Recovery Straps

Hi David,
In my humble opinion, the bigger the better. I have been in and seen situations when all sizes have been broken. Depends on the difficulty etc of the recovery. I would suggest that more importantly you ensure you have got PROPER recovery points installed on the vehicle. I have seen people use the transport tie down hooks (or loops) that come with the vehicle with disastrous results. A good rated hook from one of the 4wd accessories shops is a very very good investment. It is also possible to purchase a hayman reese fitting with attached hook to use on your towbar.
Get out and get dirty and I am sure you will have a great time.
Cheers

David,

Your vehicle weighs just under 2000kg empty and 3000kg full loaded.

A rated 8000kg strap would be OK if used correctly.

3.75t shackle is the smallest rated shackle that should be used and the most common larger rated shackle is 4.75t. Either size would be OK if used correctly.

Wayne

If you break a snatch strap, you'll do some minor damage; if you break a recovery point it can kill you.

So I disagree that "bigger is better".

My suggestion is 8000kg strap (and no bigger), if you must use a shackle then no bigger than 3.2T and while you're at it buy an equaliser strap and learn how to use it to make snatch recovery safer.

First of a recovery strap is different to a snatch strap, a recovery strap is rated to be able to lift/pull a specified weight.... a snatch strap is much the same but relies on the rubber band theory of generating energy.

A vehicle weighing 2000kg bogged in sand may only need a force equal to 1400Kg's and vehicle stuck in mud may need 1700Kg.

All you are trying to do if generate enough force to break rolling resistance enabling the vehicle to start moving.

Lifting is different to pulling..... how can one person weighing 100Kg move a vehicle weighing 2000Kg but that same 100Kg person struggles to lift 60Kg????

As for vehicle recovery/tiedown points..... on most vehicles you would not exceed the calculated load of the factory recovery point, end of story!

Do the engineering based calculations on a factory Nissan or Toyota and you will get a shock..... no manufacturer will ever say you can use them for recovery due to liability if something did go wrong.

Isnt 3000 kg empty already 50kgs overweight?

Honky

I wouldn't be using any more than the 8t strap. You'll get better elasticity and an easier recovery from a correctly rated strap. If you break an 8t strap on a bogged 3t vehicle, you're doing it wrong and most probably shouldn't be trying for a kinetic recovery in the first place - ala bobcats and trucks - that's what the winch on the front is for.
Straps are RLL (recovery load limit) rated, which an arbitrary figure close to the nominated breaking strain of the strap. Shackles are WLL (working load limit) rated and must have a safety factor of 5. Generally manufacturers will go to a safety factor of 6 or even 7 to be sure. Hence you won't see the mixture of recovery ratings (snatch straps etc which aren't covered by any standard) matching up with the properly rated rigging gear (shackles, tirfors etc which are). Either the 3 or 4t shackles mentioned before are up to the task. Just make sure they are the WLL rated lifting shackles.
Caveats that they don't always teach you on a recovery course:
1. Shackles should never be dynamically loaded (any snatch recovery). We've all done it.
2. Shackles should always pull perfectly straight on the pin, never offset or 'pin bound'. Those dicky recovery hitches with the shackles are o.k. only in one plane and a very small offset on the bow shackle gape. Any more than that and you are risking failure. The high end hitches are being cross drilled to allow you to orientate the hitch for the recovery, but must of them still don't.
3. Straps should never be wet, sandy or dirty (haha I always get bogged in the carpark at coles)

There's more (strap angles and softening turns etc) but unless rigging is your game it just gets confusing.

David,

2 to 3 time the weight of you vehicle is the answer. Do not go for the biggest as suggested, it will not stretch and can cause damage, that is unless you have a 4.5 tonne vehicle.

Further details can be found in the nationally recognised training manuals.


and by manufactures such as Just straps Snatch Strap guidelines

This is a good "force required" chart for recovery.

Hi David D1,

This may be a little T.I.C.

............... how stuck are you going to get?

................ and how many other vehicles are going to be with you when you get stuck??

Do a 4WD Course and ask the instructor for qualified information :-)

Cheers,
Wayne & Sally.

Whatever happened to the humble tow rope? I've extracted many vehicles from difficult situations with a tow rope/strap but never needed a 'snatch strap'. How much more effective are snatch straps than tow ropes/straps? Forget about the marginal differences of harnessing kinetic energy etc.
How many times can you use a snatch strap before the 'elasticity' is buggered?

Thanks one and all for your replies. The Dmax is only two weeks old and the first 4X4 I have owned. It is not the first 4X4 that I have driven, in my employment I use one daily and mostly in high 4. I'ts just in my job extreme is not an option. From your replies I have decided on two things, 1st is to ensure that i have proper recovery points and 2nd is to find a trainer or club in the Rockhampton area. I have no desire to emulate the feats of the "extreme ones" as seen in the magazines, I just want to explore oz in a safe and enjoyable manner. So once again thanks for your replies and advice. Cheers Dave.

I completely agree with the posters who are saying, go with the 8000kg strap.

99% of the time when these straps 'fail' it isnt actually the strap failing its the point at which they are attached to vehicles.

If you look at the destructive testing comparisons which have been done over the years rated equipment like these straps - both static 'winch extension' straps and dynamic 'snatch straps' alike have quite a bit of head room in their 'ratings'.

ie. ARB Snatch strap 8000km - breaking point 10200kg. (all brands are different, so worth researching before buying)

ie. ARB Winch extension strap 4500kg - breaking point 7070kg.

Rated Shackles have a LOT more 'head room' over their ratings.

ie. 4700kg rated shackle - breaking point 33,900kg.



Bottom line, what im trying to say is you are a lot more likely to break the point at which the strap is attached then the straps themselves or the shackle, so if you simply use a larger strap you are even more likely to break this attachment point. The most common one would be, "one strap isnt enough, ok lets use 2 and give it everything!" that is just asking for trouble, big trouble.

Its extremely important you keep your equipment inc. straps in top condition. Dirt, water, abrasion will all have at times significant effects on the strength of the strap.

Pay extremely close attention to what attachment points you are connecting the strap to the vehicle, and Never ever put the eye of a strap over a towball.

99% of the time if people stopped for 5minutes and assessed the situation properly and put a couple minutes in with a shovel first there would be no need to push even an 8000kg snatch strap anywhere near its breaking point recovering a 4wd vehicle.