Attach your rope to a strong point on the front of the lorry (most lorries have a centre pintle for emergency bar towing) and the strongest point on the back of your 4 x 4. If you have a universal combination jaw and tow ball, use only the pin through the jaw to attach to. These units are stronger here than the neck of the tow ball above.

Engage low ratio, as well as the centre diff lock if fitted, select first gear, take up the slack as the lorry driver releases his brakes. By very carefully slipping the clutch (no problem with an automatic) the tremendous power that you have available will firstly be absorbed by the nylon rope and slowly your juggernaut will follow you. As your load comes with you, remove your left foot well clear of the clutch. If possible don't slip the clutch at all, but that's easier said than done! Remember, slipping the clutch for too long or too often will soon burn it out.

You really only ought to be doing this in a straight line. If you steer out too much to either side you risk damage to your transmission through 'axle wind up'. A Range Rover with a centre viscous coupling unit (VCU) does not have this problem. With an exceptionally heavy load you have to use the centre diff lock if fitted, because as the high load pulls the back of the vehicle downwards the front can lift allowing the front wheels to spin.

Come to a halt very slowly to ensure the lorry stops behind you. Remember his brakes will be very inefficient as he has a dead engine.

When towing is completed, disengage your centre diff lock immediately. If it won't clear, drive forward in a straight line a few metres, then reverse back also in a straight line. If is still won't clear, try 'flopping' the vehicle on the throttle and as a last resort drive ahead again putting the nearside front wheel just onto the grassy verge and 'flop' the transmission again to spin that wheel out.

So there you are. 'Have a 4x4 and recover more!'

Do bear in mind though, if you go to recover somebody, there may not be insurance cover should you pull something off their vehicle. I am not a 'legal beagle', but I would suggest when offering your services you should say in front of a witness:- "I accept no responsibility for this recovery and any damage that may be caused". After all, in recovering someone's vehicle from a ditch, their vehicle could slide sideways getting trapped on a hidden rock causing damage. However, as in any recovery situation, stop, observe, and discuss the plan with the other driver before doing it.

Remember, except in an emergency and I mean an emergency situation, you are NOT allowed to tow anyone on a motorway. Recoveries on this class of road may only be carried out by an official recovery contractor.

Care of Ropes

I've already mentioned that it's important not to store wet and muddy natural fibre ropes as they can rot and go smelly quite quickly. If your new, or Ex WD manila or sisal rope gets wet and muddy, hose it down when you get back to base and hang it out to dry thoroughly before putting it away.

Ensure too that mud and grit isn't caught up within the 'lay' or it will weaken the rope the next time you use it in anger. Inspect as well for cuts in the surface and watch out for loose ends pulling back out through the splices.

Sunlight does not affect natural fibre ropes too much, but I still do not recommend that you leave it wrapped around the front bumper or draped over the spare wheel or the bonnet. Best to store it inside the vehicle.

Man-made synthetic ropes on the other hand are impervious to water and does not get mouldy. These ropes can be scrubbed if they get muddied and don't necessarily have to be dried before being stowed away.

They can however be damaged by high temperatures and melting can occur about 200 degrees centigrade.

Index [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

(c)Goodwinch Limited 2006