Tow Straps

[ChesterSPL]

What do you guys use for tow straps/chains. I don't want to buy a $100 strap but some good out of the box ideas would be good. I see all the pics of guys stuck being pulled out and wanted to see what everyone used. Store bought/works, but not it's intended purpose.

 

[Redneckryder]

you can buy a 2" wide strap at walmart around here for like 40 bucks. that is fine for what i use it for. like a 20,000 lb or somethin like that. correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

i have a 30', loop end, 20klb strap that i got from northern tool for $30-something bucks. Should be able to get my truck out of any situation. Start playing with bigger toys, you'll want a wider strap.

 

[97BlackBetty]

For most of us, a 2" wide strap is going to be sufficient. My 2" strap is 20 feelt long and rated to 25,000 lbs. Yes I have broken multiple straps. I also have a 3"x30' strap that I use if I am really stuck. Both straps are from auto parts stores and have reinforced loop ends.

Do not use chains, do not use straps with hooks, have good recovery points front and rear.

 

[ChesterSPL]

I have an FX4 with the front hooks and I leave my ball hitch in the toolbox in the back or on the truck incase I need to hook so I have good recovery points. I am going to check in on the straps. 2" sounds sufficent, do you guys ever "jerk" with these and they don't break?

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I've been snatched some, not extremely hard, but a decent tug. Bent my tow hook before it hurt the strap. Also to whom posted above, instead of putting the strap around your ball end (because it can slip off), it's better to put the loop end into the hitch receiver, and use the hitch pin to hold the loop

 

[whitebassbenny]

Yeah i have a $25 strap with hooks on both side i got from autozone. it's ok but i DO not want to have to bump someone out of the mud if they were to get stuck. The hooks just make me nervous.

But the strap im gonna get is a recovery strap from cabelas for $50.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0006618513084a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=tow+strap&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Uhm....

I don't know how much I have invested in recovery gear....

I bought a 2"x30' strap from Summit a couple years back, I think it was a Keeper brand. Looped ends, IIRC it was around $30-40.

I have two or three straps that I bought from a traveling tool sale... they had a 3"x10' strap for $10. They hold up good and for the price, they can't be beat. They have looped ends too.

I have a couple shackles, a hook, and *gasp* a piece of chain, an there's a 4" strap around here somewhere plus a 2" of my dads. And my 8000# winch.

I have used multiple winds of rope before when I needed to make up about 8" between a strap and come-along to get a truck on a car dolly before. (strap was wrapped around my hitch).

But it would be totally unsafe to think of using anything not recommended or not proper for recovery of a stuck vehicle. Using some rope to get a truck on a car dolly is one thing, to try to use a length of regular rope to pull a truck out of a mud pit is stupid.

The piece of chain I have for recovery use is my "when all else fails" piece... It's about 2' of the heaviest chain I could get when I bought it. I have a couple different hooks for the ends and I will only use it for when I take up the slack slowly and just keep pulling. If I have to jerk into things I refuse to use it, too risky. But it will adapt to situations where a regular strap just doesn't quite work (or for doing redneck bodywork....)

That's also why my straps have loop ends. I don't want a hook to shear and come through the back window of my truck. I have a big hook and a big clevis, plus a smaller clevis that's the right size to fit through the hole for a ball on the bumper of my choptop. If I manage to break the big clevis or hook I'm in serious trouble....

 

[grey ghost]

i have 2 4"straps made from load straps from a semi trailer. one's double looped at 25 feet in length and one was 75 feet after the loops were made.
i just took the straps over and had the amish sew the loops on for me.. i've used both straps to do a recovery on a international td7 doozer and no problems with the sewing job my amish friend had done...

 

[feellnfroggy]

Go to the local autoparts store and ask for tow straps, Almost anything thye suggest thats two inches wide and at least 1/4 inch think will work for general pulling. I recommend a chain and specified snatch rope for the nasty work though.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Go to the local autoparts store and ask for tow straps, Almost anything thye suggest thats two inches wide and at least 1/4 inch think will work for general pulling. I recommend a chain and specified snatch rope for the nasty work though.

Have you seen what damage a chain can do when it snaps under tension? It ain't pretty.


Chains can be used safely, but they're not really ment for recovery. Straps and cables are significantly better for recovery gear.

 

[triumphrider-1]

I have a 3"x30' 27,000Lb strap I got at Tractor Supply. I think I paid $35.00US or so.

I also picked up a set of 3/4" shackles (probably jump up to 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" shackle to keep the failure point back on the strap instead of the shackles).

 

[Shran]

Tractor Supply type stores have pretty good deals on straps. Also places like the Caterpillar dealer and mining supply places do too.

 

[dennis461]

I carry everything I can get my hands on.
Pulled myself out of a hole once with a dog chain and comealong.
Also have been so stuck nothing I had worked.
I keep my best stuff hidden.
I uses the cheap stuff for pulling out strangers.
I also wash my straps once used to get sand out of the inards.
I don't like the jerking move cause everything in the truck get thrown around.
So heavy chain and a winch are my first choice.

 

[JohnnyU]

Chains are for winching and tying the rig to the trailer. Use straps for yanking/pulling.

I should get all my recovery gear out to take a picture of it too, although I have significantly less since getting out of the towing business.

This is the strap I have: