I'm looking into getting a tow strap. Can't hurt to have one. Quadratec has too much of a variety. So for my 2dr, which tow straps should I be looking at? More so, what specifications make a reliable strap?

Thanks!

 

I bought a strap at Wally-World and have been using it for two years now. Basic 3" with loop ends.

Many winter recoveries and a few at the dunes and Bundy Hill.

 

I love my ARB snatch strap (30”).

 

You probably want a recovery strap and not a tow strap.

a Tow strap usually has metal on the ends and doesn't have the elasticity of a recovery strap.

AND a recovery strap can be used to tow something but not the other way around.

I have a smittybilt recovery strap that I bought from amazon that works fine and not too pricey.

 

I have this one, ARB winch extension strap, ARB tree hugger. Snatch strap is great. Havent had to use the extension strap yet but when I do it'll be well worth it.

 

As mentioned before, the term "tow" refers to a strap that does not have any stretch. They can come in handy for easy recoveries, and to use for tying up more complex recoveries (such as to secure the rear of a winching vehicle that is slipping to an anchor). But, in your arsenal you also want a snatch strap. Sometimes the term "recovery strap" is used for a snatch strap, but I've seen packaging in stores that sold straps that would not stretch with that same phrase--so be careful you get what you think you're buying. A snatch strap will have stretch--a lot. There are various types, but Smittybilt makes a nice, inexpensive one. ARB also offers one. If you can afford something a little more premium, check into kinetic recovery ropes. The advantage with them is they take up less space when stored.

Some other considerations:

Tow straps tend to be shorter, snatch straps tend to be longer. The shorter length of a tow strap may prove beneficial when doing a simple recovery (such as a car stuck in snow on a busy street).

Tow straps are sold with metal hooks. Avoid like the plague. They serve no purpose whatsoever except to give pick-up truck drivers something to feel cool about on a snowy day. They are dangerous--if a hook fails, the rope and hook fragments can become dangerous projectiles.

Always use proper shackles (D-rings) to secure your straps and chains and such. If you're going to buy them at your local hardware store, ensure that they are rated for winching operations--not all shackles are created equal (which is why a $10 shackle at your local hardware store costs $20 from a company like Warn).

Metal chains are also used for recovery. However, not the way the typical pick-up driver does. They do not replace a tow strap or snatch strap. Instead, they are used only to wrap around parts of a vehicle to create an anchor point. There use avoids the possibility of cutting the tow/snatch strap on sharp metal. If a vehicle has proper recovery points, there is no need for a metal chain.

A tree saver is like a very short tow strap. It is wide (3") and soft and is used to wrap around an anchor point and protect it from damage.

Bottom line: If I was getting a first strap, it would be a tow strap if I intended to use it to recover cars on winter days and such. It would be a snatch strap if I intended it for off-road recoveries. Eventually I would want one of each, especially if I ever installed a winch.

 

Mark, I adore your disdain for pick up truck drivers. Ha!!

 

I hate to stereotype, but why do so many pick-up truck drivers carry either a chain or a tow strap with metal hooks? I saw a ton of them this past winter during two separate winter storms.

 

I like the look of the Bubba Rope. I've heard and read good things about it.