Just wondering which recovery straps you all use? Smitty/rugged ridge/pro comp????

 

I have a tow strap I picked up at Walmart (no metal hooks!), and a Smittybilt snatch strap that was a gift. I also have a Procomp tree saver. If you have a winch, you should have all three, plus a chain. Here is Mark Doiron's philosophy on the use of these ...

Tow strap (no metal hooks!): The first recourse to get someone out after pushing by hand fails. If you have Maxtrax, then you may want to try them, and they do work marvelously in combo with a bit of tug. If someone is crossing an obstacle with a good likelihood that they could get stuck and it would be messy to hook them up (say a mud pit), then hook up the tow strap and drape it such that it isn't in the way before they cross. Route it so they can reach it from the driver's seat to toss it to someone on solid land.

Winch: Use this as the next recourse. If you have a tow strap, it can be used to anchor to a vehicle behind you, if needed. If you need to anchor to a tree, use a tree saver, then the tow strap to that. A tow strap can also be used to extend the winchline, when needed. The chain is used ONLY to create an anchor point to a vehicle without one--by wrapping it around the axle, etc, in places that a strap would be cut. Never use a chain as a substitute for a tow strap. If someone is the first to cross an obstacle that could be a problem, consider hooking up the winch controller and extending out the winchline such that, again, it could be used without anyone getting into a muddy pit.

Snatch Strap: Next recourse. It takes a lot of room to use this. Depending on the situation, this may be preferable to the winch, since it does take time to set up a winching operation. And, of course, a snatch strap is useless for self-recovery.

In my experience brands don't matter that much. The Smittybilt strap has one advantage over some of the better brand names: It's obviously a snatch strap. Some brands, you have to remember that one color strap is a snatch strap and the other color is the tow strap. That's kind of silly--and risky if you try using a tow strap as a snatch strap.

Finally, if money is no object, skip the snatch straps altogether and opt for a kinetic strap. These things rock, and one day I expect to pick one up ...

OKoffroad.com Recovery Gear - Mega Kinetic Recovery Rope

 

Got mine from a mom and pop hardware store. Used it many times with no issues. No hooks on it makes it nice to coil up and stow.

 

To be clear, the reason for no hooks is they are weak and dangerous when they fail. People have been killed by tow straps with metal hooks. Use proper shackles in cloth loop ends.

 

Speaking of safety from metal bits, these seem like a good addition. https://www.4lowparts.com/product/small-soft-shackles/

 

Very interesting. Had not heard of those before.

 

I just got a CESS recovery strap. Good for 22,000LBS.

 

Im a noob and I am very surprised that there is something you didnt know! Ha, good info. Thanks for sharing

 

Mark, is there any concern about putting a chain around an axle and then snapping or at least warping the axle? I suppose if you're at that point with a vehicle without grab points then you probably don't have any other choice, but I'd hate to go from having a stuck vehicle to have a vehicle with a broken axle.

 

Anytime you're recovering someone there is concern. Recovery points are obviously the best option. What I tell people as I hand them the gear for a recovery to hook up to their vehicle without recovery points: "When I start pulling, something is coming out of that hole you're in. It could be just part of your vehicle, but something will come out." Sometimes they decide maybe a little more digging with a shovel is a good idea.