Identifying tow straps vs recovery straps? and Safety?'s

[snowmirage]

I've done a lot of reading and understand the difference. (Tow strap = static pull Recovery strap = dynamic pull (vehicle with a running start stretches the strap and helps to sling shot the stuck vehicle out)

But while shopping I am having a hard time telling which is which. Many places seem to use the two names interchangeably.

For instance these (are they recovery or tow?)

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-and- ... &t_pl=5836

This as best I can tell is a recovery strap?

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-and- ... UG15104.01

Wanted to check with those that know before I start ordering.


Also would you consider it safe to do the following.

Scenario A:

Use a tow strap (of appropriate rating) in place of a long chain when winching (for example using a high lift jack as a winch, would be easier for me to carry a few high rated strap around than 20 feet of chain)

Scenario B:

using a tow strap to extend a recovery strap. Such as the following


[Stuck Vehicle] <----tow strap ----><-----recovery strap------> [Recovery vehicle]

I know the tow straps aren't designed to stretch and rebound. but the recovery strap should do that with out putting more strain on the tow strap than it would normally face? I think?
Of course you would want a high rated strap not something rated for a few thousand pounds.''

Thanks for the help yet again

[fishsticks]

The Smittybilt is a static strap... I know because I won one at the last event I went to.

The second one you linked is in line with the cost of a dynamic strap.

Honestly, you should give Johnny at Wheeler's (a site sponsor) a ring and he'll get you set up with everything you need.

I have personally done both scenarios that you've described without incident. You should be fine.

[snowmirage]

Great thanks for clearing that up

[Trail X]

If you're in doubt when purchasing a strap, find another source.

Scenario A is quite appropriate. In fact, ARB makes an "extension strap" in lieu of extension rope. The nice thing about an extension rope is that it can be "chain sinneted" to any length you desire, much like a chain, but much lighter. I've been in the process of sourcing a nice winchline extension to replace my chain, but I have yet to do so.

Scenario B is fine, with one caveat. Do not use a D ring to secure the two straps together. Instead use a stick or magazine to cinch the straps together, such as below:

[OregTrailBlazin]

Check out our strap page, then give me a ring if you have any questions... Straps are not really something you want to find the cheapest source for, expecially when your only looking at saving 10-20$..


http://www.wheelersoffroad.com/towstrap.htm


You can get me at 541-474-2879
Thanks
Johnny Kurz
Tech/Sales Associate
Wheeler's Offroad Inc.
(541)474-2879
Johnny@wheelersoffroad.com

[snowmirage]

Thanks again for the info, I think I have just about everything I need.

Last pieces include some chain to use with the highlift when winching as well as some Shackles.

What size / grade shackles do you think would be appropriate. Also what about the chain, the short chains that came with the high lift kit I picked up are 3/8 inch, I think I would need the same size links to allow the hooks on those chains to fit.

Thought I would go pick something up at the hardware store last night but the largest shackle they had was barely the size of my palm..... dont think that's going to cut it.


Incoming horrible Paint diagram (more for my reference than yours) shield your eyes!

[Trail X]

3/8" chain works, but I believe I went with high strength 5/16" and it also seems to work fine. I went with the smaller chain to try to save a bit of weight.

As for shackles, I think a solid shackle for a decent price is the ARB 3/4" D shackle. 4 3/4T or 10,472lb is the WLL 6X safety factor. There's another shackle called the Van Beest Green Pins that are known for being quite good. Nothing at the hardware store will have close to the strength of a proper recovery shackle.

[snowmirage]

Thanks for tips again

I ended up picking up a 3/8" tow chain from harbor freight it was about $29 I think.

I'll pick up some shackles from 4wheelparts later today and i should be set I think they may even have the ARB's you mentioned in the store if not them something of similar quality I suspect.

So with all said and done I should be prepared for almost anything (keyword... *almost* ! )

48" High lift jack
High lift jack winching accessories
3x Shackles
30' 30,000 lb 3" Tow Strap
20' 17,000 lb snatch strap
15' 3/8" Tow Chain
and most importantly.... A shovel

Now I just need to find a place to get myself (or better yet a friend) stuck

[navigator]

you could practice without it being stuck.

[Trail X]

One other thought. In your diagram, reverse the chain, tow rope, and hilift. Your tow rope is longer, so it makes sense to have that section towards the vehicle, so you're not working next to the moving object. Just gives you some safety room.

Here's another quick tip. I have a few straps in my kit, and they are all basically different manufacturers. None of them have the same tags and labels, so it could be easy to confuse which strap is which. I marked all of mine with a sharpie with S (for static) or D (for dynamic) on both ends, and marked down the strength rating in lbs (some were supplied in KG, Tonnes, etc).

[djthumper]

Nice tip JD.

[snowmirage]

One other thought. In your diagram, reverse the chain, tow rope, and hilift. Your tow rope is longer, so it makes sense to have that section towards the vehicle, so you're not working next to the moving object. Just gives you some safety room.

Here's another quick tip. I have a few straps in my kit, and they are all basically different manufacturers. None of them have the same tags and labels, so it could be easy to confuse which strap is which. I marked all of mine with a sharpie with S (for static) or D (for dynamic) on both ends, and marked down the strength rating in lbs (some were supplied in KG, Tonnes, etc).

Good ideas. I am sure at some point I'll pick up a few more tow straps so I have spares. Thankfully at the moment its really almost impossible (even for me )to confuse the two I have. The dynamic snatch strap I have is, well, as best I can describe it a bungie cord.

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Winches-and- ... S%2fBCC120

And good point on flipping the setup I had in the diagram. Not sure why I was doing it that way think that was just the orientation a few of the demo video's I had watched.

[snowmirage]

I stopped by the store to order a full size spare and to pickup a few of those shackles.

As I was walking up to checkout I realized there is NO WAY that 3/4" shackle is going to connect to the 3/8" chain (.... obviously guess I didnt think about it till I had it in my hand)

The shackles they had that looked like they might fit also didnt look strong enough, or maybe it was just because I had this 3/4" beast in my other hand.

The chain I have has heavy duty hooks on both ends, I guess the appropriate thing to do is just hook it to the vehicles tow point / recovery point right?

I liked the idea of shackles as there was no chance of something slipping and coming off, not that its likely to happen anyway.

[Trail X]

As I was walking up to checkout I realized there is NO WAY that 3/4" shackle is going to connect to the 3/8" chain (.... obviously guess I didnt think about it till I had it in my hand)

Huh? You have grab hooks, right?

Your connection should be simple then. Take the grab hook - thread it through the eye of the shackle - grab back onto chain approx 1' from shackle creating a loop through the shackle.

[snowmirage]

As I was walking up to checkout I realized there is NO WAY that 3/4" shackle is going to connect to the 3/8" chain (.... obviously guess I didnt think about it till I had it in my hand)

Huh? You have grab hooks, right?

Your connection should be simple then. Take the grab hook - thread it through the eye of the shackle - grab back onto chain approx 1' from shackle creating a loop through the shackle.

Don't mind me been having brain farts all week. Ya that of course makes perfect sense.....

I really am smarter than this I swear....

[DirtyBacon04]

Pshh... i've just always used big rocks, spare tire, and trash i find on ground... Always worked for me. Not exactly a time or energy saver. First time took me 5 hours, 3000 calories and 150 grey hairs to get unstuck...
Perhaps i should invest in this stuff...

[The Roadie]

Perhaps i should invest in this stuff...

Unless you ride with somebody who has it already, you need to be able to perform a self-extraction. Or never go out of cell coverage. Or carry a SPOT sat rescue beacon. Or get a ham license.

[snowmirage]

Pshh... i've just always used big rocks, spare tire, and trash i find on ground... Always worked for me. Not exactly a time or energy saver. First time took me 5 hours, 3000 calories and 150 grey hairs to get unstuck...
Perhaps i should invest in this stuff...

5hrs and grey hair is what I am trying to avoid lol

Besides if you don't ever get stuck you probably arent trying hard enough lol and I like to plan for the worst

[tzdevill]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread guys. I never really thought about straps or anything like that until this past weekend. I was working Sandblast rally and there were several locations that were super sandy and my father in law got stuck and a wrx got stuck. I was not prepaired . But I am making a back to stay in the back of the truck now!!!