I have seen pictures, videos, and witnessed people pulling someone that was stuck out in reverse. I have also heard people say that you should never ever do this...you could do some serious damage. This true?

I remember my friend had a wrangler (forgot what kind this happened back in the early 90's). We were goofing off and got stuck, a friend of ours had to come pull us out. He had this huge (I think) early 70's model Bronco (it's name was "Machine") pulled us out with ease in reverse. This "Machine" had no top and had atleast 37 inch tires, minimum. Almost had to have a ladder to get up and into. This "Machine" had this engine that rumbled...rumbled sounded so mean that the mud almost parted in terror. Maybe he pulled us out in reverse because this bronco was almost a monster truck compared to us in the wrangler.

If someone is stuck and I pull them out...will I damage my jeep if I pull them out in reverse? If so, why?

 

well i think it is less strain pulling in reverse BUT not safe if the cable/strap/ancher point breaks

 

This can happen.





Right front stub shaft. was trying to pull a tree in reverse with lockers on in 4lo on rocks.

 

I'm pretty sure I read that the gearing for reverse cannot handle that kind of load.

 

I first hand can attest to this, I had a 2000TJ and with the 35x16.5x15 BOGGERS it was just too much trying to pull a fellow jeeper out of the soft sand, it killed the spider gears in the front diff. Easy fix but then I learned from several other jeepers that it was typically not recommended.

 

This is partly why winches are usually in the front as it's harder on the vehicle to pull someone out in reverse.

 

wow...I consider myself a pretty decent shadetree mechanic and never realized the gears in reverse is what made the sound...I figured it was the tranny

whoduh thunk?

 

That makes total sense to me and is well put Sonic. Another reason I was told about is that on most Jeeps, the rear axles (e.g. Dana 44) are generally stronger ones than in the front (e.g. Dana 30) so therefore it would be best to put the biggest strain on the rear.

 

Reverse is the weakest gear. Winchs are meant for self-recovery. Thats why they are mounted on the front.

 

reverse gear in the transmission is the weak link. So if it is a tough pull turn around.