Tow strap vs. Kinetic rope

[hovenator]

I am looking to get a good tow rope/strap. I am not sure which is better? I am torn between a MasterPull Super Yanker kinetic type rope vs. an ARB pull/tow type strap. I need it to be able to pull out a 5500 lb. Nissan Titan (which I'm sure both are capable of). Please tell me your choice (any brand) and why. Any and all information is much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[HB 4X4]

The ones that stretch(snatch strap, etc) are better for things like mud. It allows you to get more pulling force with less stress on the tow points. I would personally keep both, since you can get a tow strap for very cheap.

 

[Bogo]

Never do a yank type pull with a tow strap as they are not designed to stretch.

The snatch strap (also called kinetic rope or strap) is likely one of the most dangerous recovery devices out there. They can kill if things go wrong. I have seen photos of a snatch strap threaded through a headrest and hole in the windshield. Thankfully the driver was only grazed by it but he got knocked out and a trip to the hospital out of it. Others weren't so lucky. I have also seen a photo of a vehicle that landed on top of the recovery vehicle. In my opinion exhaust all other methods before using a snatch strap.

Now, read this first before you buy:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Recovery/
Especially the parts on how much force is built up in a snatch strap.

At the minimum this forum should have a sticky thread pointing to recovery methods and safety pages like the Pirate4x4 one.

 

[alexrex20]

most recovery straps are designed to stretch a little bit (10-20%), and you can definitely yank on them. don't get big running starts, but as long as you're anchored well on both vehicles, you can give it a couple of tugs.

a tow strap has open hooks on the end and should never be used for vehicle recovery.

 

[Donsfast]

I have a fancy $100 snap strap in my Jeep and a cheapy harbor frieight snap strap. I find myself always using the cheapy in fear of cutting or tearing the expensive one in rocks, etc. I use the heck out of them and will try that before a winch 90% of the time. Of course its only as good as the weakest attachment point but that is the same with any recovery.

 

[michaelgroves]

In my opinion exhaust all other methods before using a snatch strap.

x 2.

It's a very easy method of freeing a stuck vehicle, but it's inherently dangerous. You can certainly mitigate the dangers by using the Kinetic Rope carefully and properly, but you can't escape the fact that it stores such a vast amount of energy.

I'm not saying never do it!

 

[hovenator]

Here in Florida, most of our "stucks" are usually due to mud or sugar sand. It sounds like to me that a stretchy snatch type strap is the correct choice for me. Any other opinions or thoughts?

 

[I Leak Oil]

I think you should plan on having both eventually. You're going to find there are situations where the one you need is the one you don't have! As far as safety goes, they are like any other tool. Used incorrectly and they can cause damage or injury.

 

[CJCA]

I have a fancy $100 snap strap in my Jeep and a cheapy harbor frieight snap strap. I find myself always using the cheapy in fear of cutting or tearing the expensive one in rocks, etc. I use the heck out of them and will try that before a winch 90% of the time. Of course its only as good as the weakest attachment point but that is the same with any recovery.

From the sound of it the Harbor Freight snatch strap isn't a bad piece of gear for the price. Just curious. I bought one a few months back for no other reason than I had a 20% off coupon and their straps were on sale @ 20% off = 40% off. For around $20 I figured what the hell and tossed it in the back of the truck. If it extracts me or someone else one time I figure it'll have paid for itself.

 

[Donsfast]

From the sound of it the Harbor Freight snatch strap isn't a bad piece of gear for the price. Just curious. I bought one a few months back for no other reason than I had a 20% off coupon and their straps were on sale @ 20% off = 40% off. For around $20 I figured what the hell and tossed it in the back of the truck. If it extracts me or someone else one time I figure it'll have paid for itself.

Actually its very nice...it has doubled ends plus an additional cloth cover which is more than my expensive one. I have used it endlessly with no issues or tears...I am in New Mexico and do mostly sand or rocks...not much mud at all and it has held up well.

 

[Master-Pull]

Never do a yank type pull with a tow strap as they are not designed to stretch.

Exactly, those yellow straps that everyone seems to carry around are alright if you have tension on the strap before you start pulling. If you need to take a running start you should use a stretchable rope. Like our Super Yanker.

The snatch strap (also called kinetic rope or strap) is likely one of the most dangerous recovery devices out there. They can kill if things go wrong. I have seen photos of a snatch strap threaded through a headrest and hole in the windshield. Thankfully the driver was only grazed by it but he got knocked out and a trip to the hospital out of it. Others weren't so lucky. I have also seen a photo of a vehicle that landed on top of the recovery vehicle. In my opinion exhaust all other methods before using a snatch strap.

Do you have any threads on this or the pictures? I have never seen one of our Super Yankers behave in the ways you mentioned above. If you are using a strap and taking a running start before you jerk on it then yes I can see this being true. I have no qualms whatsoever about jerking on one of our Super Yankers to recover a vehicle that is stuck. Here is a quick video of one of the other MP guys and I demonstrating a how to use a Yanker last year. This is a 7/8ths inch x 30 ft Yanker attached to my white Jeep with a 3/4 Vab Beest shackle, on the green Jeep we used two of those shackles attached to a 7/8ths x 10 ft bridle. When we were recovering my jeep we left about 6 feet of slack in the ropes and then took off at full throttle.

http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd42/alexer03/walker jan 18 09/?action=view&current=DSCN0080.flv

http://s223.photobucket.com/albums/dd42/alexer03/walker jan 18 09/?action=view&current=DSCN0079.flv

I have used my Super Yanker successfully on all sorts of terrain this past year, I drug a dead jeep half a mile through a muddy, tree rooted and rocky trail. We went up and down hills, around corners and through muddy holes. The rope worked just as it was supposed to, and was only slightly chaffed by the end. These ropes really are a step ahead of normal tow straps and I would never use a strap again after using a Super Yanker.

-Alex

 

[Master-Pull]

I am looking to get a good tow rope/strap. I am not sure which is better? I am torn between a MasterPull Super Yanker kinetic type rope vs. an ARB pull/tow type strap. I need it to be able to pull out a 5500 lb. Nissan Titan (which I'm sure both are capable of). Please tell me your choice (any brand) and why. Any and all information is much appreciated.

Thanks.

For the weight of your vehicle you can use either a 7/8ths inch or 1 inch Super Yanker. I like having a 30ft rope with me as well as a 10 ft bridle, this gives you plenty of length to work with and if you are stuck in deep mud this is very helpful.

Remember everyone on Expedition Portal gets 10% off all Master-Pull products, if you would like a quote with shipping either PM me on here or email me at alex@masterpull.com

-Alex

 

[michaelgroves]

They can kill if things go wrong. I have seen photos of a snatch strap threaded through a headrest and hole in the windshield. Thankfully the driver was only grazed by it but he got knocked out and a trip to the hospital out of it. Others weren't so lucky. I have also seen a photo of a vehicle that landed on top of the recovery vehicle. In my opinion exhaust all other methods before using a snatch strap.

Now, read this first before you buy:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Recovery/
Especially the parts on how much force is built up in a snatch strap.

Do you have any threads on this or the pictures? I have never seen one of our Super Yankers behave in the ways you mentioned above.

-Alex

Hi Alex,

It's not any flaw in the Kinetic strap that causes this type of accident. It's that there are truly titanic forces applied through the strap, far more than those generated by a winch or a steady pull from another truck. (It's why they are so effective, of course). There have been cases of recovery-points being ripped out, bolts breaking, rear cross-members flying off etc. It's the hardware attached to the strap that does the damage. I have seen pics of a Nato hitch that's flown though the windscreen, headrest, and upper tailgate of a RRC, when the rusted bolts holding it to the towing vehicle broke. Not the KERR's fault, it's the fault of the bad recovery points. But the KERR makes any hardware failure much more dangerous. If something's going to break, it's safest if it's the KERR itself!

 

[Bogo]

Here is the threaded snatch strap (first attachment). The bumper on the stuck vehicle gave way. It is in this IH8MUD thread.
http://forum.ih8mud.com/winching-recovery/95784-dumb-recovery-strap-question.html

I haven't found the pics of the launched recovered vehicle accident yet. The guy doing the snatch recovery did a full force snatch rather than first just trying to pull the vehicle out, then building up to more and more force. The result was he imparted enough energy into the stuck vehicle to unstick it and send it flying.

Here is an account of just the strap breaking and eyes needing to be flushed due to glass bits in them.
http://www.4wdaction.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=57938

 

[alexrex20]

Exactly, those yellow straps that everyone seems to carry around are alright if you have tension on the strap before you start pulling. If you need to take a running start you should use a stretchable rope. Like our Super Yanker.

-Alex

i disagree. snatch straps are designed to stretch a little bit, and can easily and safely accommodate small tugs. for big running starts, then you need a kinetic rope.

http://arbusa.com/Products/Tow-Straps-And-Recovery-Gear/Tow-Recovery-Straps/52.aspx

This ability to stretch is a distinction between a snatch strap and a tow strap, ARB snatch straps are elastic when under load whereas a tow strap is not, the benefits of which are twofold. Firstly, the kinetic energy generated by the elasticity actually aids the recovery itself, and secondly, the elasticity greatly reduces the likelihood of vehicle damage during recovery. The enormous weight of each 4x4 and the weighted force of whatever caused the immobilization puts enormous strain on the point where the straps are attached, and without some elasticity, there is a substantial risk of damaging the vehicle. For vehicle recovery, a snatch strap is more suitable than a tow strap.
All ARB snatch straps are woven and fabricated to ARB specifications, and tested by a NATA approved laboratory. The 17,500 lb model is recommended for most 4WD vehicles, with the 24,000 lb & 33,000 lb straps better suited to heavier applications.