Understanding Recovery Tow Straps
You never know what kind of situation you’ll get into with your vehicle. Accidents happen, whether or not it’s your fault. Bad road conditions can cause a vehicle to breakdown or to become immobile,nd you’ll never know when. That’s why it’s important to be prepared, just in case you find yourself with a broken-down vehicle or helping someone with one. One way to stay prepared is to keep a recovery tow straps in your vehicle.
Recovery tow straps are made from nylon and come in a variety of sizes. Some straps are as wide as 12 inches, but the usual width is 2-3 inches. With regards to length, recovery tow straps are normally 30 inches long, but you’ll also find them in lengths of 16, 20, and 25 inches. The size of the strap needed all depends on the vehicle being towing. If you’re pulling a large truck, then a wider strap would be needed. For a regular-sized car, a 2”x 16” should get the job done.
These straps are made to pull vehicles. Additionally, they’re quite strong and durable. People who use the recovery strap will not have to worry about it tearing or letting go as long as it has been kept in good condition while not in use.
Now that you know the compositition of a recovery strap, you’ll need to know when and how to use them.
When to use a recovery tow strap
Recovery tow straps are used to “recover” a vehicle, mainly when one is stuck in a ditch or in the mud. If you want to forgo the use of a tow truck then you can use a recovery strap. Obviously, you’ll need the help of another vehicle in order to make use of the recovery strap. One end of the strap must be connected to the vehicle that is stuck, while the other end must be connected to the vehicle that is pulling the stuck vehicle from its current position.
Once the vehicle has been recovered, the owner can be on their way if their vehicle is safe to drive. If not, please understand that a recovery tow straps is just meant to remove a vehicle from where it is stuck, not to tow the vehicle somewhere. If the destination is nearby, it’s okay to keep the recovery strap attached to the two vehicles and the front vehicle can guide the broken down vehicle. Make sure that the broken-down vehicle has someone in the driver’s seat, as someone will need to steer it. When in doubt, call a towing company.
Recovery straps are convenient for minor car issues, but they’re not a legitimate replacement for a tow truck. For instance, say a vehicle is stuck in a ditch. You can use a recovery strap to remove the vehicle from the ditch. This will prevent the damage that would be done if the vehicle were left in the ditch. But, if the vehicle is not safe to drive, you’ll need to call a towing company to come tow the vehicle properly.
How to use a recovery tow strap
- Take the strap and lay it flat on the ground. Make sure it is not twisted or folded.
- There are two hooks at each end of the strap. Attach one hook to the mount located below the rear bumper of the vehicle that’s stuck. Do not attach the hook to the rear bumper itself as it might not be able to withstand the pressure and can cause damage to the rear bumper. If you cannot locate the exact mount to place the hook then please refer to the owner’s manual. Trailer hitches will have a spot to place the hook as well.
- Attach the other hook to the mount located underneath the front bumper of the vehicle that will be pulling.
- Once both hooks are secured, the driver of both vehicles can get behind the wheel. The pulling vehicle can slowly move forward to straighten the strap to its full extent.
- The pulling vehicle can continue at a slow, safe speed to the nearby destination.
It’s important to emphasize the fact that recovery tow straps are used only for certain situations. The use of tow trucks will always be your best bet. If you are in need of tow services, call MR Towing Services! One of our trained professionsals will get to you as soon as possible to execute the tow in a safe, efficient manner.
Visit our social media for more details.