Here I am

tow strap rating question

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

More comfortable seats for a 2nd gen.

FASS Help!

Status
Not open for further replies.
I thought it would be handy to have a good tow strap, so I got myself an all-grip-denver (TS2-9802) 30' strap rated at 32,000 (according to the vendor). On the strap it has an orange tag with 3 pictures on it:



Vertical - 6400 lbs

Choke - 4800 lbs

Basket - 12,800 lbs



Did I get the wrong strap? I'll call the vendor on Monday but don't want to ask a stupid question if there is a simple answer that I'm missing.



Thanks - Vic
 
Your breaking streangth is probably 32,000. The number you will use is the verticle rating when pulling someone. If they are not stuck you would be alright. If you overload the strap and it does not break it will be weakened and may break the next time on something a lot lighter than what it is rated for. I had a strap that I overloaded one time and it did not break. The next time I used it, it would not even take the weight of the truck snugging up the strap getting ready to pull.



Basically you need another strap if you use it as a snatch strap and the verticle limit is what you are concerned with.
 
32k is the breaking strength. What you have is a lifting strap, not a tow strap. The way you would be using it would be considered vertical, because you are hooked to each end. ( I know, when you tow it's horizontal! :rolleyes:) So the rating you are using is 6400. Also on the tag should be breaking strength, I'd double check to see if it says 32k.
 
If this is indeed a lifting sling/strap do not use it for vehicle recovery. These do not stretch and will end up putting lots of schock load on both vehicles which is bad. Lifting slings are generally built in loops meaning there is no bitter end. Tow/recovery straps generally have a short loop in each end and are designed to stretch which puts less shock load on the vehicles.
 
Rokmen - All Grip Recovery Straps



Well its definately being sold as a recovery strap, and this place has a pretty good reputation in the Jeep world. I got it primarily for the Jeep but I had meant to get something that I could use with my truck in a pinch.



If this isn't the right strap, any recommendations?



Thanks.
 
What he has is a lifting strap, but should theoretically be stronger that just a "tow" strap. Yes it will not stretch as much, but, because it is for lifting the capacity that it is rated at lifting loads it has a safety factor of 25% or more.

It will make a fine tow strap. A thinner wider strap will stretch more and can help a lighter vehicle move a heavier vehcle
 
Get yourself 30 feet of 3 inch double braid nylon you could get a splicing manual and put some eyes in it, or just burn the ends and go with bowline knots.
 
safety factor

The safety factor on most lifting equipment is 5/1 (five to one). You take the verticle capacity (6400) times five and you get the breaking streangth (32,000). The safety factors are there because every time you use the strap, even if it at or under capacity the breaking streangth will go down slightly. The hope is that if you do not overload the strap, it will show signs of deteriation and wear that makes it unservicable for lifting overhead before the breaking streangth becomes too low giving you a good margin of safety.
 
If this is indeed a lifting sling/strap do not use it for vehicle recovery. These do not stretch and will end up putting lots of schock load on both vehicles which is bad. Lifting slings are generally built in loops meaning there is no bitter end. Tow/recovery straps generally have a short loop in each end and are designed to stretch which puts less shock load on the vehicles.





A lift strap will still stretch, have you ever seen a crane start lifting a heavy load using a strap?? I've seen as much as a 6-inch stretch in a 4 inch strap before.



A lifting strap will work just fine for towing... and the 32k rating... tow straps are rated differently from a tow strap, mainly because they are not intended for overhead lifting. And as mentioned, that's the reason a lifting strap is rated lower than a towing strap.



I used a 4 inch lifting strap to tow a 38k pound drill rig using a 25k pound dozer, it worked just fine. And the rig was mired in pretty well... I doubt you'd place the pull on that strap I did with a 25k pound dozer...



steved
 
VicR what you have is a good tow strap. I would use that to pull/recover my truck. Would I use it to lift something sure but not very heavy. A tow strap and lifting sling are two different tools. One is designed for static load(lifting) the other being for dynamic load(towing). They are made of different materials tow straps are made of nylon just like a ratchet strap, lifting slings are made of continous passes of polyester fiber inside a cover. SteveD everything strectches including wire/rod. If you use a lifting strap to tow/recover a truck you are more likely to break the attachment points, because of less stretch. You are using a tool that is designed to be used in a static load and applying a dynamic load. Steved please describe the 4'' strap that streched 6''. If this was a flat 4'' wide piece of webbing it was not a "lifting sling" and yes it will stretch alot which is what it is designed to do. VicR you have the right tool. Also to those that use rope know that tying a not weakens the line by up to 60% of breaking strength depending on the knot. A PROPERLY done splice will retain 90% of the strength again I say a proper splice. Those that have non wire winch rope is a product built by Samson marketed as AmsteelBlue this is a very strong and resilent fiber(dynex), it is not a dynamic load line. Hence the winch application and not tow/recovery straps. I would trust dynex winch lines much much much more than wire. It is also alot lighter foot per foot.
 
.

SteveD everything strectches including wire/rod. If you use a lifting strap to tow/recover a truck you are more likely to break the attachment points, because of less stretch.



Steved please describe the 4'' strap that streched 6''. If this was a flat 4'' wide piece of webbing it was not a "lifting sling" and yes it will stretch alot which is what it is designed to do.





So you saying that a lifting strap is more damaging than say a chain? Point is, it will stretch... maybe not as much as a tow strap, but it will stretch none-the-less. It will make a fine tow strap... I have both a ProComp 3" strap and a 3" lift strap that are used for towing... I prefer the lift strap because it is manufactured/designed better.



The strap used for lifting (the 4" stretched 6") was an actual lifting sling... we were using it to move items that were in the 10k range... steel coils if you want to know...



And being I work on a well drilling crew occasionally, I can tell you that most "lifting slings" are very near in design to a "tow strap"... both are woven nylon. The main difference between the two is the fact a lifting sling has a label showing its load capabilities and it has a little tighter weave.



steved
 
Steved, my bad you are right about flat webbing lifting straps. They are just has you stated very similiar to tow straps. Same material different weave=less stretch. We use them for lifting yachts when lift under the hull and need the surface area to not crush the hull. A center pick we use a continous loop "sling" that attaches to the lifting point then looped over the hook. I'm sure you would have similiar slings on your oil rig. Rated anywhere from 1ton up say 40ton and beyond. We are on the same page, tow/recover=more stretch the better.
 
While lifting with a lifting strap, you will notice an inch or 2 of stretch, but it's pretty minimal. A good tow strap will stretch FEET when yanking out a stuck vehicle. That stretch is what makes them so effective, but dangerous.
 
For rigging or towing it's pretty cheap insurance to get gear with double the working capacity that you ever expect to use it for.
 
Thanks for the advice gentlemen - I am going to scratch this one off the list of things to worry about.



-Vic
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top