Bubba Rope question

So I just bought some Bubba Rope. I was prompted to do so bc a friend got his Taco stuck in some mud and it might have been nice to have for pulling him out.

My question is whether I bought the right rope. I bought the 19,000lb or 3/4" rope because...well because that exceeds the weight of the Taco.

On the packaging that came with my rope they said this is adequate for "Jeeps and small trucks".

But then they say 28,600 lb or 7/8" rope is appropriate for "1/2-3/4 Ton Trucks".

Since the Taco is a half ton truck, did I buy too small for simple pulling like getting another Taco out of the mud?

 

You are good. It’s the weight of the vehicle not its load carrying capacity that is the concern.

Note there is a difference between tow ropes and kinetic snatch ropes.

 

Thanks man! What is the difference?

I just want something less ...terrifying... than the ordinary nylon rope we used. Though I have to say it did work.

 

A kinetic rope is designed to absorb the shock of a running start. A tow rope will not absorb the shock of a running start. Running start rescuing with a tow rope is not advised.

 

You likely bought the appropriate rope. The Taco is a 1/4 ton truck. Half tons are F-150s, Tundras, 1500s.

Kinetic ropes should be around 3x GVWR.

OA

 

This is a tow rope, but wouldn't matter on a plastic car.

https://youtu.be/8NbQaqb9zdQ

 

I use a 35K tow strap because you can recover with a tow strap but you can't tow with a kinetic strap. All kinds of uses lol. A month ago I used it to pull fence posts that had been concreted in, pulled a big tree out of a ravine so we could cut it up easier... all kinda of fun lol.
Just have to be careful no matter what you use. I still drape a blanket or sweat shirt across whatever I'm using. It will keep it from whipping around when it breaks.

 

Agreed used mine to pull a dozen shrubs out 3 weeks ago.

 

Not to nitpick but trucks have changed a bit from 20 - 30 years ago. 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton meant payload of 1,000, 1,500, or 2,000 pounds. By that a Tacoma is certainly a 1/2 ton. The full size trucks now on the road are way beyond the old rating.

To the ops question I bought the next size up 7/8" because I'm often pulling out full size trucks so the combined weight made me want the heavier rope.

 

Not to nitpick but it hasn’t been a “rating” for over 20 years. It’s a classification more than anything. By that - it’s a 1/4 ton. Call it a class 1 if you want. As far as industry and everyone else is concerned it’s a 1/4 ton.

OA

 

I used a giant tow strap back in the day because I was cheap and could get them from our crane contractors for cheap. I watched a superintendent put a snatch block clear through the back glass and windshield of one of their new F-450s because he didn’t damp the strap.

OA

 

ANYWAYS

Yes OP you bought the correct rope. With kinetic ropes like these, bigger isn't better. You want the appropriate sized rope so that it stretches as designed. I use an ARB snatch strap for my recovery kit and it's also rated at 19,000 lbs and works swimmingly.

 

Thank you all.

 

Keep in mind that if something is mired in mud (more than just loss of traction) there is a suction on the truck. Until it breaks free from that, it 'weighs' much more than just the truck.

 

I think my first instinct at that point is to get out the shovel in my bed and dig it free a little before towing. But this raises an interesting question:

Suppose a big truck (or even a Taco I guess) was really stuck in their up to the frame. Is there some risk I could actually bend my frame or tow hitch mount trying to pull it out (I would be attaching my Bubba Rope to a tow hitch shackle mount)?

 

There is always a risk of damage and injuries.

 

I understand that but I guess my question is how high a risk? Lets say we're talking a Taco buried to the frame in the mud.

 

You'll be fine - I pulled out a F350 once:

https://youtu.be/JndxImPuKPc

 

Pretty low. You'd have to be trying pretty hard to get to that point. I've yet to hear of anyone bending their frame/hitch area from tugging someone free.

 

Look up Matt's Off Road Recovery on YouTube for some examples of using kinetic recovery ropes.