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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...

Yes, that was still my point :) The end bit - the snatch block, and its swivel and hook - should be a six ton rating. (We're pretty sure the rest of it is rated to three tons.) So if it's only rated to four tons, as has been suggested above (and as the model designations suggest), then it's...

I prefer to carry spare tyres on rims unless weight is really a big issue. For the simple reason that changing a wheel is a quick and easy job, whereas changing a tyre is a long and dirty job (in comparison).

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!

That was my point. If the hoist can exert a pull of 3 tons (and is built to safely exert that load), then the snatch block and hooks should be rated for 6 tons. It was suggested that in fact they might only be rated for 4 tons.

For me, it would be a distinct advantage to be able to use the same device for several vehicles, and not be restrcited to a single pressure. Maybe we have a different way of viewing our friends? :) Having said that, I've always just removed the core and used a gauge. If I were doing a trip...

What's with the attitude?

This doesn't seem safe at all! If it can pull 3 tons without the snatch-block, what's to prevent you from putting more than 4 tons of strain on it when using the snatchblock?

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question219.htm It doesn't really say anything about actual damage when they do pull several hundred amps, though.

I always thought deep cycle batteries can go through many charge/discharge cycles, but don't like heavy current draws? (Else why not use them for everything?) In which case a winch drawing 400 or 500 amps isn't going to be good for a deep cycle battery, and you're better off with a second...

Looks a lovely piece of kit! But a Unimog is an odd choice of platform for that kind of thing, I'd have thought. Unimogs have low power to weight ratio, long suspension travel, high ground clearance (including portal axles), a high chassis, cramped cabin, poor road performance, poor economy etc...

LOL, yes, I started off in this thread pointing out that I don't really like Hi-lifts at all! Truly a "jack" of all trades, master of none!

IMO, ideally you want to distinguish between: a dynamic-load strap or rope, with lots of stretch, used for kinetic recoveries only; a true static-load strap or rope (or chain), with nearly zero stretch which is used for winching (and similar) only, and; a towing strap or rope, which has some...

Short answer is (IMO), use neither! But it's an interesting question about which one would impart more energy in the event of a rigging failure elsewhere. Both of them would only be loaded to the capacity of the hi-lift, so they might well have similar energies. I am sure someone here will have...

If they ever suggest using elastic straps with a winch, then yes, they are wrong in my opinion. I don't know either of those gentlemen, but I have heard of Bill Burke's excellent reputation. So I would imagine that he would tell people never to use any stretchy components when winching. Hmm, I...

I like this, though... :) (yes, I know it's not really "off the shelf").

I think you know what I meant when I referred to a "3-ton elastic band" - I meant an elastic band under 3 tons of load (which is what a high-lift jack might exert), ready to launch the hi-lift jack into orbit, possibly bouncing off a forehead on its way. Not an elastic band with a breaking...

I like the idea of a swivel, but it's another point of failure, and a potentially nasty one. On balance, I'd opt for not using one. (But someone may come up with a good reason why a swivel is essential, in which case I'll change my mind!)

I was being polite when I was referring to your certainty. :) But you're spreading what I think is dangerous advice. No-one likes chain if it breaks, any more than they like receiver hitch bolts if they break, or shackles if they break. Make sure your rigging strength is well over the capacity...

I don't think DarioCarrera was suggesting Warn was inferior, just pointing out that a Warn Shop and its employees would have to have a very good reason for not using their own product. Firstly, employees almost certainly get a better deal on Warns than the public, and secondly, you would expect...