questions on winching, tow ropes, cables, and straps, for vehicles off and on road?

Question

Have a 4x4 Gmc Sonoma truck -4300lbs. i want to get one of those hand wiches/come alongs(for portability) link: http://www.drpower.com/prdSell.aspx?Name=4TonComeAlong&p1Name=Garage&Chap=GarageTools. first, what do you think of them are they worth it? when i go off road and get stuck i need something to get me out if im the bigger 4x4. (no help from buddies). or to hook it to my vehicle for an anchor to help someone else out of a jam? do do these things hold up? second is the pulling capacity of tow ropes, straps or chains really a factor? some say 4k lb limit, 8 limit lb, 10k+lb limit. even the tow chains have like a 8k lb limit. its a metal chain! it should tow or pull a *#$% load right!? maybe the tow ropes would have a small tow capacity, but not so much the tow straps, and definitely not the chains? im not new to off roading, but am to towing and capacity. looking to bring the above winch/come along and like 50ft of towing meterial with me, and want to get the right stuff. help.

also i don't want to spend much money, for its not like i'm a pro. just do it for fun on the weekends every once in again. probally in the next 6 months im going to bet a bigger 4x4 pickup (full size 1500). so i want to get meterial this time that will work with my future truck as well. thanks

Answer 1

A come along isn't anywhere near strong enough. I had the same idea once and I tried what seemed like all of them. Every time it looked like Mike Tyson in the ring with Pee Wee Herman. You will need at least a 6,000 pound electric winch with a snatch block to double your pulling power. You really need a 8,000 pound winch and if you are running big tires a 9,000 pounder will be a better choice. But you will still need the snatch block to be able to double your pulling power. I learned that the biggest part of getting un-stuck is overcoming the suction from the mud and it takes a huge amount of force to do this. I also learned that like you said, the chains are not as strong as you would think. A tow strap was slightly stronger than the come along. Waste of time. An actual snatch strap works ok, but will eventually break. Try a cable (wire rope) and go big - really big, as in about an inch in diameter. A cable will give (stretch) a slight amount before it will break where as a chain will not. A cable also cost a lot less than a chain. Be sure that whatever you hook to is mounted extremely well to your truck - especially if you need to snatch a little bit. A plain receiver type Reese hitch really isn't up to it. You need to be well attached to the frame - if you don't attach to the frame the carnage will bring tears to your eyes. I had pretty good luck with heavy tow hooks bolted to the frame with grade eight bolts or going to a custom welder and getting them to custom make a really heavy receiver hitch. If you need to snatch, place a heavy blanket over the cable about middle ways between the trucks just in case it breaks - this will greatly dampen the giant whipping action and never, ever hook to a hitch ball. A hitch ball can sheer off when snatching and it will come through someones truck back window like a cannon ball. A two inch draw bar with a large clevis worked very well for me. Good luck

Answer 2

First thing, never never pull with a chain. All it takes is a little jerk and that load rating will be over exceeded.
The come-along in the link will probably not do what you would expect, you want to go with a chain come-along.
For pulling with another vehicle the best is a long bungee type strap, not a solid nylon strap & one with no hooks...just loops.
As far as load rating goes, overkill is your best lifeline when beating and thrashing trying to tow somebody out of a bad hole.
A chain is good for use when pulling with a comealong but not with another vehicle.

Answer 3

Why do human beings gripe about 4x4s a lot? I have a medium 4x4, a Toyota RAV-4. i pick it as I stay interior the Highlands of Scotland and we get a lot of snow right here interior the wintry climate. Being the Highlands that is likewise somewhat hilly. I stay in a distant section and can't locate the money for to be stranded through a cissy automobile. i'm getting 40 seven mpg so as that squashes any argument about being gas guzzlers. I had an Avensis once and that did a lot less miles to the gallon than the RAV-4. i'm short and relish the better utilising position as i am going to make certain extra perfect. the line tax is an similar as a automobile, my coverage develop into in common words £157 this year,totally comp., as I have 21 years no-declare bonus. A 4x4 is extra rugged and able to towing some thing could I ever pick to. that is going to take the canines, determining to purchase, human beings - abruptly. i have no little ones, so do not blame me about the college run. Please end moaning about them. they're tremendous and that i does no longer have some thing else.