I'm just wondering if anyone could shed some light on where the best place to hook onto a car would be if trying to help them get unstuck or out of a ditch. 4x4's usually have some pretty obvious hook up points but if i was to come across a sedan in the ditch where should i hook up?

 

It depends on the car, stay away from the plastic bumpers!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...7228666255132#

This video will show you why!

 

LOL

Seriously. It's not easy. I tried to pull a toyota Yaris last year. We never found a spot to put the hook...

 

Easy.
Let them hook up their end. That way you aren't responsible for any damage.

Here is another good example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQTd_xXpDQ0

 

Many cars have a small hook or metal loop under the bumper. I believe that these were installed as tie down points during transit.

 

as mentioned, every one is different. Primarily cars these days have pull points made to get them on the tow truck from a straight flat pull..which sucks! Sometimes there is no way around damage, thats what happens!

 

Check with local PD on recovering vehicles aswell. Around here they like to have an officer flagging traffic at least.

 

You'd be surprised. I've pulled out more than one so called 4x4 that didn't have a tow point. I remember one guy I pulled out used his leaf spring. That's probably not a good idea, but he was desperate and willing to pay for the strap if it was damaged in any way. Which it was and he did. I always make the person hook the strap up to their vehicle.

 

I was surprised to find a metal loop under a car I helped out of a snow bank the other day. A younger kid lost control and slid into a snow bank on a corner. I only had a d-ring and a recovery strap. I hooked the d-ring to the loop under the car and then the strap to my jeep. I wasn't pulling too much weight as we wasn't stuck too bad. But it pulled him out just fine.

 

Check out what they call a "transit cluster" it fit's in the little holes in the frame or unibody. they work pretty sweet on vehicles that don't have recovory points if you can find a spot to put them. Although they are not for use with a dynamic recovery ie: snatch strap and a tug. Work fine with winching.