Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/93737
Straps from WARN are constructed from high qual- ity nylon web encasing a red warning marker Recovery damaged webbing. The end loops are reinforced with abrasion resistant wear pads. Some of Warn's recover straps include a nylon sliding sleeve to help prevent excessive wear caused by exposure to sharp objects often found in the heavy construction world. Warn also sells a variety of proper tree trunk protectors and choker chains for self-recovery operations. WARN; warn.com; 800-910-1122 to indicate WARN TeraFlex The TeraFlex 30-foot Tow Strap features a 20,000-pound rating with red stress thread for a visible warning of overstress and poten- tial strap failure. It features double-reinforced stitched-loop eyes and measures 30 feet long x 2 inches wide. TeraFlex Tree Strap (3-inch x 7 feet) provides a winch anchor for various recoveries and prevents cutting into the bark of trees. It's made with double-reinforced stitched loop ends and a 20,000-pound rating. TeraFlex; terafl ex.biz; 801-288-2585 ARB USA The ARB snatch strap is a very eff ective method of extracting an immobi- lized or bogged vehicle when a second vehicle is present. The elasticity in a snatch strap is what makes it work; the kinetic energy generated by the elasticity aids with the recovery itself, while at the same time reducing the chance of vehicle damage. The 17,500-pound-capacity straps are recommended for most 4WD vehicles, with 24,000-and 33,000-pound-capacity versions better suited to heavy duty applications. ARB; arbusa.com; 425-264-1391 US Cargo Control US Cargo Control's recovery/tow straps can be used for both recovery and towing. Rugged Ridge Rugged Ridge premium recovery straps are available in a variety of sizes. The straps are heavy- duty, constructed with durable mildew-proof nylon with abrasion resistant reinforced eyes. The nylon absorbs the shock of heavy pulls better than polyester, and its elastic properties help aid in a quicker recovery. Their recovery straps are available in 2-inch x 30 feet (20,000 lbs.); 3-inch x 30 feet (30,000 lbs.); and 4-inch x 30 feet (40,000 pounds capacity). Rugged Ridge; ruggedridgeoff road.com; 770-614-6101 STRAP RATINGS With either type of strap, make sure they're rated for the ap- plied loads. (Load ratings apply not only to straps, but to any component being used in the pull including anchor straps, shackles and hooks.) It's always prudent to use a strap rated for 3 to 4 times the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of your pickup. That way should you ever have need to be snatched from a stuck or towed a short distance when your pickup is heavily loaded, there's a big safety margin. Pulling a stuck pickup puts tens of thousands of pounds of force into a strap, and using an unrated They're made of nylon wedding, which is durable and strong, yet has the capacity to stretch 7 to 10 percent at rated capacity. The straps feature loops reinforced with Cor- dura on the inside – an extremely durable fabric that resists wear and tear. This is designed to prolong the life of the strap by adding protection at its main wear points. Some of US Cargo Control's straps utilize a two-ply design that doubles the strength of the strap while maintaining a narrow width. US Cargo Control; uscargocontrol.com; 319-213-9775 Selecting and using the correct style strap for recovery or retrieval will prevent unnecessary jobsite safety risks strap, or one not rated for that load, is dangerous. The biggest issue is the strap could cause serious injury when it parts ways because of it being over-stressed. Pay attention to strap width (and rope diameter), too, when determining the breaking strength of the rope or strap as designated by the manufacturer. Nothing makes one feel stupid faster than pulling out a three- inch wide snatch strap only to fi nd two-inch-wide shackles are all that you have to make the hook-up. I know from personal experi- ence it's tough to make those heavy webbing eyes fi t into that smaller space. GOOD HOOK-UPS Inspect the straps for damage each time you use them. Check for cuts, frays or damaged stitch- ing, which could have occurred during use or even while in storage. Also check all the shackles or other gear you might be using to be sure they are 1) in good condition, and 2) properly connected. Check the equipment again after use to ensure it's still in good condition before storing. Ensure that vehicle attach- ment points are structur- ally sound. Identify attachment points for towing and avoid loops intended only for securing the vehicle during transport. If you're going to use the receiver hitch on your pickup, you're better off using a D-Ring hitch adapter – instead of trying to rig something with the pin or something else where you don't know the load rating. Also, never attach a recov- ery strap or rope with a knot. Doing so weakens the connec- tion. Loop it around and back through the eye or, better yet, slip the eye over the clevis of an appropriately rated shackle. Speaking of making the right connections, here's a list of straps and ropes that will make those self-recovery and towing tasks a lot easier and safer. propickupmag.com PROPICKUP 57