Tow rope or chain.

[ArlyA]

Exactly, we hardly never tow any heavy vehicles out anymore and nylon straps is what we carry. Love then and don't weight much.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

With the kinetic ropes a good yank is what makes them work so well. And neither rig gets a sudden hard jerk.

Very true, but the forces involved are still higher than with a steady pull, all other things being equal.

I started my unstucking career with chains (broke quite a few), then went to straps when they became available where I lived.

Kinetic ropes are another level better yet, and I have a few. Still haven't had to use one, though. Guess it's similar to that it hasn't really snowed much since I got a snowblower.

 

[CalG]

This is just not accurate at all. I have witnessed many broken chains whipping and causing damage/ injuries.

Many? You must be in the wrong place at the right time a lot!

I've only broken three chains pulling stumps/ Each "event" was un-eventful.

 

[Torvy]

I keep a light duty tow rope curled up high on the RTV usually for pulling out the ZT when it gets stuck in mud as shown in the picture below. Sometimes the RTV gets stuck also that is where I get the tractor or excavator and use a chain or much bigger tow strap. Chains should not be used to jerk or on much bigger vehicles stuck really hard.

View attachment 941147

I've got that same AC unit!

 

[John_Mc]

When it is a difficult stuck vehicle I will use this tow strap. It absorbs the energy and stretches and snaps back and multiples the towing force and jerks the stuck vehicle back a little. Sometimes have to do it a few times but it allows a smaller vehicle to perform beyond its weight class

View attachment 954251

What you are describing is a RECOVERY strap, not a tow strap. Tow straps are designed to minimize their stretch and should not be used to jerk something out. They are made for steady pulls. A recovery strap is designed to be elastic, and works as you describe.

 

[kozal01]

Many? You must be in the wrong place at the right time a lot!

I've only broken three chains pulling stumps/ Each "event" was un-eventful.

Spent years in a line haul unit in the Army. Hauled millions of pounds of junk on 30,000+ miles of the worst maintained and most dangerous roads in the world in Iraq, we broke a lot of chains.