The snow today has made me decide I should get a tow strap to keep in my vehicle - a 2017 Ford Expedition XL. Its my first winter with a truck, previously I always had cars so helping out someone stuck in the snow was never an option. What gear and strength would be recommended. Don't need something for regular use as I'm not off roading, but don't want something that will fall apart either.

I carry several of these in our work trucks:

https://www.ruralking.com/eric...recovery-strap-59800

$50, 27,000 pound breaking strength, 30 foot length. They are looped at both ends so that you can loop to loop them to gain length, choke whatever you need to pull on, or slip into another device like a shackle or hook.

Because of the work I do I also have all of the other recovery goodies: Winch, snatch blocks, V-chains, shackles, etc, so recovery work (or self recovery) is a bit easier for me. If you're going to be pulling between vehicles you may want to invest in two 2" hitch receivers with shackles. This will allow you to use your frame mounted hitch, and safely pull on anybody else with one safely.

Be careful with cars and other vehicles without hitches. So much plastic and very few places to safely attach a stand alone strap. You're more likely to do more harm than good.

A shovel works wonders for getting people unstuck and doesn't risk damaging peoples' vehicles. With two of them, you can help to.

In all the years I commuted from Hartland to Whitewater for school in Wisconsin, I never got stuck enough where a shovel didn't get me out.

I have a 40,000 pound Smittybuilt recovery strap, 30 feet long, with loops both ends. A long strap is recommended because you may need the reach from the road. Also you will want a couple clevis shackles to be sure you can make a connection. I can normally tow a truck out of a muddy field by looping the loop on the end of the strap over the hitch ball of my truck.

Get snatch straps, that stretch like a bungee cord, like Bubba Rope. Hitch balls break off and fly through the air at 300 mph and literally kill people every year. Never hook up to to hitch balls. Pull the hitch out, loop the rope around the hitch pin, reinstall hitch pin like normal.

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Originally posted by a1abdj:
I carry several of these in our work trucks:

https://www.ruralking.com/eric...recovery-strap-59800

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Erickson Mfg. 3" x 30" Recovery Strap 59800

hmmm. 30 inches doesn't seem like enough strap...

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30 inches doesn't seem like enough

That's what she said!

The Chinese can barely handle English let alone punctuation.

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Hitch balls break off and fly through the air at 300 mph and literally kill people every year. Never hook up to to hitch balls. Pull the hitch out, loop the rope around the hitch pin, reinstall hitch pin like normal.

My straps are too large to do this easily which is why I use the receiver with clevis. If your strap has a loop that can do this easily this is indeed a faster option that requires less equipment. Don't forget an extra hitch pin or two.

It's also not only hitches that will fly through the air. Wheels, tie rods, bumpers, etc will do the same. Be very careful what you're hooking up to.

Here's another fairly safe technique that involves a recovery strap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeamZ-GRafc

We have several recovery straps as well.

When towing a stranded driver out of a ditch I ask them to attach the strap thereby making them responsible. If it's a woman, or someone who doesn't have a clue I will step in but prefer not too.

30' long at least 20,000 pounds (mine are 30K) and a couple of 10 ton rated shackles if needed.

The one time I had to be recovered (2000 Durango) the tow truck driver removed the ball reciever thingy for a trailer from my hitch and fished a short chain through pipe of hitch itself then looped it back and secured the chain to itself with shackles. He then hooked his winch line to that loop of chain.

Seemed like a smart way to proceed and I’ve tucked it away in my brain but haven’t had the need since.

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Originally posted by bubbatime:
Get snatch straps, that stretch like a bungee cord, like Bubba Rope. Hitch balls break off and fly through the air at 300 mph and literally kill people every year. Never hook up to to hitch balls. Pull the hitch out, loop the rope around the hitch pin, reinstall hitch pin like normal.

I have the ARB version, just used it for the first time a couple of weeks ago at out lease. My buddy got his 1500 stuck. Worked as designed, he said he did not even feel the jerk, I did a bit but it came right out.

https://www.amazon.com/ARB-Acc...s=arb+recovery+strap

I also carry a come along, Wyeth-Scott 8K with Amsteel Blue rope and a 4T block and tackle. Along with a couple cheaper tow lines and 2 20K pulley's. Helps that I work in the tower industry and most of it can be used for work as well....I expensed most of it

Most fits in the dry box on top of my Xterra.

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Originally posted by smlsig:
We have several recovery straps as well.

When towing a stranded driver out of a ditch I ask them to attach the strap thereby making them responsible. If it's a woman, or someone who doesn't have a clue I will step in but prefer not too.

30' long at least 20,000 pounds (mine are 30K) and a couple of 10 ton rated shackles if needed.

This is exactly what I do. Ask them to hook up their vehicle, offer suggestions only if absolutely necessary.

Another thing to consider, is an emergency light. If you get hit by a vehicle while pulling someone back into the road, you may be liable for damages and a lot of insurance companies won't cover it.
I keep a flashing yellow light with a magnet mount with my recovery strap, just in case.

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Never hook up to to hitch balls. Pull the hitch out, loop the rope around the hitch pin, reinstall hitch pin like normal

I've seen hundreds of recoveries using a hitch ball. Its quick and its fast. Like anything you have to assess the weak link in the system you are building. It's no different to be hit with the failed shackle that was too small or the failed tow hook on the towed car, the piece of chain you used or the hitch itself. Sure someone with a uhaul 2.5K ball is a risk but its probably on a 3K hitch so its all in the system. My truck has a hitch rated at 15K my tow ball is rated at 25K. I'm guessing we will pull the receiver out of the truck before we pull the tow ball off the receiver. In addition it makes no sense to have a tow strap that is narrow enough to fit in a normal 2" receiver, that's just too weak. And one to fit in a smaller receiver is just double silly. Plus I would add I would avoid kinetic type recovery in the normal help a stranger situation in the first place.