What size tow/vehicle recovery straps are you guys using? 2"-3"-4", 20feet, 30feet, 40feet, 10K, 15K, 20K, 30K, 40K strength?


What would you recommend to get a heavy 3/4 truck stuck in mud, out with?

bigger is better!

aaah, it all makes sense now. Case closed *being sarcastic...*


Really, this is my first 4x4 and I know as some point I'm going to put the truck into something it won't come out of. So, I've never dealt with tow/recovery straps before, and was suprised to see the wide range of choices. I'm wanting to get one that is safe for my truck. Being that a 3/4 diesel 4x4 will generally run about 7000lbs, you'd think a 10lb strap would be enough. However, after reading I've seen that 10Klb is not 10Klbs. I've read that even though the strap is rated for 10K lbs, its normal operating strenght is several thousands pounds less, ie 7K - 8K lbs. See this example


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2487389321&catego ry=43998


This guy is selling a 20Klb rated tow strap, but says that its normal working load is only 10Klbs. At this point I'm leaning towards a 3" 30ft of 30Klb strap. I figure that will get me 15K usable, reliable pounds of strength.


Is this going overboard?

Bigger is not necessarily better, you want some stretch to your strap. That way you store power in the strap, and once you reach the critical point where the other vehicle begins to move, it is like it's connected to a big rubber band. Too big of a strap will not stretch. Your normal everyday flat nylon strap has very little stretch. If you want the ultimate in tow straps, look no further than here (http://www.masterpull.com/results.cfm?catid=360).

I would personally recommend the 7/8 or 1 inch for your application, if you are trying to yank seriously stuck trucks out of mud. For average pulling, the 3/4 would be sufficient.

They are expensive, but worth every penny. You'll make your buddies jealous. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

hmmm, that actually raises a question. What are the advantages of using a rope over a strap, or a strap over a rope?

Longer is usually better as well. 30 feet minimum in my opinion. I have 30 footer and I have lots of time wished I had more length and I can't remember ever wishing I had less.

One more tip. As convienent as it may seem to hook onto a trailer ball, never do. A buddy of mine had to pull someone out and the they figured the ball was the easiest place to hook up. A couple jerks and the ball broke off, went through the back window of his truck, inches from his head and stopped half way through the windshield. Scarry stuff.

Regarding that auction you posted, I don't think 15 feet is long enough. You'll have your back tires in any good sized mud hole that you're trying to pull your buddy out of. 20 feet minimum, in my opinion.

I have a Masterpull 3/4 inch - plenty for what I do with my truck and overkill for my old Jeep that I bought it for - and had them make it 30 feet long. They will do customwork like that if you call them.

Since you said you're new to this, I'll tell you a couple other things. Never use a hitch ball as an anchor for a tow strap. Never use a strap with hooks on the ends for a tensioned pull (that is, un-stucking someone). Never hook two straps together with a shackle, and always have people clear out at least 1 1/2 times as far as your strap is long when you are pulling, and not in line with the strap. I've seen a hitch ball go through a tailgate, then through the back window of a truck. The safety glass of the front window stopped it and it ended up on the passenger floorboard. The driver got out and puked he was so rattled.

The reason you need a higher weight strap is because of the load that a stuck truckputs on the strap. A 7000 pound truck that is stuck in the mud can effectively take 3 or 4 times that to get pulled out. As an example, I once assisted in the extraction of an older 1 ton Chevy on 38's, stuck to the bottom of the doors in very sticky mud. Maybe a 6000lb truck. It took two winches, one 8000lb and one 12000lb, both on snatch blocks, to get it out. That's about 30000lb of pull, theoretically. Needless to say, everyone stood WAAAAY back.

Hope that helps, feel free to ask questions, I'm sure there's lots of other guys on here that know a lot more than I do about this stuff!

Marc

Doh! MaxPower beat me to the hitch ball warning! I do agree about 30 feet. The main reason I got that length is because on tight trails, you often don't have that much room to set up with a huge strap. Plus there isn't much room in a Jeep to store stuff. Ideally, I'd have a 40 footer and a 20 footer probably, plus my 6 foot tree strap for any real tight stuff.

DJP - don't let the looks of the masterpull deceive you, it's relationship to regular rope ends at it's appearance. No conventional rope has the stregth for heavy pulls. Unless I guess you wanna carry some 3 inch diameter stuff.

Here's another one for you that I thought of. Go to the hardware store and get a 5 foot length of highway grade chain - the gold colored stuff. Usually you find it in 5/16ths. Now get a 3/8 chain hook for one end and a /8 grab hook for the other. You now have a choker chain that you can use to extract the schmoes that get stuck and don't have towhooks. The chain and hooks will cost you about $50 IIRC.

Marc
Marc

Get GOOD chains. You'll find that the grad 5 chain @ Home Depot or some where will be quite week. Find a wire and rope/chain store. I would suggest the grade 7 chain...maybe the grade 8. No. 7 will give you plenty of strength and stretch a little before it breaks. The # 8 chain doesn't give hardly any warning....very strong and very scary. However, there is a stainless "mix"ed" type chain that is fantastic......the cost...holly crap. You will spend more money, it's worth it. If they have Crosby hooks, you're in business. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

On the strap/rope ratings. Are the published numbers the tensile or breaking strength ratings?

Never use a hitch ball as an anchor for a tow strap. Never use a strap with hooks on the ends for a tensioned pull (that is, un-stucking someone). Never hook two straps together with a shackle

Okay Marc and Max, if you don't use the hitch ball, what do you hook the thing to? Turn around backwards and use the hook in the front?

Jim

Ideally, you put a very strong point on the back of your rig. I used d-ring mounts from somewhere, don't remember where. A lot of guys use a hitch pin, it's a little better than a hitch ball. I have never personally seen one of those fail.

If you want a good tow strap check out Tractor Supply. Iwas in our local store about 5 months ago & bought a 3" wide, 30 ft long strap. I think it was 30K lb test. It was $65.00. This was the best price I have seen & 35 - 40K lbs is tough enough for our trucks. To attach to the vehicles, there are loops on both ends. I use a Clevis pin in an extra reciver stinger that i keep in the tool box, or from the front, I just use the tow hooks.

Hope this helps!

PDS

One thing no one has mentioned is putting a bath towel or two around the ends of the tow strap. If the strap comes loose or brakes the towel acts like a sail and slows all the flying parts down.

I have two twenty foot nylon slings rated at 27,000 lbs. I also have a 3/4 shackle to join the two together if needed. I hope they would have died of old age under my back seat. Unfortunatly my oldest little brother has "mud on the brain" with his 4X4 Ranger.
Come up with something that will be versatile. Try to be prepared.

Aggie91, I agree.


I just got a 2in, 20ft strap rated at 18,000lbs for $26. Worked great pulling my girlfriends car home for about 20 miles (not recommended). I wrapped the strap around the hitch reciever (mounted to the frame) and then put the loop around the hitch (not the ball).


Dan

Never use a hitch ball as an anchor for a tow strap. Never use a strap with hooks on the ends for a tensioned pull (that is, un-stucking someone). Never hook two straps together with a shackle

Okay Marc and Max, if you don't use the hitch ball, what do you hook the thing to? Turn around backwards and use the hook in the front?

Jim


click here (http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/shackle.shtml)

I like that. Should fit under the back seat with all the other crap.

There are 2 kinds of straps. strechy ones that are ment to be tugged on and ones that act more like chain you pull against em. Even the ones that dont strech will strech some. Regardless get ones with the woven loops. And get some screw pin clevises. A scre pin clevis through the hole were your ball will bolt in your hitch is a good recovery point. I prefer the non strechy ones. The strechy ones are good for getting some one out thats really stuck because its like a rubber band, you get going and it streches and you use a bit of monetum to snap em out too, but you need to match the strap for what you are pulling out. Its fine if you are wheeling with like weighted trucks but it you are wheeling with a jeep and you get stuck he isnt really going to get it "streched" out. And they are kinda pointless for lite stucks or stuck in snow.


awdirect.com has good stuff


I have 2 non strechy straps and a chain and a couple of clevises. You can place the loop end of a strap in your end of your reciver and stick the pin through the end, it works but if your stuck bad it can bend that pin and its a mother to get out, dont ask me how I know. I bought a d ring from awdirect and made me a cool man puller hitch deal. leme see if I can find a pic......

And a short chain is good to give you something to wrap around somebodys axel or something but they also make a "tree saver" strap that will work as good and be easy to handle

Ratlover,


I bet you had fun getting that bent pin out of your reciver http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif


And no, I really don't want to know how it happened . . . If you told me, it would happen to me & my son w/ his friends keep me awake at nites thinking up sh*t to get into to as it is . . . .


PDS

A little sliceage and diceage and life was good.


Now I'm the only one with a 4x4.....dont wheel this one and wouldnt even if my frineds still had trucks.


Still get the "dude you got a tow strap right" call at night when one of those bozos park in a ditch and cant get out. Litteraly ideled back to tightne the strap and out that one came "we tried to push dude i swear"http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif You have no idea how bad I want to stand on it and rip the rear from under your camaro right now do youhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Evil Smile.gif

I have a two inch 30 foot long nylon strap that has chains on both ends with hooks that are about 3 feet long. This works great for wraping around on shapes and sharp edges.


I believe the ball is heat treated to give strength but it also weakens it if jard against. This is why it is not a good idea for jerking some out on the ball. A straight pull that has the strap also wrapped around the reciever for added strength should do fine.


I have seen people wrap straps around the axle before and rip suspension out. There is also a clip of some kids pulling a Geo or like out of a snow bank. They had hooked up to the rear bumper and gave it a tug and ripped off the rear bumper and the tail gate.


And if you plan on getting in the mud alot forget the straps and get a winch. Tugging on a strap with these trucks will eventually tear somthing up including the strap. straight solid pulls will save equipment over the jerking method.

A winch would be nice, if ya had the money for one. My dumb A#* little brother has called in the late night to get a tow out of a snow problem. In his case he doesn't have the money for a winch, nor the common sense to "not do it" in the first place. Unfortunatly he knows my truck, my help kit, and my home and cell numbers. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

It has been STRONGLY suggested to not do it again. At $50 a tow. If the wrecker can even get close enough to hook up.
Doesn't seem to learn........ heavy sigh.

So for someone that wants a tow strap for the sand dunes what is recommended? I dont do any mud playing...