Potential damage from pulling?

HJSimpson · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2003, 11:03 AM

Hurrican Isabel has kept me busy. I have done some pulling with the truck that has me worried about future problems.

1. Pulled out a bobcat stuck in the mud with the truck on dry pavement in 4-lo. My tires never spun. The truck kind of "popped a wheelie". Front tires never got off the ground, but it did raise up. Only traveled a distance of 4 ft. on dry pavement once the bobcat was lose.

2. Tried to pull a damaged tree with a ~50 ft. length of 3/4 inch yellow nylon rope, in 2wd on dry pavement. The tree would not move. The rope would stretch 5 ft and then pull the truck back to its starting point when I let off the gas. I never opened up full throttle. Rope eventually broke.

I know 4-lo on dry pavement is bad, nylon rope is dangerous, and pulling on dry pavement is bad. But during disasters you have to weigh your options and make due with what you have. (I was not pulling on things during a fun weekend off road trip)

The transmisson did not and has not over heated, made any strange noises, etc... The transfer case makes its normal clunk in/out of 4wd.

I am curious on what acts as the "clutch" in an automatic. What elese could I have damaged that might show up latter?

tundra4towin · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2003, 11:14 AM

The Torque converter is what acts as the clutch in an auto and i highly doubt that you did any kind of damage at all to your truck! 4 low on the pavement for 4 feet is no big deal at all!

We use 4 low to pull our boat out of the water and up the ramp for about 100 yards or so. Been doing that all summer long for the last 2 years. We never get above 3 mph though.

The boats not that heavy, only 3500 lbs but the water was been really low, below the end of the ramp so the launch is actualy on dirt and very steep...

Anyway, if it was me i would have done the same thing... help out any way possible!

KLS · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2003, 12:56 PM

4wd (hi or lo) on pavement is OK if the steering wheels are perfectly straight ahead. If you were making a turn, the load on the drivetrain is way too high. If you were nearly straight and going short & slow as you said, the tires will absorb most of the strain.

Ken