Robert_in_NY
Super Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2001
- Messages
- 8,552
- Location
- Silver Creek, NY
- Tractor
- Case-IH Farmall 45A, Kubota M8540 Narrow, New Holland TN 65, Bobcat 331, Ford 1920, 1952 John Deere M, Allis Chalmers B, Bombardier Traxter XT, Massey Harris 81RC and a John Deere 3300 combine, Cub Cadet GT1554
I love the education I get here. I never considered the gear issue when pulling in reverse. I have always liked pulling things in reverse with my truck using my tow hooks because I have a better line of sight. I will now reconsider my tugging ways. With FWD, I have never found traction to be an issue pulling either direction.
If what your pulling in Reverse is light enough you wouldn't notice any issue with a 4wd truck. However, if it is stuck good or heavy you will not be happy pulling in reverse and when you turn the truck around you will be amazed at how easily the truck pulled it out. By pulling from the back it transfers a lot of weight to the back wheels making them more useful while still having the front wheels working with the weight of the engine and front end over it. Pulling in reverse lifts the weight off the rear wheels and puts it on the front effectively making your truck a front wheel drive truck as the back tires don't have much weight over them to help gain traction.
Tractors are similar but also have tires designed for pulling forward and they don't work as well pulling in reverse (this is why some combines with RWA have the rear wheels mounted "backwards", if they get into trouble the RWA pulls the correct way to back out of the trouble spot)
I pull from both directions all the time depending on what I need to pull and where I am pulling.