4WD monthly article

Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 13:01
ThreadID: 6399 Views:1902 Replies:2 FollowUps:8
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The article in the 4WD monthly about Snatch Straps is worth a read everything is not what it appears to be, some interesting finds and quite a few suprises, definately worth a look.Keep the shiny side up
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Reply By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 17:26

Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 17:26
I have the 11,000 KG Megastore strap and it was recomended so im ok.

Don't forget the only reason some are not recomended is because they failed just under the stated load rating of the strap.
This doesn't mean its dangerous and should be replaced but should be a consideration.

Id like to see a test on the ancore points, ie rated hooks, factory tie down hooks, tow bar pins ect.

AnswerID: 26960

Follow Up By: Member - AndrewPatrol - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 18:19

Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 18:19
not to mention that most straps out there aren't in 1st class condition after mud crud and water, sitting in the back of the car for who knows how long wet, exposed to the sun etc. Makes you wonder how some straps make past the next snatch?????????
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FollowupID: 18484

Follow Up By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 18:59

Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 18:59
Good point !
The straps in the test were new and undamaged.

How often are straps streched to there limit anyway ?
Most times it is just a light strech to help the vehical get some traction i recon.
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FollowupID: 18490

Follow Up By: Matt (W.A.) - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 19:04

Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 19:04
But still a very interesting read, I only use a Snachie as a last resortKeep It On The Rough Stuff

Matt (W.A.)
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Follow Up By: Old Jack - Friday, Aug 08, 2003 at 11:39

Friday, Aug 08, 2003 at 11:39
Kev, and All
failing just under a load rating is avery big thing, a load rating is something that any device should handle safely. We use lifting gear all the time. as an examaple if a sling that is made to take 2000kg's "load" has a 1990kg load placed on it and it breaks that is a very big failure!
all our lifting gear is inspected and tagged as per the code.

while we can all buy and use a vehcial winch or straps, drag chains etc. without having to have training or the gear inspected people are putting themselves at risk using recovery gear. to anyone new to using this gear or contemplating buying recovery gear I would strongly recommend doing a reconised certified course before buying & using recovery gear.

To anyone who has been using recovery gear for years, with a blarssay attaitude, remember every action has an equal and oppisit reaction.
with the dynamic forces involved thinking about what you are about to do and taking things steady most people will come back intact allong with there gear.

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FollowupID: 18633

Follow Up By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Friday, Aug 08, 2003 at 17:30

Friday, Aug 08, 2003 at 17:30
Lifting gear is rated different, say your sling is rated at 2000kg in reality it could hold probebly 4 times that because the lifting industry likes to have a big saftey margin for obvious reasons.
For some reason all other applications rate there gear at breaking point, you would thing they should have a slight margin in there stated breaking point too.

I agree that people should do a basic course as just 2 weeks ago i saw a guy throw a snach strap over a tow ball.......needless to say the recovery didn't proced untill i changed it.
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FollowupID: 18657

Follow Up By: Old Jack - Friday, Aug 08, 2003 at 22:19

Friday, Aug 08, 2003 at 22:19
To all,
The frightening thing is that they failed before reaching there load rating....

l will stick to winching using lifting rated tackle, most if not all vehical winch's come fitted with open hooks that don't carry any marked load rating. a lot of clubs are asking members to get locking hooks fitted to the winch's on there cars for two very good reason, one can be positively locked onto a tow point, two for insurance reasons the gear has a load rating stamped on it!

as for the snatch straps, well I think we might need to see some better safety standards set for this type of equipment as currently it seems that just about anything goes!

the forces involved in snatching a truck out of a bog can see 3 or more times the weight of the vehcial's involved eg. 3 X 3500kgs for a loaded toyota or NiSSan being put on the strap...... 10,500kg on a 11,000kg breaking strain strap? No thanks!
on a 11,000 kg SWL(safe working load) strap.... sounds a lot better to me!

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Follow Up By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Saturday, Aug 09, 2003 at 15:24

Saturday, Aug 09, 2003 at 15:24
I too have never liked the standard winch hook so i swaped it for a lifting rated one. (see pic on link below)

http://www.offroader.com.au/overlander/80%203.jpg

I just hope my rig doesn't weigh 3500kg, beter yet i hope i don't get bogged. haven't yet. (touch wood)

Problem solved.
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FollowupID: 18738

Follow Up By: Old Jack - Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 at 21:19

Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 at 21:19
Kev your rig will go close to 2500 kg as it's parked probably,the next model is close to 3000 kgs off the show room floor! when you get something stuck on a slope or in a bog the load just gets bigger!

Recovery gear is a lot like insurance you buy it hopeing you never really need to use it but are glad to have it when something goes wrong!

safety wise it better to know that the gear you are using can cope with what you are going to dish up to it!

one of the things the lifting guys didn't like was the way a lot of the winch cables are the eye ends fitted to them and the way they are terminated. an example is the use of "clips" reduce the strenght of the rope by 20% as oposed to a swaged socket that maintaind 100% cable strength.

To anyone going shopping for a new hooks for the end of there winch cables rated "GRADE 80" clevis type sling hooks are the go, with a swl above the capacity of your winch. if in doubt ask someone at a lifting equipment supplier! the cost of rated Quality gear is usually equal to or cheaper than what you buy from a retailer & the expertise available is invaluable!

safe motoring
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FollowupID: 18844

Reply By: Suzuki Viagra - Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 19:09

Wednesday, Aug 06, 2003 at 19:09
Good to see some of the big 4wd companies come down with a thud..... serves em right for overstating the product.

the verification process wasn't designed to test 4wd snatch straps, but most of the others weren't affected by it.

One thing I have to say in ARB's favour is it was one who did way better wet than dry which is very strange......

I'll definately be using this as justification for a new snatch strap though - wonder how well it would do now with a few recoveries and some scuffing under it's belt..... not too good I'm assuming.
AnswerID: 26974

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