Never use a tow ball for recovery.

[Prescottmojave]

Here is an unfortunate reminder not use use a tow ball for recovery,

https://www.azfamily.com/2022/08/06...roper-towing-techniques-after-husbands-death/

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[TheGreatCO]

That's horrible. I bought a Factor55 insert for the tow hitch, I have to imagine there are similar risks with that. Makes me think twice about using it with a kinetic rope.

 

[dcmdon]

I saw this. Tragic.

But even if you accept that you shouldn't use a ball. This example was an extreme case. The hitch had like a 8 inch drop. So the ball was cantilevered way down which put huge stress on the welds where the drop attached to the drawbar.

One other thing. Lets pretend you don't have dedicated recovery points. You can always remove the drawbar, insert the recovery rope into the receiver and put the pin in.

If it fails all you are dealing with at that point is the rope itself.

 

[Lunentucker]

I know a fellow who caught a broken hitch like that through a windshield and in his head.
He was about 14 when it happened. They didn't think he was going to make it.
He's about 40 now, but he's been through decades of therapy and rehabilitation.
If you talk with him for long enough you get used to the way he speaks, and he's pretty easy to understand.
It's clear that his mind can process thoughts and ideas, understand conversation, etc., but he struggles to get those thoughts processed into words. Like a bad dial up connection between the origin and the destination.
He's a good spirited fellow and a kind and loving human being, but he lives in that prison of no walls or bars, and that's where he'll likely die.
He lost his dad a few years ago, who was there when the accident happened.
I pray that his mom stays in good health and is able to stay with him for as long as possible.
I'm not sure he can live independently, but he can drive and shop, so maybe.
His prospects of finding a mate are pretty slim.

So yeah... be careful.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Here is an unfortunate reminder not use use a tow ball for recovery,

https://www.azfamily.com/2022/08/06...roper-towing-techniques-after-husbands-death/

The strap I got, the winch, and some other accessories I have all have cards with warnings.
It's really sad when people end up in these situations.
I learned not with Jeeps, but on the farm with tractors, 4x4 trucks, heavy chains and so on. My then father in law was extremely strict about that stuff - and you stayed BACK out of the line of fire.
I'm paranoid anyway. I know Murphy sits on my shoulder just waiting to remind me of his laws.

Lets pretend you don't have dedicated recovery points. You can always remove the drawbar, insert the recovery rope into the receiver and put the pin in.

Still it's an "if all else fails" or you have nothing else thing because the strap or rope is making a sharp bend around that pin. Not ideal, but better than the ball thing.

 

[jac04]

Yes, be careful out there. Sometimes we get complacent, taking risks that we shouldn't. This is a reminder that safety should come first in any recovery situation.

I know that there are times where you don't want to be "that guy" that points out something being done wrong with a recovery, but someone's life could depend on it, so don't be afraid to speak up. I often find myself having to clear spectators out of the 'danger zones' during a pull.

 

[dcmdon]

The strap I got, the winch, and some other accessories I have all have cards with warnings.
It's really sad when people end up in these situations.
I learned not with Jeeps, but on the farm with tractors, 4x4 trucks, heavy chains and so on. My then father in law was extremely strict about that stuff - and you stayed BACK out of the line of fire.
I'm paranoid anyway. I know Murphy sits on my shoulder just waiting to remind me of his laws.



Still it's an "if all else fails" or you have nothing else thing because the strap or rope is making a sharp bend around that pin. Not ideal, but better than the ball thing.

I'm not questioning you, frankly, I'm pretty novice at this. But am generally mechanically minded.

Correct me if I'm wrong but for a straight tow this should be fine even as a first use. But for a dynamic recovery what you said makes total sense.

 

[kevman65]

You can use a receiver based recovery device with no concerns IF it is a solid piece of steel.

Not only was that hitch an 8" drop, it was square tube.

 

[Geoarch]

Here is an unfortunate reminder not use use a tow ball for recovery,

https://www.azfamily.com/2022/08/06...roper-towing-techniques-after-husbands-death/

Truly tragic. I always use a winch blanket on the cable. It's never been an issue, but you never know.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm not questioning you, frankly, I'm pretty novice at this. But am generally mechanically minded.

I think we're both mostly novice. I've done tractors - using chains, but those were straight pulls, never any "jerking" or stored energy in straps - just with a very large and heavy chain can store and release.
The idea of straps and ropes - you want the bend to be gradual, otherwise with a sharp bend or curve, as going around a small pin (and by small, I mean a radius a lot smaller than the devices that go into receivers made to do the job, would have.
A rope going around a small pin is actually only holding on the outer part of the rope. The inner part against the pin is compresses. The outer part of the rope is stretched. So whatever the rope is rated at on a straight pull - take a fraction of that at the point it bends around a pin. The compressed part of the rope in the inside of the circle against the pin isn't doing anything. That leaves the load or stress to be handled by the part of the rope on the outside of the curve around the pin.

I'm not saying it can't be done. I'm sure people here have done it - but there's better ways.
It's got me thinking of buying one of those pieces that slips into the receiver to handle such occasions.

 

[jac04]

You can use a receiver based recovery device with no concerns IF it is a solid piece of steel.

The receiver hitches themselves are not necessarily rated or designed for recovery loads. Even if the part that goes into the receiver is rated by the manufacturer for some crazy high load, you still need to look at the weakest link.

 

[Jefe1018]

This is freaking tragic. No other way around it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The receiver hitches themselves are not necessarily rated or designed for recovery loads. Even if the part that goes into the receiver is rated by the manufacturer for some crazy high load,

you still need to look at the weakest link.

She'd agree.........

Yes, great points. Even the front receivers sold for these have different numbers for towing, tongue weight and straight pulls, etc. Be VERY VERY careful using those for a winch or recovery. They are rated for 9,000 pounds only in that case - and then that's a STRAIGHT pull.
I'd bet similar for the rear receiver - ignore the towing numbers, when using it for recovery - it's likely to be different and then those are rated for straight loads, nothing pulling on them at any angle.
Again, good points to remember.

 

[dcmdon]

I'm not saying it can't be done. I'm sure people here have done it - but there's better ways.
It's got me thinking of buying one of those pieces that slips into the receiver to handle such occasions.

I was thinking the same thing. But when I started thinking about risk, you now have that piece that can come flying back at you if the hitch pin breaks.

I'm not saying its worse. Just that it introduced enough uncertainty in the decision that I decided to do nothing. Ha.

In the 7 months I've had my Gladiator, I've rescued 1 person. And it was a simple straight pull out of the snow, with no running start. So hardly a defining moment.

Shadow - Did you end up getting SelecTrack on your new truck?? If yes, you are going to love it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

In the 7 months I've had my Gladiator, I've rescued 1 person. And it was a simple straight pull out of the snow, with no running start. So hardly a defining moment.

Shadow - Did you end up getting SelecTrack on your new truck?? If yes, you are going to love it.

I wish I had taken a couple of pics pulling the guy's car out after that ice/snow we had. Most of all, I wish I had a picture of the big smile he and his brother had as I got his car onto the highway.
It was mostly a straight pull in my case. I had to stay where there was rough ice due to the rocks along the side of the road or my truck would have slid on the ice (although the truck driver that pulled behind me said we could chain my truck to his)
His car was slightly off to the left down in the snow. I tried to park well back so the angle wasn't too great.
It was all winch work.
It was nice being able to stand off to the side and use the remote.

Yes, I did get SelecTrack on the new one. I figure with the good tires and that option it should be a great winter truck.

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