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  1. Metcalf

    This is why you never use a trailer ball as an attachment point for a snatch rope or strap!

    I'm not defending the trailer ball tow concept.... .....but we will hook 10-20Klbs of trailer to one and run it down the road at 80mph?
  2. Metcalf

    This is why you never use a trailer ball as an attachment point for a snatch rope or strap!

    Right....so should we cut the hitch pin through half way or an anchor shackle too? Anything steel and or heavy metal in a rigging system is bad. That is why I don't really love this test. Weight in bad in a rigging system. Extra parts in a rigging system is bad. That is one of the reasons I...
  3. Metcalf

    This is why you never use a trailer ball as an attachment point for a snatch rope or strap!

    I'm not saying do it, but the 1st ball went through a crazy amount of abuse before it failed. The entire hitch was deformed. The strap didn't appear to have much stretch at all. The tow ball also came loose in the mounting hole sounds like.
  4. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    Yup, the knot failures are generally all about violating the D/d ratio for bend radius on dyneema products. When used with a snatch ring, the chafe guard has a bad habit of rotating around the core and destroying itself and causing damage to the line. The UHMWPE has a nice low coeffecient of...
  5. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    I haven't seen any yet. I can't really even get the ring to be warm to the touch running it with an 8274 winch. In my opinion, everything has a service life. Sampson Rope has some very good info on when ropes should be retired. On the soft shackles that I started producing, I made sure the...
  6. Metcalf

    Blender, My LX450/FZJ80 + FJ45esk + GM + Land Rover crazy concoction

    I have the same problem, so I decided to design my own. The basics- It is a tool/gear bag approx 16" L and 7"Dia constructed of industrial grade marine waterproof dry bag material with a heavy duty top handles, end handles, compression straps, and large tooth commercial grade zipper. All the...
  7. Metcalf

    D-ring shackle ratings explained - be weary of cheap Amazon shackles!

    How many recovery points on vehicles do you think are rated for these kinds of loads? The shackle is the least worrisome part of the rigging assembly for me.
  8. Metcalf

    Blender, My LX450/FZJ80 + FJ45esk + GM + Land Rover crazy concoction

    Just a small update. I have been driving the wee out of this thing as my daily driver this winter. I am just about at 5000miles now.....time to change back to the Milestar Patagonia MT 'Black Label' tires again!
  9. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    Um, no. My snatch ring with soft shackle and my anti-tip block is ~1lb ( 22K rated 100K+ SAFE fail ) My old steel snatch block and a steel shackle is 7lb+ I can carry 3-4 complete units which will allow more options for complex rigging and STILL be less than 50% the weight of a SINGLE...
  10. Metcalf

    The Danger of using the wrong recovery equipment

    Yup. I see a lot of dangerous stuff in the recreational side of things also.
  11. Metcalf

    The Danger of using the wrong recovery equipment

    How many recovery points do you think are rated for real abuse?
  12. Metcalf

    Moveable Winch Plate - low profile alternative to front/rear receiver hitch winch

    I just about killed myself once with a multi-mount winch system. Mr. Murphy always makes sure the winch is on the wrong end of the vehicle. It is one thing to move the winch in a parking lot, it is another thing to do it after you slid off the road and the hitch is above your head on the side of...
  13. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    Comfort comes with experience. I've been using synthetic winch rope for a few decades now. In general, you are overthinking it. I purposefully abuse my winch line with minimal care, cleaning, and thought to rigging dangers to test the limits It just keeps coming back for more. You honestly have...
  14. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    I've been using the same piece of line on my old Jeep for 7 years now. No issues. The Dyneema family of lines come out of the industrial marine industry where they are subjected to very harsh conditions over their entire service life. The worst thing for Dyneema is UV exposure. Once the line...
  15. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    Why is that? The ring generally rotates with the traveling end of the rope. That rotation load is spread out over the entire bearing surface of the ID chamfer of the ring. If you use the 'improved' soft shackle design, that bearing surface is also spread out over both legs. I still haven't...
  16. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    Why is that? The ring generally rotates with the traveling end of the rope. That rotation load is spread out over the entire bearing surface of the ID chamfer of the ring. If you use the 'improved' soft shackle design, that bearing surface is also spread out over both legs. I still haven't...
  17. Metcalf

    Rope for DIY soft shackles

    The 'improved' design of soft shackle is pretty easy to tie, but if you don't want to learn shoot me a PM. The important thing to worry about with soft shackles, and Dyneema in general, is D/d ratio. Generally, the larger that ratio, rope dia vs edge radius, the stronger the system will be...
  18. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    Pretty easy to wash that stuff every few months. Take care of your gear, your gear takes care of you.
  19. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    My block is rigid to help lower the bearing/bushing load on the soft shackle where it wraps around the ring. If the soft shackle is attached to something with a smaller D/d ratio you can get a higher friction rub area on small radius on the OD edge of the ring. The block takes a fraction of the...
  20. Metcalf

    Next generation snatch block

    I gave the rubber band idea a try, no matter how tight and how many rubber bands I used I couldn't get the soft shackle tight enough to prevent the ring from flipping sideways with a very light 'wiggle' test. My block prevents that from happening under even rather violent motion.
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