Tow strap/rope question

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:42 pm

i've seen some idiots who probably shouldn't have had DL's much less tow straps

sat on the bumper of my cheyenne and watched a 4x4 chevy blazer yank the rear axle out from under a toyota pickup truck

i had offered to help but because I was from the other side of the tracks they didn't want my help, apparently they thought looping around the axle would help them pull the toyo up out of the mudhole it was in easier than hooking to the hitch

they had the nerve to ask me if i could drive them to the store to call a tow truck

i made them ride in the back of the truck, it was bout 30 out :lol:

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:34 am

Fulltimer wrote:

KeswickDave wrote:

Here's another how not to... lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF693eh9mUU

Did you read the comments? One said a longer tow strap would have helped! :lol:

"Yep, gotta get yer self a tad longer run there don't cha know".

Terry

That comment was from Maximum Carnage's post, but yeah... that'll git'er done! :roll:

Maximum Carnage · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:21 am

KeswickDave wrote:

Fulltimer wrote:

KeswickDave wrote:

Here's another how not to... lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CF693eh9mUU

Did you read the comments? One said a longer tow strap would have helped! :lol:

"Yep, gotta get yer self a tad longer run there don't cha know".

Terry

That comment was from Maximum Carnage's post, but yeah... that'll git'er done! :roll:

You have to pock fun at some people’s ability to think straight. :lol:

ObiHann · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:00 am

so, stupid question here probably already talked about, if your pulling someone out of a snowbank, and they don't have a hook, I would think you need a hook on your rope to get them out. Oh, and as far as a hook on a rope being a big heavy danger, in my local club a xj just had a hook ripped shear off because off rust, flew through 2 car windows.... There even heavier, and even bigger than the little hook on my rope :roll:

ObiHann · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:09 am

So you look the cable through itself then? Seems like that could run the risk of putting more stress on the strap and cause it to fail

ObiHann · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:56 am

yellocoyote wrote:

ObiHann wrote:

So you look the cable through itself then? Seems like that could run the risk of putting more stress on the strap and cause it to fail

No - looped the strap thru the LCA and both ends were attached to my tow hook. The only thing I had to watch is that the LCA on the van wouldn't cut the fibers of the nylon strap.

I guess my rope is a bit too short to be doing that..... I need to order a good tow strap anyways. My local offroad shop can get me a 25'000# strap for like $30 depending on the length,

ObiHann · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:13 pm

yellocoyote wrote:

ObiHann wrote:

yellocoyote wrote:

ObiHann wrote:

So you look the cable through itself then? Seems like that could run the risk of putting more stress on the strap and cause it to fail

No - looped the strap thru the LCA and both ends were attached to my tow hook. The only thing I had to watch is that the LCA on the van wouldn't cut the fibers of the nylon strap.

I guess my rope is a bit too short to be doing that..... I need to order a good tow strap anyways. My local offroad shop can get me a 25'000# strap for like $30 depending on the length,

I currently have a 30 ft. recovery strap.

Seems a bit too long for standard trail use.... I've been stuck in places where 30' is all you have to work with for both vehicle....

ObiHann · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:54 pm

but when looped back, you have 2 pieces of strap holding on to your hook, not 1, so you double your chance of it slipping, just a PITA though no safety risk.

MidnightLiberty · **Joined:** Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:42 pm **Posts:** 270

Take the tow strap with the hooks, cut off the hooks and put on 2 D rings. Problem solved.
Oh and oops.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/How-NOT-to-pull-a-truck_640120.htm

pipeliner · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:07 pm

I keep seeing references to "tow strap" and "recovery strap" and wonder whether the terminology in the USA is different from Downunder.

A Recovery strap (usually called a Snatch strap in Australia) is a strap about 30' long which will stretch under load by up to 30-50%. It is used to impart a large force to the stuck vehicle to assist it to drive out of a bogged situation. These straps have a breaking stress of at least 8 ton, some up to 15 ton. The recovering vehicle builds up force in the strap by driving away from the stuck vehicle, thus stretching the strap until the stored energy in the strap is sufficient to enable the stuck vehicle to drive itself out of trouble.

A Tow strap is used for pulling a vehicle which is incapable of powering itself. It has no elasticity (chains can be used), is relatively short (~10') and is only used on surfaces which enable the wheels to roll reasonably smoothly. Towing can be performed with straps with breaking stresses as low as 1-2 ton, since the only load is the rolling resistance of the towed vehicle.

So when you guys refer to "tow straps" above, which ones are you referring to? Neither should be used for the purpose the other is designed for - a snatch can be used for towing at a pinch, but a tow strap should NEVER be used for snatching.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:20 pm

pipeliner wrote:

I keep seeing references to "tow strap" and "recovery strap" and wonder whether the terminology in the USA is different from Downunder.

A Recovery strap (usually called a Snatch strap in Australia) is a strap about 30' long which will stretch under load by up to 30-50%. It is used to impart a large force to the stuck vehicle to assist it to drive out of a bogged situation. These straps have a breaking stress of at least 8 ton, some up to 15 ton. The recovering vehicle builds up force in the strap by driving away from the stuck vehicle, thus stretching the strap until the stored energy in the strap is sufficient to enable the stuck vehicle to drive itself out of trouble.

A Tow strap is used for pulling a vehicle which is incapable of powering itself. It has no elasticity (chains can be used), is relatively short (~10') and is only used on surfaces which enable the wheels to roll reasonably smoothly. Towing can be performed with straps with breaking stresses as low as 1-2 ton, since the only load is the rolling resistance of the towed vehicle.

So when you guys refer to "tow straps" above, which ones are you referring to? Neither should be used for the purpose the other is designed for - a snatch can be used for towing at a pinch, but a tow strap should NEVER be used for snatching.

Most quality straps here are "snatch straps",the cheap one's some buy at wally world/advance auto/auto zone are mearly tow straps.

I carry one 20'x2" snatch strap(primary)rated for 15,000lbs and also have a 30'x3" snatch strap rated at 30,000lbs as backup.The if all else fails I got that 100'x3/8" synthetic recovery rope on my 9500XP.

MidnightLiberty · **Joined:** Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:42 pm **Posts:** 270

I have a 2x20 hooked (soon to be d-rings) tow strap for rescuing (towing them either home or off of the highway) cars from the roads. I have a 3x10 hooped recovery strap for rescuing on the trail.

superj · **Posted:** Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:33 pm

that video is three or four years old, but still funny as hell.

that was on the bmw sites for a bit while people poked fun at the asian car guys

mrkake · **Posted:** Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:13 am

Albert wrote:

Oh my God, that's terrible.

I read that with the tow straps with the metal hooks - they are only made to tow a vehicle on a smooth surface where there's no additional strain as the vehicles can roll easily. Not like when you're trying to pull someone out of the mud or up an incline or something. You need a "recovery strap" with the loops at both ends. And it is made to stretch a little and retract when overcoming the suction of mud etc. Several times I've watched (from a safe spot) vehicles being pulled out of mud. Once with a winch and several times with recovery straps. It is very dangerous. Accidents can happen even when everything is done right. There's a lot of forces involved and you can't be too careful.

You are exactly right. A tow strap is not designed to stretch and should only be used to two someone. Never jerk someone out of a binding situation with one. A recovery strap is designed to stretch and as such is better to pull someone out of the mud, rocks, sand, etc. Caution should be used no matter what you use.

Tow strap/rope question

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