Towing: From the front or from the rear?

[Positive Vibes]

I was up wheeling at a little spot called La Grange. It had rained alot the past couple of days so I wanted to go play and watch. I was by myself so I didn't plan on doing any hard core wheeling. Long story short. I ended up pulling out 3 vehicles. One was a F-250 diesel. He tried to go a 40 foot hill and his front hub went out. He ended up side ways on the hill. So I hooked up to my front bumper from Kennesaw to his front and pulled him (with the help of his back tire) up the hill. No prob. Then I had to pull two different stock '84 jimmy blazers off of thier axels in the mud. I like pulling with my front so I can see what's going on but I'm not sure if this is the best for the truck. What do you guys think. Any input or questions welcome. Thanks.

Oh, I love watching peoples faces as the X comes and saves the day. I had a lot of people impressed and quite a few compliments.

 

[expo5.0]

i vote for from the back! for real though, its just a personal preference issue if the situation warrants one or the other just do it.

 

[arturogof]

I would say it is the same thing, no damage at all to the truck if you pull using your front end.
I know that on reverse you have more torque than on 1st gear. That would be a plus for pulling backwards.

And as you mentioned, that way you can see what is going on.

It is funny, Every time I go wheelin, I end up pulling everyone's 4x4 out of the mud.
Mine is a 95 XLT 4x2 but I am the only one with a winch.
People just don't understand!!!LOL

 

[ahhjaws]

I only pull people out from the rear, but that is because I don't have a good connecting site in the front. I'm sure it doesn't matter where though.

 

[expo5.0]

ahhjaws

 

[Byrd91]

To me pulling from the back (or pulling forward) would make more sense. Our 8.8 and leaf spring suspension is more up the the abuse then IFS or TTB and a Dana 35, seems like if you pull from the front you're more likely to put more strain on the front end then the rear.

 

[EliteConcept]

get it from behind! hehehehe

i dunno i got tow hooks in the back of my X haven't had to use them to pull out any hondas yet.

 

[410Fortune]

I agree. If its a heavy truck, like an F-250 I would stick with the rear receiver, otherwise you are using Reverse and I would rather be in 1st, low range, 4x4.

If it;s a light truck like a Toyota or Heep, ha! just yank em out with the front or rear.....

The front is good for launching jet ski's for people with HUGE campers who cant seem to get it in the water and cause a huge long line at the ramp...or for getting pulled out yourself.......

 

[Alec]

Also, I'd be more inclined to use the rear for towing. This is because you're less likely to mess up important frame sections.

 

[jjue]

Before the tow hooks, i only pulled from the rear with my Class III trailer hitch. After the tow hooks, usually pull from the front unless the situation warrants otherwise, such as having to jerk a vehicle out or to awkward to pull from the front.

 

[D]

I think the gears in your diff are stronger in forward than in reverse. That is why there is reverse cut gears for use in the front end in some trucks. If you have the same diffs front and rear you can use the exact same gear sets for f&R but the front will be weaker because it is turning the opposite way the rear is, the gears are stronger in one direction than the other that is why you put reverse cut gears in the front. The direction of cut in reverse cut gears are opposite of direction of cut in normal gears. That is why front diffs are usually reverse cut and a diff is stronger in forward than in reverse.

 

[Crankcase]

One good reasdon for rear towing is safety.

If the stuck person has welded on towhooks, or the line snaps, the flying debris can come flying right through the windshield.....You want see what is going on, but you probably wouldn't want to see that coming straight at you:

 

[Positive Vibes]

Crankcase: Good point!

Lots of good input. Anybody else have any feedback?

 

[arturogof]

Buy a winch, I just got the new WARN 9.5TI and it is awesome!!!! You can pull whatever you want and it is very fast!!!!!

 

[Positive Vibes]

arturogof: I agree but I haven't won the lottery yet. I can't afford one yet.

 

[blichy]

Originally posted by Crankcase
One good reasdon for rear towing is safety.

If the stuck person has welded on towhooks, or the line snaps, the flying debris can come flying right through the windshield.....You want see what is going on, but you probably wouldn't want to see that coming straight at you:

Exactly what I was thinking

 

[jjue]

I would buy a winch, but I just started working recently, and I need to buy a house so that I can move out of my parents' house before I can do any modding to the Mounty.

 

[94EBexplorer]

pulling from the front is bad... its bad on the tranny if you got an auto.... its bad on the gears.... and puts alot of stress on front end . plus if you jerking someone out... and a strap/chain breaks would you rather a broke back window? of a broke front windsheild and nose? i mean if they are not burried and you can pull them out with ease.... front is ok.... but if its a hard pull definatly from the rear.