Muddin Recuvery System, Chains, Shackles, And Straps?

[redwolf624]

You won't be able to get your rig buried enough to ever break a 30,000 lb strap. It'll tear your rig in two before it'll ever break.

The weight of a chain will beat the crap out of whatever surface you put it on if you keep it in the truck.

AND as said before they are extremely dangerous if you don't know how to properly use them. Using them for recovery is not using them properly.

I saw a chain cleave a 79 Bronco top in half when it broke from yanking on it.  It took out the windshield and rear window also.

Needless to say the driver was quite shook up and upset that his 4 year old truck at the time was ruined.

Luckily nobody was hurt.

ok, well chains would be kept in an ammo box for towin, i'll get 3 straps (1 for a backup), i got a 1/2 shackle today, lowes has a 6000lb strap that it fights in but by no means lays flat, it's all bunched up, should i get a bigger shackle or is the bunchin up thing not an issue?

 

Redwolf

[FrankTheDog]

I give up.

[redwolf624]

I give up.

i agreed and found out why no chains, chains are only for towin which what i'll only use em for, no reason to give up, i got through my hardhead

 

Redwolf

[Pete M]

6000 lb strap? is that  tow strap or a recovery strap? 

get one of these at the very least: http://www.harborfreight.com/3-inch-x-30-ft-heavy-duty-recovery-strap-67230.html

 

3"x30', 27k lb, with loops on the ends.  :thumbsup:

[Pete M]

and one last thing to add, never join 2 straps together with a shackle.  if one strap were to break, the shackle then becomes a projectile.  Try your hardest to never use more than one strap at a time, but if you really need the extra length, loop then through each other.  the magazine can be substituted with a rolled up towel or whatever that's light.  it's purpose is to allow you to get the straps back apart.  never loop them together without something in there or they will become permanently joined.

 

[Blue88Comanche]

and one last thing to add, never join 2 straps together with a shackle.  if one strap were to break, the shackle then becomes a projectile.  Try your hardest to never use more than one strap at a time, but if you really need the extra length, loop then through each other.  the magazine can be substituted with a rolled up towel or whatever that's light.  it's purpose is to allow you to get the straps back apart.  never loop them together without something in there or they will become permanently joined.

 

good advise, I haven't thought of that till you brought it up.

[Pete M]

another method of strap joining

 

[Eagle]

ok, well chains would be kept in an ammo box for towin, i'll get 3 straps (1 for a backup), i got a 1/2 shackle today, lowes has a 6000lb strap that it fights in but by no means lays flat, it's all bunched up, should i get a bigger shackle or is the bunchin up thing not an issue?

 

Redwolf

 

6,000 pounds is a tow strap, not a recovery strap. A 2" x 20' recovery strap is rated at 20,000 pounds. A 3" recovery strap is rated for 30,000 pounds.

[redwolf624]

6000 lb strap? is that  tow strap or a recovery strap? 

get one of these at the very least: http://www.harborfreight.com/3-inch-x-30-ft-heavy-duty-recovery-strap-67230.html

 

3"x30', 27k lb, with loops on the ends.  :thumbsup:

 

 

and one last thing to add, never join 2 straps together with a shackle.  if one strap were to break, the shackle then becomes a projectile.  Try your hardest to never use more than one strap at a time, but if you really need the extra length, loop then through each other.  the magazine can be substituted with a rolled up towel or whatever that's light.  it's purpose is to allow you to get the straps back apart.  never loop them together without something in there or they will become permanently joined.

 

 

 

another method of strap joining

 

 

 

 

ok, well chains would be kept in an ammo box for towin, i'll get 3 straps (1 for a backup), i got a 1/2 shackle today, lowes has a 6000lb strap that it fights in but by no means lays flat, it's all bunched up, should i get a bigger shackle or is the bunchin up thing not an issue?

 

Redwolf

 

6,000 pounds is a tow strap, not a recovery strap. A 2" x 20' recovery strap is rated at 20,000 pounds. A 3" recovery strap is rated for 30,000 pounds.

@pete, thanks for the link and the advise, i guess usin a shackle to link two straps is just like usin chains for recovery?

@eagle, thanks for the recovery strap ratins, that'll help a lot when i look for some,

 

Redwolf

[michaelgoesrawr]

Chains suck. Over all, heavy and hard to work with. They rust too. Don't use them for anything but tying down loads on a trailer. 

 

A snatch strap takes the kinetic energy of a pulling vehicle and uses it to un-stick a stuck vehicle without all of that jarring sudden stopping a tow strap produces. Snatch straps are meant to stretch for this reason. Do not use for towing. At all. 

 

Tow straps don't stretch and are hard on pulling vehicles and the vehicles being pulled when the slack is taken up. Use them for towing. They are light weight and easy to work with. 

 

Always get a shackle that has the working load stamped into them. Make sure it is far more than you Jeep weighs. Tow hooks are meh. They work in a pinch, I have some on my YJ, but they are not my preferred method because the straps can slip off of them. 

 

Winching is not a big deal if you do it safely. More brains than anything really. Don't be afraid to buy a new front bumper with shackle mounts and a winch plate. It'll be good for you because you can self recover. Always throw a heavy jacket over the middle of the winch line. If it breaks, the weight will stop the line from shooting very far. If you're using a steel line with a hook, open your hood just in-case something comes loose. 

 

Here are two companies that I plan to buy from. I haven't heard anything bad about them. 

http://www.vikingoffroad.com/

http://winchline.com/

 

If I were you, mudding by myself and all. I would get a bumper and winch with synthetic line, a tree saver(wraps around a tree so your cable doesn't hurt it), a hand full of quality shackles and snatch blocks as well as a tow strap and snatch strap. You'll always be able to get yourself out. If you mud in places that are far from trees and anchor points, I'd also look into a anchor too.

http://www.justjeeps.com/product.php?productid=27786

[FrankTheDog]

Now read the above several times until you remember it.

Very good advice.

[Blue88Comanche]

As far as winch mounting goes I have the warn trans4mer grille guard, yes I could have bought something cheaper but I liked the looks of this grille guard / winch carrier.  With the winch carrier installed it will allow the installation of tow hooks or shackles (I used both, and the shackles are the best option)

 

 

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Bumpers-Tire-Carriers-Winch-Mounts/Grille-Guard.aspx?t_c=64&t_s=268&t_pt=3774&t_pn=WAR60766

There is even a review for the product.

 

what straps do I have in my tool box? 

for recovery

27k 30 foot recovery strap

8k Smittybilt winch (not in the tool box but you get the idea)

 

for yard work

6k 10 foot tow strap

5 feet of chain 

      I don't use these to snatch, just to drag tree limbs or logs I can't get in the truck

 

I don't use tow straps or chains for recovery, for that matter I don't use a trailer ball hitch as a recovery point,

 

one of my gym members family owns an off road shop, they have plenty of stories where someone put a snatch strap on the ball hitch and floored their truck, the 2' ball snaps off the hitch and becomes a cannon ball.  he said he has personally seen where a 2'' ball shot through a tail gate, through the back of the cab, trough the back seat, trough the center console, into the dash and finally coming to a stop at the firewall.

 

there is a ton of potential energy in these straps, if recovery is not done correctly someone can die.  just spend some time on youtube watching failed off road recovery.

 

good straps

good recovery points

think smart

and maintain your tools 

its been said over and over but its always safety first

[redwolf624]

Chains suck. Over all, heavy and hard to work with. They rust too. Don't use them for anything but tying down loads on a trailer. 

 

A snatch strap takes the kinetic energy of a pulling vehicle and uses it to un-stick a stuck vehicle without all of that jarring sudden stopping a tow strap produces. Snatch straps are meant to stretch for this reason. Do not use for towing. At all. 

 

Tow straps don't stretch and are hard on pulling vehicles and the vehicles being pulled when the slack is taken up. Use them for towing. They are light weight and easy to work with. 

 

Always get a shackle that has the working load stamped into them. Make sure it is far more than you Jeep weighs. Tow hooks are meh. They work in a pinch, I have some on my YJ, but they are not my preferred method because the straps can slip off of them. 

 

Winching is not a big deal if you do it safely. More brains than anything really. Don't be afraid to buy a new front bumper with shackle mounts and a winch plate. It'll be good for you because you can self recover. Always throw a heavy jacket over the middle of the winch line. If it breaks, the weight will stop the line from shooting very far. If you're using a steel line with a hook, open your hood just in-case something comes loose. 

 

Here are two companies that I plan to buy from. I haven't heard anything bad about them. 

http://www.vikingoffroad.com/

http://winchline.com/

 

If I were you, mudding by myself and all. I would get a bumper and winch with synthetic line, a tree saver(wraps around a tree so your cable doesn't hurt it), a hand full of quality shackles and snatch blocks as well as a tow strap and snatch strap. You'll always be able to get yourself out. If you mud in places that are far from trees and anchor points, I'd also look into a anchor too.

http://www.justjeeps.com/product.php?productid=27786

 

thanks for the great advise, and as far as a bumper with shackle mounts, already found the fix for that, the grille gaurd that blue below has :D

As far as winch mounting goes I have the warn trans4mer grille guard, yes I could have bought something cheaper but I liked the looks of this grille guard / winch carrier.  With the winch carrier installed it will allow the installation of tow hooks or shackles (I used both, and the shackles are the best option)

 

 

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Bumpers-Tire-Carriers-Winch-Mounts/Grille-Guard.aspx?t_c=64&t_s=268&t_pt=3774&t_pn=WAR60766

There is even a review for the product.

 

what straps do I have in my tool box? 

for recovery

27k 30 foot recovery strap

8k Smittybilt winch (not in the tool box but you get the idea)

 

for yard work

6k 10 foot tow strap

5 feet of chain 

      I don't use these to snatch, just to drag tree limbs or logs I can't get in the truck

 

I don't use tow straps or chains for recovery, for that matter I don't use a trailer ball hitch as a recovery point,

 

one of my gym members family owns an off road shop, they have plenty of stories where someone put a snatch strap on the ball hitch and floored their truck, the 2' ball snaps off the hitch and becomes a cannon ball.  he said he has personally seen where a 2'' ball shot through a tail gate, through the back of the cab, trough the back seat, trough the center console, into the dash and finally coming to a stop at the firewall.

 

there is a ton of potential energy in these straps, if recovery is not done correctly someone can die.  just spend some time on youtube watching failed off road recovery.

 

good straps

good recovery points

think smart

and maintain your tools 

its been said over and over but its always safety first

thanks for the link blue, already had that bookmarked from where i talked to ya about your grille gaurd when i saw it on MJOTM :) thanks for the good advise too,

 

Redwolf

[skidoo_j]

Now that he's decided that straps are better then chains,  who has used the harbor freight recovery straps?   are they any good or better off saving for two weeks to get a branded strap?    Who's got the best straps for the money  both towing and kinetic recovery straps?

[Pete M]

I've used the HB straps and haven't had a problem yet. :thumbsup:   but I've not used a name-brand strap so I can't make a comparison.

[redwolf624]

my dad has a 20,000lb rated strap from harbor frieght and he hasn't had a problem with it yet, he's towed hummers outta ditches, recovered himself outta mud up to his runnin board but he used the farm jack and strap so no snap pullin there, but it works great for him on his little TJ,

 

Redwolf