Snatch Straps

[Batts88]

Yes the techknowledgey is available these days but realistically I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the fact that you need exactly the right snatch strap for the job or it may become dangerous or whatever else you can think of the manufacture has given you some guidelines to use that can and will be helpful but it's not a golden rule it's a guideline sometimes over thinking will work against you as well. What it boils boils down to is that if you only have a 20,000 pound strap available it's not all doom and gloom as same may believe you can still pull a zook with it just use common sense when doing it so you don't sling shot the little zook over your roof it's that simple.

When I first started we used around 1" hemp rope and doubled it up when needed or a 30 foot 5/8 th's wire sling I had made for me at work used with common sense we never bent or broke anything. Sometimes you just need a little weight on the rope, sling or snatch strap to get them out.

Back again phone rang. You can also help the situation by throwing in you sand tracks getting the shovel out or packing sticks or branches under the wheels all these will help make the recovery with your snatch strap easier and less stress full to your vehicle, recovery gear and yourself.

 

[GaryM]

^^ You realise its like a chain when over weight, not some super elastic.

 

[Batts88]

^^ You realise its like a chain when over weight, not some super elastic.

and will that stop it from recovering the vehicle. refer to the above post there's more than one way to skin a cat think outside the square it doesn't have to be a text book recovery because there is no text book to cover all situations or just stay at home. I don't know about you but to me 4WDriving throws up many different situations so you assess the situation and deal with it you don't run for a hand book that says it won't stretch correctly so I'll leave Joe blow and his family to perish in the bush because my snatch strap won't stretch the required amount and what is the required amount who can calculate that to suit each situation and who's going to stand between the vehicles and measure the amount of stretch is correct whatever it is.

 

[hiluxdriver]

Buxter, unfortunately that happens out on the tracks too. I've seen a heap of recoveries where it seems the aim is to use the maximum amount of momentum possible. & of course with a 12T snatch strap with little give in it. Or even worse, a tow strap or winch cable!

ohhhhhhh that reminded me once when I was in my old Hilux driving up the Bruce and that 5kms or so of tracks in the state forest right beside the highway past Morayfield(?) and sure enough some bloke was on his own stuck in the mud in a shorty GQ. So I swing around and go back to help him. He has a strap and hooks it up to the back of mine and I get a bit of a run up and when the strap tensioned it stopped me so hard I nearly head butted the steering wheel. Turns out the strap was a winch ext strap that has no give in it what so ever. The Hilux stopped so hard it dislodged a baffle in the fuel tank that started messing with the sender - no more accurate fuel guage and hello whiplash. I prefer to use my own gear if I can now.

 

[NachaLuva]

Batts88, that's right, using a bit of common sense is the most important thing anytime offroad, but esp recovering a stuck vehicle. Like you say, a bit of digging or sand tracks can make all the difference.

Hiluxdriver, I'm glad there was no more damage than that, could have been nasty. I always use my own gear too...

 

[GaryM]

and will that stop it from recovering the vehicle. refer to the above post there's more than one way to skin a cat think outside the square it doesn't have to be a text book recovery because there is no text book to cover all situations or just stay at home.

But you clearly dont get the concepts of snatch. That was the point. You dont get the NUMBER 1, most basic concept of a SNATCH recovery. Use chain, use cable, use rope off a tug boat, use steel bar, use enough layers of gaffer tape... and haul it with a couple of Percheron. its not a snatch recovery. Its just a recovery, a tow and should be done as such. Its not elastic, youre not making use of the kinetic energy. KINETIC ENERGY.

You can put pressure on the vehicle to load it, and not dig as much and use the mud to make up some weight, but the snatch method, not wise to get the metre run up. Its not going likely to snap and kill people, but might damage your nice little zook.

Outside the box? Theres clips of people successfully recovering using a snatch strap off the towball too. Not recommended though, and for good reason. Its not like putting a loaded gun to your head which would be an almost certainty. Its called a grey area and some can kill you, others just do damage, others seem to get away with it, maybe they do, maybe they just dont notice the damage. Theres a clip where a bloke recovers from deep bog using a tow strap that snaps and while it doesnt it could have killed people, then he snatches off the towball joining straps with an IIRC trailer style and sized shackle with bikes riding all around him and people standing well within the potential strike range. No harm, the towbar bends down, the strap holds. Awesome. Outside the box. But outside that box is numpty mate, not smarts. They consider themselves thinking outside the box. Im not sure the bystanders on bikes made the same choice.

The invention of the snatch strap is thinking outside the box. Using it properly, sadly, seems to be thinking outside the box too. If everyone carries the right strap for their vehicle, its never hard to use the right strap. Again, appears to be outside the box too.

Outside the box. Its not always what you think it is.

 

[GaryM]

ohhhhhhh that reminded me once when I was in my old Hilux driving up the Bruce and that 5kms or so of tracks in the state forest right beside the highway past Morayfield(?).

That dirt is fine like talcum powder, when wet it doesnt take much to get stuck. Sounds like 6 mile creek area if down near Morayfield. But its like it all the way up to Moby Vics (not called that now, but the twin Shell servos, used to be Mobils). I think the west side of the hwy is more prone to bogging than the east but both are pretty treacherous.

 

[Good ole boy]

Drive a Patrol with front locker and right Tyre pressures and hardly ever use one

 

[Buxter]

I have just helped a bogged 7 tonne truck get out of a drain, he sunk into , while delivering timber to a new house.

Firstly we dug mud out from in front of his tyres.
Next I hooked up the snatch strap, and took up nearly all the stretch, and waved my hand out the window for him to go and what does he do ???
He dumps the clutch, and rebogs the truck...but this time lots deeper.

Back to digging out a track in front the tyres
This time he actually listened and with the snatch strap fully srtetched, he just Popped oout

Wish it was always that simple

 

[Tink]

Brings a whole new meaning to "snatch" straps and the need to use dampeners.
Sorry about the FB link for those born prior to the internet
https://www.facebook.com/gearheadmotorcycles/videos/1166154813473911/
Tink

 

[ian.c]

Brings a whole new meaning to "snatch" straps and the need to use dampeners.
Sorry about the FB link for those born prior to the internet
https://www.facebook.com/gearheadmotorcycles/videos/1166154813473911/
Tink

I think that means most of us on 4x4 earth ? https://www.google.com.au/search?ei...i22i10i30k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i21k1.OeH1aHPT6zg

 

[muc the truck]

This guy needs one https://www.facebook.com/x4x4ingAustralia/videos/1577211485640153/

 

[NachaLuva]

There's a heap of videos on the net of revoveries gone wrong, some fatal. Here's one by people who should know better. WARNING: 2 people died

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[ian.c]

There's a heap of videos on the net of revoveries gone wrong, some fatal. Here's one by people who should know better

Embedded media from this media site is no longer available

I think that video gets the point across but it should have some sort of warning as I'm sure that guy is deceased and this forum is family orientated, just my opinion.

 

[NachaLuva]

I think that video gets the point across but it should have some sort of warning as I'm sure that guy is deceased and this forum is family orientated, just my opinion.

Done!

Here's a newspaper article on a death in WA.
Towing death highlights danger | The West Australian

There is also pic of a guy in Oz being driven out after being hit in the head with a snapped off towball which is very graphic but people need to see. This is the reality of bad recovery techniques which not only continue here in OZ but are sometimes even defended! I recently had this mind numbing argument with a guy (older, very set in his ways & won't be told by anyone!) who insisted that towing a stuck vehicle out with a chain is perfectly safe

 

[Albynsw]

I recently had this mind numbing argument with a guy (older, very set in his ways & won't be told by anyone!) who insisted that towing a stuck vehicle out with a chain is perfectly safe

Maybe he is right? Chain is not as dangerous as straps although is much harder on the vehicles

 

[NachaLuva]

Maybe he is right? Chain is not as dangerous as straps although is much harder on the vehicles

Chains are extremely dangerous! They are well known for snapping parts off the car that then recoil. There is no give in a chain so it shock loads whatever it is connected to. Please NEVER use a chain or towball to recover any stuck vehicle.

The right size snatch strap (2-3 times the weight of the SMALLEST vehicle in the recovery), with no fraying or cuts, & properly rated bow shackles or soft shackles & recovery points is the only safe way to do it. It's also much easier! The snatch strap is basically a big rubber band that gently pulls the stuck vehicle out.

 

[Albynsw]

Chains are extremely dangerous! They are well known for snapping parts off the car that then recoil. There is no give in a chain so it shock loads whatever it is connected to. Please NEVER use a chain or towball to recover any stuck vehicle.

The right size snatch strap (2-3 times the weight of the SMALLEST vehicle in the recovery), with no fraying or cuts, & properly rated bow shackles or soft shackles & recovery points is the only safe way to do it. It's also much easier! The snatch strap is basically a big rubber band that gently pulls the stuck vehicle out.

I also use straps myself as they are lighter and easier to carry but chains get used daily with earthmoving equipment and site recoveries and dragging logs out of the bush or clearing land etc.

They are no more dangerous than a strap if used in the correct application. I get what you are saying but old mate that you were preaching to has probably been dragging stuff with chains all his life and knows how to do it.

 

[Mr Rum]

I recently had this mind numbing argument with a guy who insisted that towing a stuck vehicle out with a chain is perfectly safe

Well, I wouldn't say I agree with him, but at the same time, I don't entirely agree with you either. Mainly because you used the word "tow".

If a vehicle is lightly stuck because of a lack of traction, and the tow vehicle can just creep along using a chain that's rated to the task. It could safely TOW the stuck vehicle out with little risk.
Would I hang around if someone tried using a chain for SNATCHING though? Not on your life.
Horses for courses.

I have never seen a tractor or truck pulled from a bog with a snatch strap either, it's either been chain and/or cable, and I'm yet to see either fail.
To be clear, I'm not saying it can't happen, just that in my experiences, it hasn't.

I've also seen a length of chain used with tent pegs as an anchor point for winching.
Lay the chain along the track, drive a peg in through every second or third link, attach winch hook, and pull.
Again, constant load, no shock load.


While I'm making comments of a controversial nature, what are people's thoughts on this?
(Excuse the tie down strap and floor mounted towbar, but it'll do for illustrative purposes)

We all know you shouldn't..

But what about? (with or without my sway bar attachment)..

I did see/hear this method once somewhere a long time ago, but I haven't seen or heard mention of it since.

I have no need to ever do this with my vehicles, as they all have removable tongues and recovery points, but I thought it could make for an interesting discussion.

 

[smitty_r51]

But what about? (with or without my sway bar attachment)..
View attachment 45384

I did see/hear this method once somewhere a long time ago, but I haven't seen or heard mention of it since.

I have no need to ever do this with my vehicles, as they all have removable tongues and recovery points, but I thought it could make for an interesting discussion.

when we were stuck in Tassie that is exactly how we were recovered

i did stop him when i saw him looping it over the towball but on checking how and where it was secured (not over the ball that could sheer off but around the cross member itself as the back of the hilux didn't have a recovery point.) i was happy to do the recovery