George4x4 recovery?

[Gidgee]

Browsing around for a snatch strap recovery kit (though I'm yet to need my shovel, let alone Treds), I need a receiver, strap, bow shackles and thought I'd get an alloy receiver for a small weight savings (but hey it builds up). Came across George4x4, who claim to have a a webbing factory, which I assume means they make their own straps, though I can't find much other info on the company. Wondering if anyone else has had experience with their products? Would be more than happy to buy local, just so little info about them makes me uncertain, but perhaps they were a wholesale supplier prior to 2019?

About Us

www.george4x4.com.au

 

[Warby]

Following along out of interest... Likewise, I've been interested in their gear before given the very attractive pricing, but turned away by their seeming lack of profile or reviews..

Following the bouncing ball around google, there's not really any red flags that I have come across... Their main or original company is George Lifting Pty Ltd, with a few references around the place to manufacturing of lifting equipment and/or rope splicing or similar. Consistently mentions being based in, and manufactured in, Brisbane... Didn't see any real inconsistencies or anything that set off alarm bells. Just seems to be a small/new player (George Lifting Pty Ltd was only registered in 2018).

Would love to hear of forum member's experiences with their products..

edit to add... Actually... there is one small red flag for me, from their own website:

In 2015 George4x4 invested in a webbing and chain factory to improve the overall quality of the snatch straps, ropes and chains. Our soft shackle is designed and made in Australia where we can customize orders with no limit on quantity. Our factory also excels in steel forging, welding, machine punching and laser cutting. We have a large range of different steels, from carbon steel to alloy steel and stainless steel, just name it we can manufacture it!

That doesn't sound to me like your average small business manufacturing capability...

 

[Warby]

Sent me down a damned rabbit hole there hahaha...

Seems 100% legit that all of the rope products are spliced at least in Brisbane, the owner is/was a rigger so should know what he's doing there. Other items seem to be designed locally and produced for George 4x4, not sure where they're made, but seems to put a fair bit of effort/thought in to design and prototyping..

After my little trip down this rabbit hole, I think I'll purchase some soft shackles from them at least.. Happy to support a small business

 

[unko84]

i know its not rope but they dabble in rings

 

[discomatt]

Soft shackles are great, I have 2 and will never go back to traditional shackles. Yes the rope ones will wear out, not last anywhere near as long and may become weaker with wear but the weight and safety advantages outweigh the negative IMO.

 

[cam04]

i know its not rope but they dabble in rings

gimmicks

 

[Gidgee]

Soft shackles are great, I have 2 and will never go back to traditional shackles. Yes the rope ones will wear out, not last anywhere near as long and may become weaker with wear but the weight and safety advantages outweigh the negative IMO.

My concern is, are the soft shackles compatible with most recovery points? I note the George4x4 alloy receiver is not, yet they are makers of soft shackles!

 

[FrankP]

My concern is, are the soft shackles compatible with most recovery points? I note the George4x4 alloy receiver is not, yet they are makers of soft shackles!

No they are not. Most recovery points have square edges to the holes, unsuitable for soft shackles.

George4x4 sell this one (see images at tge bottom of the page) which they say has rounded edges on the shackle hole.

All cables have a minimum radius if they are to bend around something and retain rated strength. There's a formula for it, depending on rope diameter and material.

I think I would prefer a larger radius for typical soft shackles, but that may make it unsuitable for steel shackles. I saw one dedicated for the purpose on YouTube. Will see if I can find it.

EDIT. Here it is.

 

[Swaggie]

My concern is, are the soft shackles compatible with most recovery points? I note the George4x4 alloy receiver is not, yet they are makers of soft shackles!

You can buy receivers comparable with soft shackles there a bit more expensive tho due to getting rid of the sharp edges....

 

[Gidgee]

I really like the idea of soft shackles but at this point it looks like you have to carry bow shackles as well for compatibility reasons. I might give George 4x4 a call, surely there's another solution, plus I'm curious about their kinetic rope vs snatch strap, which they claim is 30% stretch and 10640kg breaking - though not sure if any weight/size saving.

 

[4x4Earth]

I'm new to 4x4 & recently bought a 4WD & researching various recovery gear, & had similar questions in my mind about George, mainly due to the suspicious grammar on their website & especially within their eBay listings. However the user ratings are almost 100% so that is convincing enough for me.
I came across this Australian Made Saber rear recover hitch which is designed for soft shackles but can also accept steel shackles. The explanation in the video below makes perfect sense to me & so this seems like the one I will buy, as I'd like to avoid using steel shackles where possible for safety reasons. I'm wondering if anyone has used one of these Saber models? I have added a link to the website, and a Youtube video reviewing it.

#1 Rope Friendly Rear Recovery Hitch - Steel | Saber Offroad

The Saber Rope Friendly Rear Recovery Hitch has been designed to provide you with a safe and stronger way to attach your ropes for a vehicle recovery.

saberoffroad.com

 

[FrankP]

I have a bit of George stuff - winch extension, bridle, soft shackles - and none of it is labelled as rated. I kept it, but after someone who helped me on one occasion refused to use it, I now wish I hadn't.

 

[4x4Earth]

That's very interesting to know Frank, thanks for sharing. Apart from the questionable English, one other point I've been pondering is that I can't seem to find a bonefide retailer that stocks the products. I usually trust feedback ratings but I think after your experience, I'm think I'll give George a wide berth & avoid skimping on such important equipment with the level of doubt around this brand.
Perhaps I should go with the gear they use on 4WD 24/7. They seem to know what they're doing, albeit obviously engaging in sponsored promotions.

 

[CaptainBanana]

That's very interesting to know Frank, thanks for sharing. Apart from the questionable English, one other point I've been pondering is that I can't seem to find a bonefide retailer that stocks the products. I usually trust feedback ratings but I think after your experience, I'm think I'll give George a wide berth & avoid skimping on such important equipment with the level of doubt around this brand.
Perhaps I should go with the gear they use on 4WD 24/7. They seem to know what they're doing, albeit obviously engaging in sponsored promotions.

Mate they will use anything a sponsor pays for and I wouldn't buy it just because they use it. I can't even watch their show anymore due to the amount of paid dribble.

Regarding this particular brand I actually have four of their soft shackles and they all look as good as anyone else as in terms of build quality so far so good on my end.

 

[linuxfan66]

Mate they will use anything a sponsor pays for and I wouldn't buy it just because they use it. I can't even watch their show anymore due to the amount of paid dribble.

Regarding this particular brand I actually have four of their soft shackles and they all look as good as anyone else as in terms of build quality so far so good on my end.

i wont argue the sheer amount of paid gear on that show(i always skip the gear we used segment because of this along with alot of obvious product showcases). however, they do hold enough ethical standards to use safe equipment and do respect the bush. i cant say that about every garden variety bogan. in terms of equipment they use, some of their equipment is probably overpriced, but that doesnt make it bad eqiupment.

 

[FranksnBeans]

I actually thought their recent Kimberley series was very good. They have a lot of advertising going on for sure but they do use that stuff and put it through the wringer at least.

They have moved away from all the Kings branding which I like and at least now there is more variety of products. Unfortunately the reality is that without the advertising, the videos don't get made. And for what it's worth I've met them both briefly and they seem like genuinely good blokes.

 

[CaptainBanana]

I actually thought their recent Kimberley series was very good. They have a lot of advertising going on for sure but they do use that stuff and put it through the wringer at least.

They have moved away from all the Kings branding which I like and at least now there is more variety of products. Unfortunately the reality is that without the advertising, the videos don't get made. And for what it's worth I've met them both briefly and they seem like genuinely good blokes.

I think they might have taken onboard some of the feedback and wound back the Incredible, constant and unbearable advertising in episodes from the last couple of years.

 

[FranksnBeans]

I think they might have taken onboard some of the feedback and wound back the Incredible, constant and unbearable advertising in episodes from the last couple of years.

Yeah agreed, it was bad for a while. To be fair to them they were effectively 4wd Supacentre employees for a long time. You can imagine the corporate pressure to constantly plug some sweat shop winches or swags or whatever.

 

[CaptainBanana]

Yeah agreed, it was bad for a while. To be fair to them they were effectively 4wd Supacentre employees for a long time. You can imagine the corporate pressure to constantly plug some sweat shop winches or swags or whatever.

I stopped watching when they didn't episode on Fraser which they do about 8 times a year anyway and that's 40 minute episode must have had 35 minutes of camper trailer advertising I mean seriously it's too much

 

[linuxfan66]

I stopped watching when they didn't episode on Fraser which they do about 8 times a year anyway and that's 40 minute episode must have had 35 minutes of camper trailer advertising I mean seriously it's too much

How about patriot campers incredibly obvious, prominent, and in your face camper advertising on ronny dahl(i think), expedition overland, and possibily 4wd action. my memory fogs on some. you get my point. i have also noticed the patriot campers guy acts like american when promoting his stuff on american trips, but when promoting in australia beats the drum of based in australia really really hard.

do agree on overusing fraser island though. surely you could do kangaroo island or different parts of arnhem land. i'd love to see more arnhem land