MillenialMechie

I live in a valley in SE PA and my road is always a mess when it snows. According to the weatherman, it’s been about 1,000 days since our last big snowstorm. Well, the antics on my road did not disappoint. At one point, there must have been 5-6 cars spun out and stuck.

I ended up towing 2 cars. One was a work van that had buried its back tires about 1/4 the way into the mud on the side of the road. The other vehicle was a small Mitsubishi suv. I towed each about a mile using a 5/8” (could’ve been 3/4”) nylon rope from the boat.

I was extremely impressed with the Ridgeline. It’s my first winter with it (2013 with 45k miles). It handled the snow (6” deep at first and then compacted with frozen rain to about 3”) with ease. No slips or spins and pulled both vehicles 1 mile up decent grades at 7-8 mph.

I was also reminded how awesome bowline knots are. I looped the rope (spliced loop on one end and nothing on the other) through the rings on either side of my hitch and around the steel bumper on the van, through the tow eye on the suv. I then used a bowline knot to connect both ends of the line. The knot held without issue and despite the tension in the rope during the tow, was very easy to untie. I learned this knot in my boating course as a 14 year old and still use it 16 years later.

Shag

Just put the bunny up thru the hole, around the tree, and back down thru the hole and he won't get stuck.

Agreed, bowline ,is one of a few knots that should be second nature, as is tying a clove with two half hitches

Also, while learning a bowline, learn a bowline on a bight. They can be handy too.

N D H

What I to know is how do you have a 2013 with 45k miles?

JBS

My Honda dealer gave me a 2020 Ridgeline AWD as a loaner when my Pilot was in for warranty work. I was very impressed.4wd trucks have come along way.

DrDanH

I own a 2007 Ridgeline which we bought new. It has 296,xxx miles on it, and has only failed to start one time, when the starter failed at 275k. I agree 100% about its capabilities in snow. Best vehicle I have ever owned! If Honda built a full-size pickup, I would be first in line to buy one. [My 2006 F-150 tow vehicle, bought used with 110K, now has 125k and is sitting at the shop awaiting a new engine.]

MillenialMechie

I was driving a Nissan Maxima that was formerly my wife’s car. Then the CVT suddenly failed at 80k miles in Jan/Feb 2020. I found a great deal on a my truck on Craigslist. The original owner lived in north Jersey and commuted 3 miles to the train station each day then trained into NYC. I was able to buy the Ridgeline for $16k. The guy had installed a flip bak bed cover, running boards, roof rack, remote start, weather tech mats, and Apple car play compatible head unit. Love the truck and it’s add ons. I haven’t checked but due to Covids impact on the market, it’s probably worth more than I paid for it now.

MillenialMechie

I had to Google bowline on a bight. The Wiki article says that it is prone to slipping????

After posting last night, I thought back to one of my first summer jobs as a kid working as a mate on a parasail boat. The captain would attach the parasail to the tow line using a bowline. After pulling a 35’ diameter parachute 15kts all day, I could easily untie the knot when packing up for the night. I never witnessed a knot failure either.

bugnut

Bowline is the first knot all lineman learn.

PF-88

Bowline, King of knots, won't tighten up, won't slip, and always comes untied when you want it too.
A lot of a vehicles winter traction depends on the tires you have, some suck in snow and others are excellent in snow.

Boataholic

I've towed a few sedans and small vans out of snow. There never seems to be a good place to hook a rope or chain too. Generally I tell them to hook up there end and I won't be responsible for damage.

Kennay

I started tying a canoe knot for a bowline instead of the rabbit around the tree and back in the hole deal. I never knew, and have never seen it mentioned that it was essentially a bowline till I tried it with something larger than fishing line. I find it easier to make a standing bowline tying it like the canoe instead of the traditional method.

gfretwell

I learned how to roll a bowline in the CG and with the right line I can throw one. I haven't seen that rabbit in 55 years. I is the best knot tho. I have a nylon tow linethat has been dragging stuff around for 50 years and the bowline in it still can be untied if I need to.

flcatcher1

Ridgeline = great vehicle
Bowline = great knot
Pulling strangers out of mud/ditch with a bowline and a Ridgeline = knot a good idea. Noble? Yes. But risk of damage to either vehicle or a bystander is significant. A winch does the job much better and won't break an axle or blow your tranny. And if you tie the tow rope on the wrong structure you can damage the vehicle. I applaud you're being a good neighbor/citizen, but next time just offer to call for a tow if they don't have a phone. If it's just a flat 2 foot tow onto a paved surface, your call.

alweld92

I need to practice.

Kennay

Dang!

MillenialMechie

I did have some hesitation, but both folks were pretty desperate.

The young girl in the suv called the cops (who said they wouldn’t get to her since she was on the side of the road and not in harms way). Tow trucks in the area were overwhelmed and wouldn’t even give her an ETA. She waited 2 hrs before we decided to try towing her out.

The guy in the work van was in a pure panic. He told me that he was delivering pharmaceutical drugs and couldn’t abandon the van. I let him tie off to his bumper.

I also disconnected the vehicles anytime we went downhill. Strictly pulled them uphill or on a flat. I do agree, I’m not advocating I should tow on a regular basis, but these two were really jammed up.

Boataholic

One of my fishing buddies always says, "if you don't know how to tie a not, tie a lot of them"