Off Roading Good tow strap?

[NC_Mog]

Actually the opposite is true. The synthetic winch ropes don't fly too much and if they do, they don't have much energy. A traditional wire rope can take out a lot of stuff if it snaps or if the attachment or recovery point its hooked to lets go. Things like a ball hitch are really bad and can take out windshields when they let go. I'm personally very cautious when hooking up. I'm the one the pulls out the worst stuck rigs, and have tweaked some attachment points that owners thought were super stout.



For my use, I like a wire rope because of the abrasion resistance. Mine is usually lying in mud or is dragged across rocks, and weight savings is not an issue.

 

[Duluth Diesel]

I used to work next to a railroad car repair shop. They were hoisting a taconite car with two overhead 50,000 pound cranes. The rule was that only two people could be on the shop floor when lifting cars. 1 operator and 1 spotter. The cable snapped on one of the cranes and it cut the spotter in half just above the waist. Killed him, of course. Snapping a winch cable can be nasty serious. OSHA was all over that place for a week after that mess.

 

[krs]

"At least if a cable breaks it won;t fly very far"



This is bad information.



Cables definitely can fly if they break and when they do there's not much more dangerous. A long heavily tensioned cable that breaks could whip with enough speed and force to cut a man in half, right through. People have been decapitated instantly by flying cable ends.

 

[pwknapp]

I use 4" water discharge hose to protect my strap on other peoples vehicles. It is usually bright blue or green in color and can be purchased at most any industrial hose store. It is very tough and can be slipped over the strap quite easily. JM. 02

 

[CFast]

I saw a safety video once of a tank pulling another tank out of the mud with a HUGE cable. You couldn't see the cable snap, just sort of fall to the ground. They were in the woods, and about 4 seconds later a tree about 2 feet in diameter fell over. Looked like it was cut with a chain saw.

 

[Duluth Diesel]

Now THAT is a video I want to see!

 

[JoshPeters]

Originally posted by Duluth Diesel

I have a clevis hitch that goes in the 2" receiver. Looped end goes in and I drop a pin through it. Works real well. But usually when I pull a car out of a ditch, I use my chains and pull in low range first gear and ease them out. Less potential damage to everything. Momentum is what breaks stuff and sends things flying. Just ask Josh Peters. He put a chain through his windshield so hard it dented his dash. Since that, I don't like momentum, and furthermore, chains are not snatch straps!

Ahh yes... . My beloved Truck has never been the same... about 10 dents up the hood and the one IN the cash... . the best part... . that was my 2nd windshield in 2 weeks. Rock got the first one... . Chain got the second... Force... Yep, got it. The windshield guy that replaced my second one said that you can take a 9mm handgun shoot it at the windshield, and it will bounce off a windshield as long as it is not a straight on shot. Kinda scary... the chain went completely THROUGH! Good thing Duluth Diesel and Blake were well away from my lead footed antics.



Josh

 

[Duluth Diesel]

He drives as crazy as his truck looks.

 

[JoshPeters]

Originally posted by Duluth Diesel

He drives as crazy as his truck looks.

And what is wrong with that!?!





Josh

Hey you still ride with me, it can't be that bad!

 

[fj40charles]

Might want to look at Amsteel Blue synthetic winch rope. Much stronger than steel. I use a hashi strap on my Land Cruiser. It is made in Japan and is a huge rubberband. It is great to those times when you need to do a full throttle pull since it will stretch.