LOL!

http://www.bordergatewayprotocol.net/jon/humor/video/snowtowcar.wmv
       God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:LWHughes3rd@aol.com http://www.billhughes.com/

Hi Jeff:

Why 4-HI? I would think that the recovery vehicle should be in 4-LO, which
would give the recovery vehicle a LOT more torque or "pulling power>"

Tom

I always attach the strap, and I attach it to the frame. If I have to, I use
a chain to get to both sides of the frame, then hook my strap to the chain.
The chain is strong enough for the load, and I route the chain through the
loop on the end of my strap.

Just close the big metal hook in the sunroof and yank.  ;)  Actually,
some sedans actually have factory tow hooks. Toyota is fond of putting
them on. My Porsche does. Your vehicle may vary. You might try looking
at the owner's manual prior to hooking up, though. Good question,
because, after all, this _is_ the season for sedan fishing.

Nathan Otis did pass the time by typing:

Most vehciles have pull points on the frame, but depending on the angle
those can bend the back bumper or body metal.

Modern vehicles don't have real bumpers, most will simply rip off with
the slightest stress.

If it's another Jeep or truck and they have a ClassIII hitch I usually
pin the loop in there for a straight pull.  Pulling at an angle may bend
the frame on the newer trucks.

For the underside I use a couple of T hooks welded into a chain.  Not to
be confused  with that shiny metal hook that comes on suicide tow straps.
http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/43572.htm

I have pulled from the axle mounts, but only if they have a draglink
that runs back to the frame.  That has a high potential of screwing up
alignment.

Another location is a frame cross member if you have to pull at an angle.
Usually the tranny mount crossmember, but some times like on old chevys
you can get a strap around the motor crossmember.  Never pull on an A-arm
old ones may take it but the new ones will snap.

Truthfully it depends on the vehicle.  Even tow companies have books for
hooking up.

Well......  That is somewhat of a problem.......

There really 'is' no safe place to hook a snatch strap to a 'stock' car
or a Jeep for that matter unless tow hooks have been properly mounted.

On cars, there are no bumpers anymore, no frame, no solid hook points.
You can wrap it around a trailing arm for a rear wheel or a control arm
in the front, but if you have to pull too hard, damage will occur, same
for a rear axle or shackle or trailer hitch even.

To be honest, pulling cars is best left to tow trucks with their
liability insurance.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

The person with the most knowledge and experience should attach the strap.
As I was leaving an offroad trail one day a few years back, a stock Jeep had
gotten himself pretty stuck. When I backed up to hook up to him, I realized
he had no tow-hooks. Going against my better judgement (which said ...if
this guy goes mudding with no hooks ...he's an idiot) I asked him where he
wanted me to hook up to. He looks under his Jeep and says "just go around
this thing." The thing he pointed at was his shackle for his leaf springs.
Needless to say, people with the least knowledge should not be given this
choice ...not just for damage and liability purposes, but also for safety.
I, for one, didn't feel like having a shackle snap off during a pull and go
flying through the air.

With that said, all vehicles are obviously very different. In general, if
you can get far enough underneath (especially the rear), there is almost
always a frame member or crossmember that is somewhat accessible. I will
take my strap and wrap it around this member (ensure that it won't slide
against another component that will end up taking the force), and loop the
strap through itself. Then, slowly loosen the slack and double-check to make
sure the strap hasn't moved. I tend to give a few little tugs to get the
strap to really clamp down on itself and the frame member. I have never
encountered any problems doing this with either cars or trucks.

However, as someone mentioned, be very careful of excess strap. If you run
over it, you will end up causing more problems than you really want to deal
with. The physics of that possible situation are scary.

I guess I need to clarify what I said, or what you guys might think I said.

Using a chain as a recovery device is dangerous. Very dangerous. Using a
strap with a hook on the ends is also dangerous. Very dangerous.

Having said that, there is a time and a way that a chain is a useful tool,
indeed can be required if one is attempting recovery of a passenger that is
stuck in snow or sand. I can't think of a long list of good times, in fact I
can think of only one. That is where there is a very real danger of
destroying the tow strap is it is attached directly to the object vehicle.

If I think my strap is going to be damaged, and I can't simply attach it
elsewhere to avoid the damage, then I have a short lenght of about 4 ft of
chain that I double wrap around a suitable part of the frame, and through
the eyelet on my strap. This will get my strap away from the sharp edge so
that the car can be recovered from the snow bank or sand trap.

I would NEVER use a chain to recover a Jeep that was stuck while wheeling.
As Mike Romain says, that is a disaster waiting to happen. But the OP was
asking how to use a Libby to pull people out of the snow, and there is not
likely to be enough stored energy to break anything, at least nothing that I
own and would use for recovery.

To address Nathan, I always attach my stuff to the vehicles that I am
recovering, IF those vehicles are not Jeepers that are known to me to be
intelligent and safety conscious. When I am pulling some guy back to the
pavement because he took his Maxima into a dry creek bed, I am pretty
certain he has no clue where to attach a recovery device of any kind. Like
another poster suggested, tongue in cheek of course, have them close the sun
roof on the strap, and hang on to it while you pull, and they would probably
do it.

I want to be on record along side Mike R., using a chain is dangerous for
recoveries in offroading situations. But, one can safely use a chain to get
a car from the sand or snow, and save damaging a strap.

half an hour keeping the stock thick.
Remove the carcass and add the vegetables slowly to the stock,
  so that it remains boiling the whole time.
Cover the pot and simmer till vegetables are tender
  (2 hours approximately).
Continue seasoning to taste.
Before serving, add butter and pasta,
  serve piping with hot bread and butter.

Offspring Rolls

Similar to Vietnamese style fried rolls, they have lots of meat
(of course this can consist of chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp).
Who can resist this classic appetizer; or light lunch served with
a fresh salad? Versatility is probably this recipe?s greatest virtue,
as one can use the best part of a prime, rare, yearling, or the
morticians occasional horror: a small miracle stopped short by a
drunk driver, or the innocent victim of a drive-by shooting...

2 cups finely chopped very young human flesh
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 cup bean sprouts
5 sprigs green onion, finely chopped
5 cloves minced garlic
4-6 ounces bamboo shoots
Sherry
chicken broth
oil for deep frying (1 gallon)
Salt
pepper
soy & teriyaki
minced ginger, etc.
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in a little cold water
1 egg beaten

Make the stuffing:
  Marinate the flesh in a mixture of soy and teriyaki sauces
     then stir fry in hot oil for till brown - about 1 minute, remove.
  Stir-fry the vegetables.
  Put the meat back into the wok and adjust the seasoning.
  De-glaze with sherry, cooking off the alcohol.
  Add broth (optional) cook a few more minutes.
  Add the cornstarch, cook a few minutes till thick,
     then place the stuffing into a colander and cool;
  2 hour

have lots of meat
(of course this can consist of chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp).
Who can resist this classic appetizer; or light lunch served with
a fresh salad? Versatility is probably this recipe?s greatest virtue,
as one can use the best part of a prime, rare, yearling, or the
morticians occasional horror: a small miracle stopped short by a
drunk driver, or the innocent victim of a drive-by shooting...

2 cups finely chopped very young human flesh
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 cup bean sprouts
5 sprigs green onion, finely chopped
5 cloves minced garlic
4-6 ounces bamboo shoots
Sherry
chicken broth
oil for deep frying (1 gallon)
Salt
pepper
soy & teriyaki
minced ginger, etc.
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in a little cold water
1 egg beaten

Make the stuffing:
  Marinate the flesh in a mixture of soy and teriyaki sauces
     then stir fry in hot oil for till brown - about 1 minute, remove.
  Stir-fry the vegetables.
  Put the meat back into the wok and adjust the seasoning.
  De-glaze with sherry, cooking off the alcohol.
  Add broth (optional) cook a few more minutes.
  Add the cornstarch, cook a few minutes till thick,
     then place the stuffing into a colander and cool;
  2 hours
Wrap the rolls:  
  Place 3 tablespoons of stuffing in the wrap, roll tightly -
     corner nearest you first, fold 2 side corners in,
     wrap