I have a 4" wide by 30' long ratchet strap -  the kind semi's use to tie thier load.  Break Strength:  16,200 lbs Work Load Limit:  5,400 lbs. suitable tow strap for my 2 door tracker?  I was thinking about taking it to a local place and having them sew the flat end in to a loop. or just leave it flat?

I would definateyly loop it. Also get you a couple of D-Rings to anchor it to the rig when you need a tow. I carry a 4' (tree saver for the winch) a 10' and a 20' strap.

Zig

Just to clear up what you want to do here,

You what to change the strap part into a tow strap, yes?
The flat end is NFG as a tow strap. It is to hook onto the "Side Rail or Post Pockets" on big rigs.

If so, yes you can have a shop sew a "D-Ring" or fold & sew a loop on each end.
Then use Clevises/Shackles (local terminology) to hook onto the your rigs tow points.

But, at what it could cost to do this, you could go out and get a actual 2 or 3 inch x whatever length you like
tow strap which will be easier to use and store in your rig. Also it have the same or higher use rating.

My 2 bits,   CAPT

Hey Zig,

We must have been posting at the same time!

This would be a good "Article or Site permanent page" about
Tow Straps, Winching, and maybe a little on Tying Down on trailers.

I also use a "Tree Saver" strap. Mines about 8 ft as I have also use it to help
upright rigs. gives a little more clearance/working end to it.

Good advice,

CAPT

Just FYI, Warn offers a number of recovery straps as well as d-shackles.

Recovery Straps
http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/recovery_straps.shtml

Shackles
http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/shackles.shtml

- Andy

I'm familiar with its intended purpose. I got it for free.. I even have a couple of the binders off of the side of the truck / trailer. and 2 other 2" by 30' straps. I used to drive 60 miles 2X a day along an interstate and would find them alone the road. Don't know why I found so many. But I did. I've used they for hundreds of unintended purposes. Does anyone make a double ring combination like cloth belts had? Would be great for a for either the 2" or 3" strap. That way you would have just the right length strap every time. I've also thought of bolting the metal hook part to a reciever hitch. this will work especially well if I have a reciever at the front and back of my rig. then I could slip it in at the start of the day and take it out when I'm done.  Without trying... I have almost 100' of tow strap. 

Just FYI, Warn offers a number of recovery straps as well as d-shackles.

Recovery Straps
http://www.warn.com/truck/accessories/recovery_straps.shtml

Ummm - the OP was asking about a tow strap, not a recovery strap - they look the same, but are different in purpose & use.

Recovery straps are the "stretchy" ones and used for - well - recovering a bogged or stuck vehicle, and should not be used for towing (for example, towing or moving a broken down vehicle from one location to another) - towing will damage the recovery strap.  With a recovery strap you use the elasticity of the strap to "snatch" or jerk  the bogged vehicle free.

Tow straps are not designed to stretch and are used for towing (for example, towing a broken down vehicle), and although they can be used to recover a bogged or stuck vehicle, the techniques used are different - if you're going to recover with a tow strap, you really want to ease the recovery vehicle back until the strap is taut and then pull the bogged vehicle free, rather than "snatch" or jerk as would be done with the recovery strap.

i carry a 3" x 30' strap around my spare tire and a 2" x 20'strap in the back, and just incase a 2"x 15' strap with hooks. also carry a cable ratchet winch.
i carry so meny cause i use to live out in calgary, where i wheeled, there was open areas with NO large trees to hook to. got caught one needing 10 more feet to get to a sutable tree to get myself out.
also ive had it when the only solid ground for another truck to pull from is over 30 feet away

Came back to say what fordem stated.... The recovery (snatch) straps will work a lot better that a wratchet strap. I've pulled full size rigs out when they were burried to the frame. That stretch makes a big difference when pulling a larger rig.

Zig

fordem, good advice.  
As for using these 4" wide straps, yes, we've got a decent collection of the 4" wide straps, that we've had sewn folded over and back (i.e. a 2" wide loop on the ends).  They work good for lots of things, they make a great general purpose/utility strap.  When you find them on the side of the road, well the expression "cheap is good, free is better" applies here.  It only costs us a 6-pack of beer/soda to have a shop stitch them up for us, we usually take in a few at a time.
However, we've never used it for, say, recovery straps (jerking someone out of a hole).  Only as a tow strap.  
Like fordem said, a standard tow strap (the "not-stretchy" kind) should ALWAYS have the slack EASED out, then pulled.  Just like you would do with a chain (because chains don't stretch).  
NEVER jerked, unless you're extremely brave/invincible and/or have a bulletproof back window for when the chain/strap breaks.

Most of us around these parts go to a big equipment shop where they sell and or work on things like big rigs loaders etc. They use 3 and 4" straps of a good length to lift and can only use them for little while before they have to replace them. They sell them out the back door pretty cheap. i have one everybody laughs at when they see it, it's only 80' long and 6" wide. Of course I only use it for laughs, hell I can barely carry it.

Ummm - the OP was asking about a tow strap, not a recovery strap - they look the same, but are different in purpose & use.

My mistake! I totally misread the first post. Duh.

- Andy

on a side note; once, many,many moons ago......I got my lifted suburban (before the zuk Revelation) stuck in the snow.....no winch....no rope....no nuttn but a pissed pregnant wife......oh but the good 'Ole high lift jack....but no straps or rope....damn....but wait... ding! (IDEA)(maybe not the smartest but death is better than a pissed pregnant woman).....I pulled all the seat belts out locked them together for a emergency tow strap. I was then the hero and that story still gets recycled....

Yeah S#%t Has Too-ooo Happen,

But even with a "Shock Cord" recovery strap,
I feel "Jerking" is a no-no! All sorts of things go south jerking.

Also I lay a old coat or the coveralls I carry along over the towing strap or chain,
just to slow down the recoil if something comes loose!!!

CAPT

I agree on the "jerking". I am very Leary of this too. If I can find the video I will post it someday....A friend was trying to "yank" me out of a mud hole. he hit the rope so hard, the pickup didn't budge, the chain loop on my rig broke,the 1.5" 100' long Sampson line and a 7/8" shackle rocketed towards his rig......WENT THROUGH HIS TAILGATE,THROUGH HIS TOOLBOX,BACK WINDOW, AND YES THROUGH HIM. BETWEEN HIS SPINE AND SHOULDER A 7/8 SHACKLE WENT. ALSO CAME OUT THE WINDSHEILD, WEAPED AROUND THE TRUCK AND REAR AXLE WITH ENOUGH FORCE FOR THE SHACKLE TO EXPLODE THE REAR RING GEAR.

this is one of my best friends I had to watch all of this happen to and trying to pull me out. there happened to be a paramedic at the event that day who very well may have saved his life.

this is not some bullshit "I heard once" story. I watched every millisecond and it still replays in my head!

please use caution....