Soft shackles?

[LRNAD90]

If you do not have a secure place for the shackle, a tether is not making it any safer.

As long as the tether is connected to a different (secure) part of the vehicle (assuming this is common sense), and of sufficient strength (usually a winch extension cable or similar), it should still arrest the flight of a departed shackle or tow hook.

Of course, like anything else, there are other factors involved. This works particularly well with winch recoveries, and can work with kinetic strap recoveries, if the pulling vehicle is not 'sending it'. But under the right circumstances (foot to the floor recovery vehicle), I'm sure anything is possible..

 

[fourfa]

After looking at this for the last few days why not just stick with a proven shackle.
They seem to never be the weak link if you use a quality one.
Seems the recovery point,strap or cable is the weak links.

Great question. In addition to the possibility of flying projectiles in a bad failure - consider a tree strap of sufficient rating for any recovery, and sufficient width to not damage a tree. You'll find the loops on the end of the tree strap are so thick that it's a huge PITA to get both ends into a standard 3/4" bow shackle. If you need to improvise with a vehicle that has no recovery points at all, good luck getting a bow shackle to attach to some random piece of suspension or frame. Long soft shackle - easy. Another: a bow shackle that's been overtightened, or used in a hard kinetic pull, or god forbid left on a bumper to rust for years - you're looking at tools and more PITA to get them undone and usable. Soft shackles are always real easy to work with. Yet another: modern recovery rings are designed specifically for soft shackles and are a lot lighter, smaller, cheaper, and more packable than old metal winch blocks with bearings and pivoting plates.

Can you work around these issues, sure. Use skinnier tree straps with little safety factor, and keep a very close eye on them for wear and fray. Use another skinny tree strap around axles etc. Use those big old heavy winch blocks.

(I carry a couple old bow shackles in the bottom of the recovery bag anyway, as generally I'm more likely to rescue other vehicles that are blocking the trail than I am my own. And if they have a bumper with sharp-edged recovery points, no way am I going to burn my soft shackles on them. I carry a 2" receiver insert for the same reason, even though I'll likely never use it on my own rig.)

So I've always got a pair of good steel bow shackles and 4-5 soft shackles, and I always end up reaching for the soft shackles first. It's just easier, faster, and safer all around. And when looking at a whole system, the bag ends up lighter and more compact when based on modern soft gear, than big old traditional steel gear.

 

[craig333]

When I put my Jeep on its side I Iearned just how nice soft shackles can be. Plenty of spots to use a bow shackle front and rear but not from the side. Soft shackle made the attachment easy.