[kvoman]

Someone mentioned when you're pulling a vehicle in mud or sand, then the vehicle being pulled should put in drive and give it gas to assist - That's a definite NO NO.

Based on my personal experience, trying to pull someone stuck in the mud and that person tried to help by giving it gas - all that is doing is: 1) make the stuck vehicle sink deeper in the mud/sand, 2) create a mud wall to make it much harder to pull, 3) the stuck vehicle could possibly become a sling shot and slam into your vehicle, 4) the stuck vehicle could hit hard pavement and break their gears, 5) all of the above.

When I tried to pull this guy out, he tried to give it gas and I couldn't get him out, he revved his engine, the tires were spinning like crazy but he just sat like a cement block, but the straps kept stretching longer and longer. We tried the sling shot pull but that didn't work either. There were two other full-size rigs (a Chevy and a Ford) and none of us could pull him out when he was trying to "HELP". Finally, I told him to shut the engine off, don't do anything, just let us pull him, and sure enough, it was pulled out with ease. I remember this situation well because I burned by winch trying to help him, the full size Chevy broke his axle, and the full size Ford gave up after two attempts.


Also, get a snatch block in addition to the shackle if you're going to do any pulling. It will double your pulling capacity. And, get a winch if you're really serious. This will allow you to pull from many different angles when combining with a snatch block and a shackle. One of the responder is absolutely right when he said to tie a rag/towel (at least one, if possible, put two and spread them over the length of the strap) over the strap - NEVER forget that step. The other benefit to having a winch and a steel bumper in the front is the additional protection it affords you in a frontal collision!!!