I don't own proper tow straps (or a good tow vehicle). On a rescue mission this winter to pull out a neighbour stuck at the mailbox I threw some rated ratchet straps in my wife's car. Those will be strong enough for the pull I can give.
Not expensive and easy to stow away, I'd say yes but ensure you have tow points or end up like I did..
I checked in the summer where both the tow hook, and hookups are.
For the screw in ones, be really careful with side loads (or loads in any direction not directly in line with the shank). Many are the finest chinesium and while they look solid, they like to break off as the eye has a bunch of leverage over the mount deep in the bumper.
Also be careful often the thread is just into sheet metal and if you pull hard the metal will bend and wreck the car. I prefer to hook to the suspension.
I think of the factory tow points as a step up from hand pushing. Good for a little stuck but need some help. If the vehicle can't move at all, it's buried or you need to drag it up and out, they are probably not your best option.
I have a few friends that I would trust with kinetic recovery but there is no way I'm doing that with a stranger. Way too much force and once you commit, everyone is along for the ride until the energy has dissipated. Strangers get low and slow.
It can be a art but makes great videos when people send it. Not too fast and it works amazing.
It's my understanding that you'd want to use a winch in those circumstances to break the suction first
Good tip!
Very sad and happens unfortunately often enough.
That's been disproven many times doesn't do anything too much energy involved.
I've seen it work a few times. In those cases they were trying to do a steady pull and something let go (including tractor trailer on tractor trailer up a grass slope). Coat absorbed a ton of energy and the damage to vehicles was minimal. Trying a dynamic pull may have an entirely different result.
