Dirttracker18

Use the above information as a starting point and start searching around for info, especially on off road forums.

I would add, start small, easy stucks that just require a little tug to get people moving again. Get a feeling for the "feel" of pulling on a stuck vehicle. Don't be afraid to say "sorry this is above my level of comfort and experience."

I have towed way more people out of bad situations then I can possible remember. Even with that I have studied situations and told people sorry, not gonna happen with me.

I will not push the limits of my truck for a stranger. I will make a phone call for them or give them a ride. I have pushed the limits for a friend but have also told them they are beyond my help and need a tow truck or in some cases a farm tractor or cable skidder. I seem to remember a bulldozer coming in once.

It's nice to be able to help out but if a guy is buried to the axles on the beech and towing a travel trailer, that is not the place for my half ton. I might give it a try with some light steady pulls on an area with better traction but will easily call it quits.

On the other hand I have hooked up 2 or more trucks to make a tandem pull for someone stuck bad or in an area with limited traction. That is way better than a big jerking tug for both trucks.

Food for thought

marshallr

I use 4X4 more often to pull others out of jams than for my own use. I use a nylon strap similar to this. You don't want metal hooks, if something breaks you can do a lot of damage.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2121_200452121

I've been doing this for 40 years and sometimes you just have to recognize that the job is too big and they need professional help. That only comes with experience. You can damage both your vehicle and the guy you're trying to help so be aware of that.

I've done it enough to know my vehicles limitations. If you do attempt to help someone don't over do it and watching some video or working with others more experienced would be helpful.

LMychajluk

A tow strap (non-stretch) is meant for towing, not recovery, and will put a lot more stress on both vehicles. Not a big deal if the stuck isn't too bad and you can crawl it out, but you probably want a recovery (stretching / '******') strap to minimize stress on the vehicles. BUT, match the strap to the job. For lighter jobs (cars in the snow) a 6k lbs strap would be OK, but a HD ****** strap might not stretch enough to work as it should and transfer too much sudden force to the vehicles (basically, act more like the 'tow' strap).

Personally, I'd help pull a smaller vehicle out of a snowbank or maybe a grass field that was being used as a parking lot and turned muddy, but another truck, with a trailer attached? I don't know if I'd risk it.

Some good videos on YouTube, but take what they say with a grain of salt. Not everything you see on the internet is true.
(Pt. 2 of the video above, shows a comparison of tow vs recovery strap in use)

Edit - This guy has some good vids, too:

Rodsf150

When I was younger and used to 4-wheel drive out in the boonies with my friends. All kinds of people would get stuck, especially after it rained or during. I never had a problem pulling someone out of a mud bog and I always kept a tow strap in my truck, just in case I got stuck. If someone needs to be pulled out of the mud and you decline because your scared it might hurt your truck. Your going to look like the biggest poser ever. Also, if your out in the boonies and you decline to help someone out, you better be prepared not to go out there again because people don't forget, I know I don't.

Trailbreak74

Very informative article. Good read even for experienced off roaders.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Recovery/

Dirttracker18

I have to disagree with you here, as noted in my post.

Know your limits and your trucks limits. I have and will again decline, especially with a stranger.
HOWEVER, I will not leave someone stranded. I will offer a ride, use of a phone, call someone for them, etc.

It is not my place to endanger myself, them, my truck or theirs because they got stuck. If they are stuck that bad, it was not by accident and they should have been prepared for the situation they put themselves in.

As noted by the OP, a truck towing a trailer stuck in the mud as an example. That is way out of the realm of using my 1/2 ton truck to attempt to get them out. The amount of weight we are dealing with is far beyond what my truck should be doing.

Now if there is a few guys with trucks willing to help, I would gladly attempt a tandem pull.

SmokeRoss

I used to haul totes of salmon off remote beaches in Alaska. 6000 pounds on the flatbed of my 75 High Boy F-250. When someone (or you) is stuck they are dependent on whoever comes along before the tide comes in. Tandem pulls are what it takes sometimes. Line 2 trucks up. Stretchy tow ropes. I have seen loaded trucks pulled out, including mine, from being stuck so bad you would think they never had a chance.
Don't be afraid. Hook up and when they utter those words, "HIT IT", you nail it buddy. LOL

SmokeRoss

I used to haul totes of salmon off remote beaches in Alaska. 6000 pounds on the flatbed of my 75 High Boy F-250. When someone (or you) is stuck they are dependent on whoever comes along before the tide comes in. Tandem pulls are what it takes sometimes. Line 2 trucks up. Stretchy tow ropes. I have seen loaded trucks pulled out, including mine, from being stuck so bad you would think they never had a chance.
Don't be afraid. Hook up and when they utter those words, "HIT IT", you nail it buddy. LOL

Rodsf150

Right, we always found a way to get them out. We would figure it out, start digging, put wood underneath the tires, use a tandem pull. But I never considered it being a danger to either me or my truck. Also, I can't remember not being able to eventually get someone out. I do remember drinking a lot of beer during and after but that use to be part of the fun.

Dirttracker18

What's being forgotten here is that the OP is very green, no experience.

Telling him to "Hit It" or nail it is not a great way to teach someone how to safely and properly extricate a stuck vehicle, especially when he has noted stuck trucks with trailers in mud. That is the kind of advice that gets someone injured or at least breaks parts, then there are two trucks stuck out there with one in need of repairs.

I think we need to keep his experience or lack there of in mind as we give advice.

Start small and don't be afraid to say it is beyond my skill or comfort level. Just don't leave them behind