I just used my rescue straps to pull down a tree. And now they are mated together forever? I've looked up a few responses to this problem, and it seems a bunch of folks toss them after they get a knot in them. Is it really that unsafe to reuse them? And if so, how do you unknot them? Thanks!

 

The knot does reduce strength somewhat, but i wouldn't throw them away if they were mine.
Next time you're joining 2 straps together put a rolled up magazine in the knot to make it MUCH easier to undo it. (NEVER use bow shackles to join straps)

 

I did read someone suggested tapping around the knot with a rubber mallet until it loosens. And it worked. And they were not technically knots. It was where I joined 2 together. Thanks!

 

 

Why not?? if the shackle has the proper WLL limit I seen know reason they can't be used, unless crane operators and tow trucks are doing it wrong.

 

Because crane operators and tow trucks don't "snatch" on their straps. The strap will break long before the bow shackle does and then you have a missile coming back at you.

 

Use a soft shackle.

 

I'd say this is the same as using synthetic line on a winch. If strap breaks it's gonna fall the ground, unlike a steel winch cable with tension on it that would come flying back at you if it snapped. That shackle isn't going to come flying back like a missile. Am I wrong?

 

So then we can all take the shackles off the bumpers, because we aren't going to attach to those if we are "snatching" the vehicle. I do agree that soft shackles are a better option.

 

Perhaps... but I still wouldn't do it. I know a snatch strap stores energy (it's got a built in stretch capability)... Once I found soft shackles, I switched to them...