Maverick Hybrid recovery points, what to do when stuck?

[NoVaJimmy]

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

To be fair the post I replied to didn't specify that which is what I was responding to, the poster was insinuating that it's improper technique to use a control arm when it's not. Even Matt from Matt's Offroad recovery regularly uses control arms to remove vehicles stuck in sand.

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[NoVaJimmy]

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

That's just lazy, when I was driving a flatbed if I had to tow a vehicle with no keys I would place tire skates under the tires and then slide it up onto the flatbed but I towed directly for AAA, obviously these degenerates don't care.

 

[m5040]

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.

As you stated "we were trained to use control arms for loading and unloading if there were no tow hooks or designated tow points.", special emphasis on IF THERE WERE NO DESIGNATED TOW POINTS, exactly my point.
Over reacting? No, I might agree with over trained. I have worked in and with the largest companies in the US and Europe and have been trained by such along with work as a machinist where you sometimes need to split .001 of an inch 10 times smaller. So when some wrecker operator wants to apply force to my vehicle's precision front end parts and not the recovery points, I cringe.
Just trying to help others out and find these mythical Ford non-metal ends.

 

[notfast]

So when some wrecker operator wants to apply force to my vehicle's precision front end parts and not the recovery points, I cringe.

Genuinely curious, how would you want your vehicle extracted then? To be honest if I came up to your stuck vehicle after you called for off-road recovery and you began criticizing my recovery, I'd gladly leave you stuck, turn around, and notify state or federal law enforcement (who probably forwarded us the call) that you declined all assistance.

I'd say almost everyone records me nowadays, but based on their commentary, it is seemingly for their own amusement, curiosity (I've had lots of questions and I'm always happy to explain exactly what I'm doing and why), or detriment of their friends than being concerned about damage.

Vehicles are way more durable than people give them credit for, and also not built to exacting tolerances. Certain components maybe, but the suspension? Several mounting holes in suspension components are oval for a reason; things just don't line up otherwise. Also, the suspension literally suspends the car. If a K-member on a unibody vehicle can't withstand being pulled on, I'd be genuinely concerned for the occupants of that vehicle just driving down the Interstate.

 

[m5040]

Genuinely curious, how would you want your vehicle extracted then? To be honest if I came up to your stuck vehicle after you called for off-road recovery and you began criticizing my recovery, I'd gladly leave you stuck, turn around, and notify state or federal law enforcement (who probably forwarded us the call) that you declined all assistance.

I'd say almost everyone records me nowadays, but based on their commentary, it is seemingly for their own amusement, curiosity (I've had lots of questions and I'm always happy to explain exactly what I'm doing and why), or detriment of their friends than being concerned about damage.

Vehicles are way more durable than people give them credit for, and also not built to exacting tolerances. Certain components maybe, but the suspension? Several mounting holes in suspension components are oval for a reason; things just don't line up otherwise. Also, the suspension literally suspends the car. If a K-member on a unibody vehicle can't withstand being pulled on, I'd be genuinely concerned for the occupants of that vehicle just driving down the Interstate.

If you came out for a recovery and attempted to connect to the vehicle suspension parts, I would pass on what the manufacturer required and leave it at that. If I could substantiate that damaged was caused by not following what Ford required i.e.: front end out of alignment, or malformed connection point, then I would go after restitution.
Although it is not my job to educate the wrecker operator, I would make it clear that I wanted it handled the correct way and not the quick/easy way they always do it.
There is a saying that in the 60s some vehicle owner's manuals instructed how to adjust the valves. Todays manuals warn you not to drink the battery acid. I compare this to the recovery and 99.9999% of the people won't know what is going on, never mind have a discussion on the proper way to accomplish it.

This post is to protect the Maverick owners that care more then the average person about their vehicles. And myself, so if I get my Maverick stuck in the snow and can't pull it back, I want the proper equipment.

You say vehicles are more durable, maybe yes, but I don't see durability in a Maverick. It is better to anticipate then to improvise solutions to problems.

 

[Jeff D.]

Only thing I can review so far is the 4 day shipping wasn't. I'm still waiting for these to arrive. But I ordered on Saturday. A mom & pop shop may not have gotten my order until Monday. So this only the 5th "working day".

GPSMan, when you do get them in could you please take a picture of one of them installed?

Even if they aren't the "Ford Recommended" attachment, they very well could be better than anything else I could come up with on the spot when I'm stuck sidways in the snow in the alley in a snowstorm, along with hundreds of other people all around the city.

Callng for a tow truck only to find out it'll be hours before they could get to me might make the option of using this along with a willing neighbor with his 4WD, mighty appealing, lol.

 

[GPSMan]

That is my intent.

 

[kjammer]

Yep that would probably be a valid solution if the truck is in a valid position to be winched from the rear, but still SOL if not equipped with a tow hitch. Hopefully there's some kind of solution, since the issue is bound to happen sooner or later.

And positioned for a rear retrieval.

 

[GPSMan]

I got two of the "R" hooks in the mail.

The "winch point" hole in the Maverick is very small by comparison.

Big cutout is plastic cowling.
Small hole is in major steel member.
Will it fit??

Wiggle and contort, but a no go.

Hmm... either the hook is too big or the hole is too small. I'd rather grind off 2 millimeters of the tab on the hook. So I did.

A couple mm off the right "horn" and a couple of mm off the left horn. Should do the trick.

Ah! Success! But short lived.

While the first end went in, there's no way to get the opposite "single" horn inside the hole. I think the concept is correct, just the hole in the Ford is too small, or perhaps someone makes smaller R hooks for these smaller vehicles.

Using the larger cut out in the plastic for proof of concept, the concept works nicely.

 

[Jeff D.]

I got two of the "R" hooks in the mail.

Darn! Well, thanks for trying it out and letting us know, GPSMan.

I had my hopes up.

 

[paneubert]

This is what I would buy, if I wanted to drop $140. And only if the Maverick was able to provide some assistance by gently goosing the gas while the recovery vehicle was slowly applying pressure/tension to the chain/strap attached to the chain. No crazy kinetic rope snatches or running starts or anything like that.

4,700 lb safe working load.

https://www.amazon.com/Johnstown-Towing-Bridle-J-Hooks-T-Hooks/dp/B06WD8CXGP/

Or.......even beefier..... 7,100 lb working load.

https://www.amazon.com/Mytee-Products-Recovery-J-Hook-Cradle/dp/B084P89VS1/

 

[GPSMan]

^^^ that likely will work.

For safety of PEOPLE manufacturers don't want metal ends on ropes or chains in case one end comes loose.

I don't see there being any harm to the truck putting metal hooks into a metal hole designed for "winching".

The benefit of the "R" style I tried is conceptually they "lock" into the vehicle and are held captive.

 

[GPSMan]

Today at work I looked at a company F-250.

Guess what it has? Oval holes/slots.
The R hook fit perfectly.

But the F-250 has honest recovery hooks built-in at the front. And you can see this hole is on the side.

This hole with this R hook could/would be used to tie this truck down to a flatbed (or train car) etc.

 

[GPSMan]

So now we need to find the oval hole under the Maverick.

 

[Jeff D.]

I hope this forum can figure something out, and in a hurry, cuz I'll pull my truck out of the snow bank by the windshield wiper blades if I have to!

Don't think I won't!

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