ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Build Diaries, How-To, DIY => Topic started by: Natebert on November 11, 2003, 03:52:32 AM
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Gang,
Lots of discussion has been going on in several of my local offroad clubs about recovery items, specifically when dealing with equipment and safety.
The debate usually starts off with tow devices a.k.a. straps or chains or cables. These multipurpose devices are used by offroaders in hundreds of unimaginable ways. To strap onto other vehicles to tow your ride back home, to hook into another vehicle to yank you out of the mud, to attach to a Hi-Lift jack and become part of the trail-made ‘come-along’ and hundreds more ways to numerous to list here.
They also come in many different sizes, lengths, strengths and have different attachment devices on the ends, loops, hooks, and knots.
The general consensus from several of our clubs ‘safety officers’ is that nylon straps with loops are preferred. (no flying metal hooks to gouge anybody with).
I agree with that straps with loops are probably the safest, but I often wonder why people don’t bring along heavy tow chains or cables in their assortment of recovery devices. There are plenty of times when I’m out on a trail ride and get suck with a strap that has too much stretch to it and a chain would be preferred.
I usually carry both a hooked chain and a hooked tow strap to cover these situations along with all of the other usual trail stuff, but our clubs have become more anal about each vehicle carrying recover devices of their own and they insist on the looped nylon straps.
This isn’t much of a problem for me, but I wanted to get other peoples opinions on the topic.
What do you carry on the trail with regards to tow straps, chains, cables?
~Nate
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A 2 ton cumalong With a25ft cable and 30 ft strap!And as for the club gettin there panties in a bunch they should be thankful for the versatility of their Club members!And it falls back on the age old saying better safe then sorry or you never know what you need!
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Our club requires that you have tow points on both the front and rear of the vehicle (either hooks or welded loops attached to the frame) We will not allow someone on a trail ride that does not have them. Besides that we dont care. I personally only use tow straps with loops and attach them with screw in clevices. If that does not do the trick, I use the winch.
I dont think that everyone on the trail should load down with recovery equipment. Our club has designated items that each person brings for everyones use. On an average ride we will have 1- tool truck 2- food truck 3- drink truck 4-recovery truck. 5-video (or photo truck) 6- spotter truck.
This way everyone can leave the majority of stuff at camp but know they will have what they need.
We also stagger winched and nonwinch vehicles, along with staggering experienced drivers just in front of nonexperienced drivers with comparable vehicles so they can watch and learn how to pick lines instead of having the spotter "tell" them what to do at each obsticle.
Zig
Zig
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Hey zukipilot, your club sounds like it almost makes too much sense, the question is do ya all have fun ;D it would be nice if the guys around here were that organized :'(
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Actually it just kind of ended up like that. I've been camping and wheeling with some of these guys for 6-8 years. You just kind of get use to what the others bring. Scott always tools and food and I always had recovery and drinks.
A suzuki can usually make it home if you can get out, and I can go a long time without eating and it doesent bother me.
Scott drives a Jeep and can fix just about anything quick and his wife is a diabetic so they must have food at all times (just incase)
I got use to buming food and tools and he bumed drinks and recovery items.
It just kind of progressed into other vehicles doing the same. Scott and I still bring the same staples but others have cought on to the fact that we bring enough for everyone so they bring something else.
I thought we were bad, until I saw a club that has one guy that brings nothing but icecream to every ride. He packs the entire rear of his ride with coolers packed with dry ice and gives out icecream all weekend. To everybody, not just his club 8)
Zig
P.S. Yea we still have fun ;D Thats why were in a sport that cost more than the average cost of living.
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My trail gear includes
1 case of mountain dew
2 20 foot 2 inch pro comp strap
3 tools to do light maintenence
4 3 fire extinguishers ( ive been on fire quite a few times)
5 pringles chips (so they dont get dirty or smashed)
6 Package of donuts ( to throw at eric when he's not looking... or when he is, who cares!)
7 140 feet of synthetic winch rope 6000 warn
8 hook front and rear
9 jacket
10 one inner and outer tierod assembly
11 full size matching spare. I got burned a couple times with blowing a tire early into a weekend and having to call it quits. After driving and getting the weekend off and cost of camping ect, I cant afford to be shut down over something so trivial.
I dont carry hardly any spare parts in the tracker. I may bring a couple other things but I leave them at camp.
Mike
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My trail gear includes
1 case of mountain dew
6 Package of donuts ( to throw at eric when he's not looking... or when he is, who cares!)
Mike
This is for like, a half day.... right? Yous guys need way more than one case for a full day of wheeling... Don't forget your welder so you can help me out by fixing my junk back at camp... Thanks buddy... ;)
-Eric
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My trail gear includes
1 case of mountain dew
Mike
NO WONDER HE'S REDLINE ALL THE TIME ;D SUGAR RUSH OH YEA BABY ::)
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when i go wheelin i take,
1 full size spare
HI LIFT jack
4-way lug wrench
camara(haven't EVER rembered it yet but i will somday)
at least 1 fire extinguisher
first aid kit
1 30X4 snach strap
1 20X2 snach strap
3 to 6 Clevises
2 tool boxes full of tools
food and drinks(no mounttain dew, goes flat too quick)
and NO spare parts because if you think your going to break somthing, you will. lata Stu
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NO spare parts because if you think your going to break somthing, you will.  lata Stu
NOW THATS AN OPTIMIST IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE.......I LIKE YOUR WAY OF THINKING ;D MATTY D.
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1 30X4 snach strap
Do you think your driving a monster truck?!
2 tool boxes full of tools... and NO spare parts because if you think your going to break somthing, you will.
Now this you are going to have to explain! ::)
Mike
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Naw, he brings the 4" strap to pull out the
monster trucks ;D
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So is anybody carrying around tow chains?
You know, those big heavy pull trees out of the ground type chains?
~Nate
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I admit, I do. They're left over from my days as a towtruck driver of 7yrs. I've gotten lots of recovery practice.
Plus
6ft treestrap
2 12ft recovery chains w/hooks
S hooks (when there is no tow hooks)
6inch chain w/hooks
Prepare for the worse
Hope for the best.
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Chains actually weaker than nylon and your applying a shock load so I don't see it replacing straps.
I've winched up a hill using chain and hilift so it does have it's uses, we were in a very isolated place and it might have been weeks till someelse came along.
charlie
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Most of the "organized" places we go require tow straps without integral hooks and no tow chains. Straps are stronger, and do a lot less damage when they break. I do have a towchain, but it stays in my support vehicle.
Another advantage to straps is they weigh considerably less and take up less space. I don't have much room in my Zuk since my wife, daughter and I take up most of the space.
Somewhere I have a shot of what happens to a vehicle when a towchain breaks. I'll have to see if I can dig it up.
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Chains sound heavy. I hope those of you who are using chain have them tied down good. I bet they would give someones head quite a thrashing in the event of a rollover. I personaly dont see a need, with 140 feet of winch rope I should be able to get out somehow. I agree with leaving them in the support vehicle.
Mike
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The nice thing about straps is that they are a little
stretchy, reducing shock. There are times where the
stretch is not desireable, this is where you would
want a chain.
If you ever use a chain, always use proof coil truckers
grade, never hardware store stuff, proof coil is the stuff
you see the lowboy haulers using to chain down those
big earthmovers and dozers with, yes it is strong, yes
it is heavy as %#$|removethispart|@, but that's an application you
don't want any stretch.
I had the opportunity to cut my own system 7 proof coil
chain, 5/16" size, went like this, used a pair of USA made
bolt cutters 48" long handles, one side equiped with a tripod
to hold them up laying one handle on the ground, the other
up in the air. Placed one side of the chain coil in the cutter jaw,
and I had to use all of my weight, with a controled full body
bounce two times to cut each side of this chain, (I'm 200 Lbs)
this is some tough stuff, and the type you should use if ever
you use a chain.
Also only use high strength hooks and clevis
as this is where the breakage is probably going to happen, and
for safety put somebodys heavy coat on the cable or chain, if it
snaps it won't do as much damage.
My 20' worth ;)
Darrin
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I carry both a snatch strap and a tow strap as they are designed to do different jobs. Also front and rear recovery points and a couple of load rated shackles. I will be adding a tree protector and snatch block as well as a winch shortly. Oh yeah, a hydaulic jack and baseplate, riggers gloves and a Rugged tool kit (South African, versatile, light and compact). Looking to add a bridle to spread the load evenly between both chassis rails when being snatched out.
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Ok the thing behind the 30X4 strap is just what Wildgoody said, "he brings the 4" strap to pull out the
monster trucks". The 20 foot strap doesn't have enough strech to yank the 1 ton chevys with 44's out so i got to pull out the big dog. and the thing with me bringing all the tools is well... FOR THE CHEVYS! LOL it never fails they always need them. LOL and me not bringing spare part is that i don't do rocks and mud it pretty gental on parts so me breaking is rare. lata Stu
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So, I think we can come to the conclusion that the size of a guys strap is directly proportional to the size of his  .... ÂÂ
:o
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The nice thing about straps is that they are a little
stretchy, reducing shock. There are times where the
stretch is not desirable, this is where you would
want a chain.
If you ever use a chain, always use proof coil truckers
grade, never hardware store stuff, proof coil is the stuff
you see the lowboy haulers using to chain down those
big earthmovers and dozers with, yes it is strong, yes
it is heavy as %#$|removethispart|@, but that's an application you
don't want any stretch.
I had the opportunity to cut my own system 7 proof coil
chain, 5/16" size, went like this, used a pair of USA made
bolt cutters 48" long handles, one side equiped with a tripod
to hold them up laying one handle on the ground, the other
up in the air. Placed one side of the chain coil in the cutter jaw,
and I had to use all of my weight, with a controled full body
bounce two times to cut each side of this chain, (I'm 200 Lbs)
this is some tough stuff, and the type you should use if ever
you use a chain.
Also only use high strength hooks and clevis
as this is where the breakage is probably going to happen, and
for safety put somebodys heavy coat on the cable or chain, if it
snaps it won't do as much damage.
My 20' worth ;)
Darrin
This chain is some strong stuff, i have seen it in brutal action!
At my work one of my co-workers rolled a off highway dump truck off a bridge into a river. It just rolled the cab off and kept the full load up right on top of the bridge.
They tried to yard it out with 2 chains. They had a D9 bulldozer pulling, with 2 988 loaders hooked to that then a 345 excavator trying to lift the cab up. Both chains did eventually break, they broke at the hook, and took off like a rocket straight to the cab of the haul truck. It had so much force in the the hit that it ripped off one of the fenders, broke the railing and windshield. It was pretty gnarly...
But yes, i pull people with toe straps. Not a big fan of chains, there quite deadly and unpredictable.
Amilla
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I have straps but carry a 5' piece of chian. you never know might need to hold somthing together and it's alot easer to bolt chain then a strap
Ryan
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i do my trails to fish, so i'm often on my own.
only recovery tools i've used is the sizzor jack and trenching shovel - so far.
sometimes that takes awhile.
i'm thinking of a small winch and points for/aft?
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i do my trails to fish, so i'm often on my own.
only recovery tools i've used is the sizzor jack and trenching shovel - so far.
sometimes that takes awhile.
i'm thinking of a small winch and points for/aft?
I think if you want this: http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=20114.0
also a Hi-lift jack(come in 48 and 60 inches) can be used as a handy recovery tool. i'm sure you can search the net for the reasons why.
Stuie
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a Hi-Lift jack does seem handy. it would replace my come-a-long and i could be more help to others.
i've been lucky so far that nobody has seen me getting out of some of my little predicaments. it would look pretty crude.
some seem surprised that i'm by myself.
i've decided againt a winch- i'd probably mount it on the wrong end.
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i cary chain but only for attaching a come along or high lift, a hard jerk with a chain= bad news, too much shock load, ive seen bumpers tweaked and worse, all that energy has to go somwhere and of it doesnt stretch it breaks or bends something, if im getting to much stretch i just double the strap, and "tow" straps with hooks are not in my box
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Here in Michigan, we have the Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Asso. Any event that they sponcer, you must have a toe point on the front and back. Must have a strap no chains. And last NO ball hitches. I guess on a hard pull the ball can break loose and come flying like a canon ball.
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My 6000# Warn winch has always been there for me , rain or shine. why not do it the easy way
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I have 3 straps and a tree saver strap, totaling out to 50'. More often than not I'm towing... one of my freinds' dead POS's across town, or stranger in need. Two of my straps have hooks and one has loops. Try towing much of anything (stock) with out hooks.
Once I was good and burried up to the frame rails and my buddy to the rescue burries his 4Runner up to the axles. We were saved by a guy with a dually Chevy and a 200' steel cord who could pull from dry pavement.