Maverick Hybrid recovery points, what to do when stuck?

[Old Man]

Some manufacturers of unibody cars have recovery ports front and back and provide a screw-in hook for recovery. But if you watch videos of tow truck companies recovering them they usually put straps through the wheels and lift/pull them out.

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[Optimus]

Obviously I would be cautious trying to pull another vehicle out with the hitch, but recovery really isn't the same as towing.

Very true, and I would also add it can come down to how well you’re stuck, if the stuck vehicle can still provide it’s own power to help, and how hard the “unstuck” vehicle tries to yank. The initial jolt can be quite a lot, even if not a sustained load such as with towing. Straps have a bungie/slingshot affect to them, but it can still put a lot of (temporary) strain on parts.

 

[GPSMan]

Very true, and I would also add it can come down to how well you’re stuck, if the stuck vehicle can still provide it’s own power to help, and how hard the “unstuck” vehicle tries to yank. The initial jolt can be quite a lot, even if not a sustained load such as with towing. Straps have a bungie/slingshot affect to them, but it can still put a lot of (temporary) strain on parts.

Those are called "kinetic ropes" and are highly recommended. You want the kind designed for some stretch.

 

[rclee]

I would be curious how they strap the trucks on the train when they ship them from Mexico. That may unwrap the mystery.

The main reason I ask this, is because when you get your new Maverick the tire pressures are very high. Someone on MTC said that is so the tires don't get flat spots on the tires from the trucks being winched down on the train. If that is the case, there has to be some substantial structure underneath.

Just my opinion.

 

[icegradner]

I would be curious how they strap the trucks on the train when they ship them from Mexico. That may unwrap the mystery.

They strap them by the wheels, that's why we used to get tons of posts asking why there were marks on the OEM tires. This seems to be a standard transportation practice for all vehicles. My friend works at one of the big ports in Vancouver and used to unload car ships coming from Asia, they did the same thing.

 

[rclee]

They strap them by the wheels, that's why we used to get tons of posts asking why there were marks on the OEM tires. This seems to be a standard transportation practice for all vehicles. My friend works at one of the big ports in Vancouver and used to unload car ships coming from Asia, they did the same thing.

Thanks for the clarification @icegradner

So much for that idea

 

[GPSMan]

I just ordered two of these.
$28 for two with 4 day shipping.

I want to try them out before actually recommending. Stay tuned.

EDIT 12/21/23

Arrived after 9 days. Ok fine.
TOO BIG TO FIT IN THE WIMPY SMALL HOLE IN THE FORD MAVERICK.

 

[NoVaJimmy]

They strap them by the wheels, that's why we used to get tons of posts asking why there were marks on the OEM tires. This seems to be a standard transportation practice for all vehicles. My friend works at one of the big ports in Vancouver and used to unload car ships coming from Asia, they did the same thing.

Those "marks" on the tires have nothing to do with strapping down anything. Vehicles are secured with wheel chocks in the auto trains, not straps.

 

[icegradner]

Those "marks" on the tires have nothing to do with strapping down anything. Vehicles are secured with wheel chocks in the auto trains, not straps.

I suppose. Must be from the trucks that go the final distance, I've seen them getting unstrapped from the transports at dealers.

 

[NoVaJimmy]

I suppose. Must be from the trucks that go the final distance, I've seen them getting unstrapped from the transports at dealers.

Even on the truck carriers the straps go around the tread only. Those marks on the sidewalls are from the manufacturing process.

 

[notfast]

Second, you all need to ask what would a tow truck do?

Bingo.

Third, you need to get one of these shockingly inexpensive specially designed devices that goes into the specially designed hole.

As a trained, volunteer off-road recovery tech, I would never use one of those things unless it was to tie down a vehicle for transport or flat-tow it. If used to free a stuck vehicle, I'd imagine it'd be a great way to ding up or tear out the hole in the unibody that it attaches to.

The average person isn’t going to know what an R-hook, bridle, or soft shackle are, much less how to use them in tandem with the actual tow strap.

Even our Prius has a removable threaded eye that goes through a slot in the front bumper cover.

Owners shouldn’t need to be tow truck experts to handle this.

As a former auto mechanic and former amateur race crew member, the average person barely knows how to fuel their vehicle. I've changed many a headlight or taillight bulb or windshield wipers for friends/family/coworkers/random strangers in the parts store parking lot.

I grew up near the only drivable beach in my state. It attracts tourists from all over, many of whom have never driven on a gravel road, never mind literally off road on a beach. Virtually none of them knew that their vehicle had a screw-in tow point.

Even then, those screw-in tow points are really only good if the vehicle just needs to be flat-towed or if it's not super stuck to the point that it can be pushed free with enough people. Those tow points aren't really designed to be repeatedly yanked on, and off-angle pulls will bend them or the weldnut they mount to. And to further that, you shouldn't rely on the customer's equipment. It also may not be safe or reasonable for them to unpack their trunk so you can get the tow hook out.

So what would I do to recover a hybrid Maverick? Same as I'd do for literally any other unibody vehicle. First, dig out the vehicle as much as possible. Then, using a soft bridle with 8" J-hooks on either end, I'd hook both the lower control arms. Connect the middle of the bridle to the end of a recovery strap using a soft shackle. Connect the other end of the strap to my truck's trailer hitch. Or if I need a low-angle pull (probably so for the Maverick), wrap the strap around my truck's rear axle then up to the hitch. Throw the truck in 4L and very gently roll on the throttle.

If the Maverick has a trailer hitch and it would be better to extract it from the rear, I'd put a universal tow hook into the trailer hitch, hook a recovery strap to it, other end to my truck's hitch, truck in 4L, and gently roll on the throttle.

The recovery strap and bridle fit in a 4-gallon tote that I carry year-round. Recovery ropes (such as Bubba Rope) last longer than straps, but they also cost more and take up more storage space. I do less than a dozen recoveries a year, so I'll take the space over the durability. If I did a dozen recoveries a day, I'd get a rope.

 

[m5040]

If a professional towing company pulled my vehicle out by connecting to suspension/front end parts, the vehicle would be at the dealer ASAP for a front end alignment and if it needed any adjustments, the bill would go to the towing company for not following the explicit manufactures recovery instructions. If a metal hook is used on the frame, it would go to the dealer for an inspection of the recovery point.
These things get 50 MPG because they are made out of egg shells, I wouldn't advise doing your own thing, unless you don't know any better or don't care.

 

[NoVaJimmy]

If a professional towing company pulled my vehicle out by connecting to suspension/front end parts, the vehicle would be at the dealer ASAP for a front end alignment and if it needed any adjustments, the bill would go to the towing company for not following the explicit manufactures recovery instructions. If a metal hook is used on the frame, it would go to the dealer for an inspection of the recovery point.
These things get 50 MPG because they are made out of egg shells, I wouldn't advise doing your own thing, unless you don't know any better or don't care.

I worked for AAA at night during college driving a flatbed doing roadside service and recovery and we were trained to use control arms for loading and unloading if there were no tow hooks or designated tow points. I think you're over-reacting. In the two years I did it I never caused damage or had a single complaint. I even loaded a vintage Triumph on my flatbed hooked on to the control arms and the owner didn't bat an eye.

Now, recovery from a vehicle stuck in the mud using a kinetic strap on a control arm is a no-no but for the most part your hybrid's electric motors exert more lateral load on your control arms than using them to winch a vehicle on to a flatbed.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

I'm sorry, but I've got to share this. On December 1st, the City of Chicago has no-parking regs that go into effect, snow or no snow. The sight of vehicles getting dragged onto flatbeds, with the drive wheels locked, has me wondering about these "professionals",,,,,



HRG

 

[TwoTone]

I worked for AAA at night during college driving a flatbed doing roadside service and recovery and we were trained to use control arms for loading and unloading if there were no tow hooks or designated tow points. I think you're over-reacting. In the two years I did it I never caused damage or had a single complaint. I even loaded a vintage Triumph on my flatbed hooked on to the control arms and the owner didn't bat an eye.

Now, recovery from a vehicle stuck in the mud using a kinetic strap on a control arm is a no-no but for the most part your hybrid's electric motors exert more lateral load on your control arms than using them to winch a vehicle on to a flatbed.

To be fair the entire point of this thread is about a stuck Maverick- so.

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