Pulling stuck vehicles out of the ditch with a tractor

[JRH02]

It can but to many people use a tow ball with a reduced shank in larger hole which fits loose. Or has been over torqued to stay tight and then the idiots doing the pulling or even the stuck vehicle get slack and then jerk on it, and then something breaks and trys to fly sometimes resulting in bad situations and injuries or damage.
Many times no damage just a startling surprise. A loop or clevis around a good tow ball and smoothly pulled on is not an issue when it gets jerked by jerks things happen.
An inch or inch and quarter shanked towball in the same sized drawbar isn't bad, but there are a lot of tow balls with 3/4" shanks sold and install in 1" drawbars.

Do it right:

 

[groundcover]

Some good info.

 

[deserteagle71]

I carry one of these in my rig all the time. Only mine is made out of solid aluminum, weighs very little. Better safe than sorry.

 

[ning]

If my tow ball can pull a 10,000Lb trailer; why can't it pull, not jerk, a stuck vehicle?

If the vehicle is stuck on ice or just a bit of mud, no worries.

If it's stuck in deep mud, the forces necessary to pull a vehicle out may be double or triple the weight of the vehicle, at which point the tow hitch - or something else on one or both vehicles - may fail.

 

[grsthegreat]

i dont know...i usually pull someone out every year. i have a hook on the front frame, or can use rear drawbar with clevis if i dont have something attached.

 

[Torvy]

States need to all have good Samaritan laws that make lawsuits against someone trying to help almost impossible to win...like they must prove intent to damage/harm.

 

[4570Man]

States need to all have good Samaritan laws that make lawsuits against someone trying to help almost impossible to win...like they must prove intent to damage/harm.

Even if you do win lawsuits can be financially devastating. The consequences for filing frivolous claims should be severe.

 

[Benny Blue]

Whether you are driving a Tractor, truck or car… I don’t think you should try to “unstuck” anyone by pulling from the front of your tractor/vehicle (by going in reverse).
Something about being really bad for the gears.

Just something I heard a while back and it’s always stuck with me.

 

[j13smiley]

Not saying to do it, but I thought reverse was usually one of the strongest gears.

 

[DarkBlack]

You’re using 90% of the same gears in reverse. No gears are harmed