) that was able to get him out.

I think it depends on if they just need a quick tug out of something or if they need to be pulled along for a stretch

 

Quite the predicament for the poor old Dodge!

 

yeah sand is no joke, especially when it's really deep/soft beach sand.

 

Recovery strap is great when a vehicle is stuck. As it absorbs energy and works like a giant rubberband. Much safer then using a towing chain, especially if you are yanking.
I know the TRD Or's come with a recovery hook bolted to the frame in the front. I dont believe the other models do. Instead they have a tow tie down, which really isnt meant to be used as a recovery point. Always best to recover with your truck moving forward in gear and not in reverse.

 

Yeah that's a good point to make, something I didn't learn until later on - do not pull someone using reverse if you can help it. And never use tow straps with the metal hooks on the end, those break and that hook becomes a lethal projectile.

 

idiot question here but curious: what's the issue/risk or pulling in reverse?

 

Something to do with the coast side of the ring and pinion...when you pull in reverse you're using that side of it and it's much weaker/prone to failure under the kinds of forces involved in recovery.

Obviously people back up trailers and stuff in reverse all the time without issue, but a recovery of a stuck vehicle involves more force and pulling usually

 

i would assume then thats due to always driving (loading) one side causing work hardening of that side of the gear teeth? can't imagine they would come from the factory made like that... thanks for the reply

 

Just don’t be a hero and get your self stuck or worse, hurt. Remember that all the cautionary tails people tell about straps with metal hooks were written in blood.

Matt’s off-road recovery is a great YouTube channel and I have learned a few good techniques and tricks watching him.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdVOry0oNF9WIe_3uCfz9Q