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In fairness, Thom, you know that that's just an absurd misuse of a Kinetic rope! But having said that, it goes back to what I said - a KERR can make a really serious recovery look childishly simple. The idiots in the video are probably applying momentary pulling forces well in excess of 20 tons...

I think we'd all agree a properly used kinetic rope is safer than using a tow-strap as a kinetic rope! This is the safest way to use a KERR. But still, how do you know when to stop adding more force? Or how much force you are adding? The energy in the rope is not only related to your...

I think that all that determines the amount of energy in the rope (until the stuck vehicle moves or something breaks), is the amount of power that's applied, and for how long. A stretchier rope will result in a longer duration, thus more energy. A lighter vehicle (for a given amount of power)...

7Wt, This description of the way you use your KERR is absolutely by the book, and as safe as you can be when using a KERR. Even so, as Muskyman says, if you're pulling someone out of a mud-hole, and unbeknownst to you, there's a rock or tree stump in front of his axle, then even using the KERR...

As a rule of thumb, I agree. If the choice is limited to those two methods. Add a winch into the mix?

Speaking for myself, I hope I made it clear it isn't "kinetic hatred", it's kinetic caution. The main reason kinetic recoveries are so effective is because of the forces they unleash, which can be much greater than those generated by winches and towing. The operative phrase is "can be much...

It's an interesting distinction - durability versus reliability. Land Rover has the former in spades! The latter, not so much.

Sadly, the plasma is not heat resistant! It has the same temperature specifications as the Amsteel (or very close). Personally, I think Puget have been very clever, and thought up an additional final "plasma" process that does no harm and sounds impressive, and gives them a unique selling point...

I think it's hugely dependent on how the lower layers are spooled - if they are spooled tightly and close together, it's much less likely to happen. I suppose an ideal spooling pattern would be all tightly parallel at a slight angle in one direction, and then neatly at the opposite angle when...

I've used Puget's "plasma", and Amsteel Blue - no discernable difference, really, although both will tell you theirs is better, of course. Most of them seem to have about the same specs, although your XD is the Icelandic one (I forget the real name :) ), and is a cut above the rest at least in...

You'll get a lot of kudos for that constructive attitude, Matt. A lot of suppliers would have made excuses or defended their errors, rather than looking for ways to improve the situation. Seeing the armoured vehicles being used reminded me, while I was in the South African Army (Logistics), SOP...

I certainly wouldn't go that far! Yes, they are more inherently dangerous than other methods of recovery, and I would use other methods in preference where circumstances permit. But there's no doubt they have their place in a well-stocked recovery bag!

Like you, I love Land Rovers! I just wish they had fixed the problem back in the 1960s - Series Land Rovers were even more notorious for broken axle shafts! I guess the diffs might not have been so much as a problem back then, as the half-shafts acted like shear-pins! ;) Seriously, though, it's...

I agree, in the main. It really is a pity about the diffs and half-shafts, though! And the electrics are usually nothing to brag about either. As somebody once said, Land Rover is a continuing triumph (just) of design-engineering over production compromises! I also prefer to compare things with...

I've tried various "patterns' for re-spooling synthetic rope. What works well is to completely cover the drum with the first layer, and then to criss-cross the rope as you are spooling it on. Synthetic line doesn't get damaged by crossing over itself, and it stops the line from being pulled down...

I wonder what proportion of Land Rovers are used off-road, compared to other vehicles on that chart? And how much impact off-road use would have on reliability?

I understood your statement to mean "of those things not intended to break, if something does break, best if it's the strap/rope. Which does indeed make sense. However, of course if there's a shear-pin anywhere, or other safety valve, then that's second choice - first choice being reaching the...

That stuff's what we in the UK would call PSP - Pierced Steel Planking. The military version has interlocking edges to make temporary road surfaces etc. Available in steel or aluminium. (Still seems to be called PSP, though!). The aluminium stuff is great, the steel is very heavy. The...

Here goes! :) No matter how you cut it, you need a given amount of energy to get you out of the hole you're in. It doesn't matter (in principle), if you use a big powerful winch for a short time, or an itty-bitty winch for a long time. In practice, it's hard to say which generates more wasteful...

If you want to winch fast and simply, then use the biggest winch possible. (Although very often the difference between two models is the gearing of the winch, not the motor power, in which case bigger might actually mean slower). A bigger winch usually means a heavier, more expensive, more...