New tow / recovery strap I just bought.

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:10 pm

Let me know what you guys think. I just got it off ebay and I am pumped I get to use it with my newly installed rear hitch. It was $30 including shipping and it has a 12,000 lb. pull capacity. It came with the hitch attachment and the d-ring. I like it, but it is only 20 ft. I kinda wish it was 30 ft. The guy that sells them has a website under construction: simpletow.com , but here is the ebay page I got mine from. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOW-STRA ... enameZWDVW

P.S. The rear hitch I bought won't work with the stock rear tow hook, so I had to take off the tow hook. Anyone interested?

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 3:50 pm

That hitch reciever bracket thingy is an interesting concept... correct me if I'm wrong though, is that for a Class II (1 1/4") hitch reciever?

If so I'd be concerned with the pulling capacity of your hitch for recovery purposes - the Jeep weighs 4000 lbs or so, class II is rated up to 3500.

If it's a class III (2") rated 5000 lbs then you should be good. It just doesn't look like a 2" in the picture, which is why I ask!

Dave

EDIT - just read on the e-bay listing:

Quote:

The steel insert is 1 1/4 inch. This allows it to fit any size hitch.

Not sure I'd be wild about using an 1 1/4" shaft in a 2" reciever but I suppose it would work?

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:09 pm

It is a 1 1/4" hitch insert that fits into any other hitch receiver. That way any size receiver will fit or work. The pin is long enough to go through and fit any hitch as well so there isn't a fit issue. As for the weight question. The hitch I just bolted on my KJ is class III so it is rated at 5000 lbs. The strap is rated for 12,000 lbs. I am not going to be using the 1 1/4" insert for towing anything, just for vehicle recovery. The 1 1/4" steel insert isn't detachable from the strap anyway, it is permanently fixed in the end of the strap's loop. Besides, the tow hooks on my KJ are only rated to at 5,000 lbs. as well so it wouldn't be any different from using a tow hook for recovery.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:00 pm

may be ok for a straight pull but on an angle and not the same size as the hitch, may put it on a good bind, but .....

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:09 pm

The insert isn't so small that it will bind up inside the receiver, it is too long, but it will clank around a bit. I wish it was an exact fit for my hitch, but because it isn't, I can use it on different vehicles and not have to switch out any hardware, so it is adaptable for a lot more situations and it is attached until I release it from both vehicles, unlike just a strap with loops only. Not all vehicles have d loops and or tow hooks, so this little puppy solves that issue as well. A winch is obviously the best way to go, but $30 vs $550 isn't even close.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:17 pm

Looks dangerous and scary to me.

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:21 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

Looks dangerous and scary to me.

How so?

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:36 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

Looks dangerous and scary to me.

Xs 2

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:38 pm

No real, legitimate reasons why this looks scary/ dangerous? Please enlighten me.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:43 pm

just the way the loop is welded on , not much there from what I can see. When youre pulling on one that is really stuck it can or could possibly bend/ break. Of course that is just from the pictures,

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:52 pm

tommudd wrote:

just the way the loop is welded on , not much there from what I can see. When youre pulling on one that is really stuck it can or could possibly bend/ break. Of course that is just from the pictures,

It is actually pretty stout and the guy I got it from tested it and it didn't fail at over 12,900 pounds. I think if I don't punch it and jerk the living crap out of it going like 20 or 30 while trying to get someone unstuck, then I am pretty sure it will be fine. I was thinking maybe I might cut off the welds and drill out a hole for another d loop instead of the welded end, but I think that I'd be doing unnecessary work. I guess we'll see though. Stranger things have happened.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:21 pm

Should be ok but I dont like the fact that its made for a 1 1/4in hitch and not yours. I would probably cut the yellow part off and get a real shackle.

Ive got a 20ft strap and its ok as far as length.

Inc · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:24 pm

I'll give it a try and see if it really sucks or works fine. If it works fine, then I'll obviously keep it as is, if not, then I'll put a d-loop in the other end where insert is.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:25 pm

I dont like shackles and I dont like to pull on any thing welded

I will not strap you if you do not have frame mounted tow hooks or a hitch
My life is worth more than your rig

I will only use GOOD quality straps with loop ends and I will only use shackles to hook a snatch block to a tree saver
but it must be rated stronger than the winch and the tree saver must be rated stronger than the shackle

I have see these items fail and a winch cable can cut through a tail gate on a pick up ,it did mine, so a human body would be nothing for it

That being said I would send it back and get a real tow strap
mount some OE hooks or simply thread the loop end into your hitch and use a good quality pin to hold it if you feel you must leave it in
I dont like this but I deal with it better to loop it from around the receiver over the top down and out from the bottom when you need a strap
This way nothing can break or bend and no one gets hurt

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:37 am

Never go budget on an item like this. Being for a small receiver, that tells me how small that loop is and welded on there.

Fouros · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:45 am

looks nasty

if it fails or your reciever pin fails you got yourself a projectile

a good rated D shackle or run the loop into your hitch and pin through there

Downunder recovery straps have no fixtures ( ie loops at both ends ) due to possible injury

i use a 3.2T rated shackle for recoveries ( you can only get them in 4x4 stores) not from your local hardware store

it looks like an interesting concept but maybe look for one of these

Inc · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:07 pm

Now you guys have me paranoid I a going to send a chunk of steel flying through someone's windshield. I am going to cut the 1 1/4" insert off and get myself a d loop shackle 2" insert and then I don't have to worry. Thanks for all the info, and here is what I bought in place of it.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/92144_101.htm

I didn't buy it there though. Ebay again.

DryBones · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:19 pm

thats what I bought...Rugged Ridge. Should be fine but what do I know? :lol:

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:35 pm

That's what I have too, front and back.

Sorry to be negative, but I still don't like the idea of putting that 1 1/4" piece in the 2" reciever!

Dave

Inc · **Posted:** Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:24 pm

KeswickDave wrote:

That's what I have too, front and back.

Sorry to be negative, but I still don't like the idea of putting that 1 1/4" piece in the 2" reciever!

Dave

If I didn't want real answers I wouldn't have asked the question. I appreciate the honest feedback, so no worries about being negative. :wink:

New tow / recovery strap I just bought.

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