Chain or tow rope?

[Shawn_248]

Being a 2wd, I like to keep some recovery device in the bed just in case, and I was wondering if the cheaper lighter tow ropes are as reliable as my old logging chain? There's some at the flea market up the road, and look like they couldn't do anything. Anyone got any opinions?

 

[Downey]

lol get ready to get flagged. use a tow strap

 

[Ozwynn]

carry a pair of 20' straps with a rated "D" ring.

 

[superds]

Use a tow strap. What happens when your chain finally decides to break? You get a broken windshield as a trophy for being stuck.

 

[Shawn_248]

The ones at the walmart here are only rated for like 1500 pounds. Are the elastic types any good they sell on JC whitney? I like my chain, but 30 feet of logging chain is too much of a PITA to mess with

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

lol get ready to get flagged. use a tow strap

There is absolutely nothing wrong with chains providing two things are observed when using them:

1) Use a properly rated/graded chain.
2) Know how to properly use a chain (ease the slack up and then just continue to pull, no balls-to-the-wall pedal smash)


Most 4x4 people recommend using tow straps because they are a little more forgiving. Especially the Tug-um straps that actually stretch when you pull them tight then recoil to pull the stuck vehicle out. But make no mistake about it, straps can be deadly too when used improperly.


So the short answer is to have good attachment points and to use whatever you choose properly.

I have two gear boxes with my recovery gear in 'em. One tree-saver winch strap, two 10' tow straps and one 30' recovery strap. Then I have a 12' length of high-grade chain with a selection of hooks and one short length (less than 2') of rather thick high-grade chain with a couple hooks. There have been times where I could not find a suitable attachment point for a strap without risking damage to the strap or the vehicle and I substituted the short piece of chain on the end to make the connection, and used a tow strap rather than a recovery strap and eased into it like I would pulling with a chain.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The ones at the walmart here are only rated for like 1500 pounds. Are the elastic types any good they sell on JC whitney? I like my chain, but 30 feet of logging chain is too much of a PITA to mess with

My 10' tow straps are ones I got from a traveling tool sale, they're rated something like 10k for a 4" strap.

My 30' recovery strap is a Keeper brand that I got from Summit Racing. It's a decent strap. The Pro-Comp straps are a lil more pricey but good too. My dad has a 30' Keeper recovery strap from Summit as well and an older 20' recovery also from Summit.

 

[holyford86]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with chains providing two things are observed when using them:

1) Use a properly rated/graded chain.
2) Know how to properly use a chain (ease the slack up and then just continue to pull, no balls-to-the-wall pedal smash)


Most 4x4 people recommend using tow straps because they are a little more forgiving. Especially the Tug-um straps that actually stretch when you pull them tight then recoil to pull the stuck vehicle out. But make no mistake about it, straps can be deadly too when used improperly.


So the short answer is to have good attachment points and to use whatever you choose properly.

I have two gear boxes with my recovery gear in 'em. One tree-saver winch strap, two 10' tow straps and one 30' recovery strap. Then I have a 12' length of high-grade chain with a selection of hooks and one short length (less than 2') of rather thick high-grade chain with a couple hooks. There have been times where I could not find a suitable attachment point for a strap without risking damage to the strap or the vehicle and I substituted the short piece of chain on the end to make the connection, and used a tow strap rather than a recovery strap and eased into it like I would pulling with a chain.

agreed, I have seen first hand what improper chain use will cause. I carry a chain, three screw pin shackles a tow strap(with looped ends) and a tree strap, as well as a winch. I learned the hard way about the proper way to tow, no one was hurt but it cost me a sunroof, a windshield and my friend got a nasty dent in his roof.

 

[nate09]

i just found this website here the other day and bookmarked it, good prices from what ive seen. i plan to pick up at least one 30ft strap.

http://lfssales.com/people.html

 

[r1hatman]

I went to a Army Navy store and got 30 ft of load cargo webbing really cheap like 10 bucks it's 4 inches wide and rated up to like 20,000. lbs. Never had a problem with it.

 

[Scotty J.]

TSC is the place to buy recovery gear.

 

[dennis461]

He posted about keeping someting in his truck.

If you are trying to get unstuck all by your lonesome.
Then use my method.
Drive slowly into bad situations, so you only need to move a truck length backwards to get out.

Then use a come-a-long (puller) rated at 2000lbs and chain rated at 4500lbs.
The problem with tow ropes in this situation is stretch.
The come-a-long can run out of cable taking all the stretch out of the tow rope, and the truck hasn't moved yet.

In this case chain works better, provided everything is anchored real good.

Now, if another truck is pulling you out, DO NOT use chain because it's easy for the other driver to make a mistake, jerking the chain and busting something.

 

[daniel3507]

We've all seen what poor recovery techniques can get you.

 

[trail B2]

I sense my opinion isn't popular here but I prefer chains there more adjustable in length easier to roll up and put away plus you don't have to worry about cutting them.The thing is you have to pull and not jerk or tug unlike a strap the chain does not store energy to release when it breaks if your just pulling.Ive been around chains and equipment for years it dos'nt go flying if you just pull.That said the deadly combination is a strap and a chain because the chain gives weight and the strap stores energy and makes it fly.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I sense my opinion isn't popular here but I prefer chains there more adjustable in length easier to roll up and put away plus you don't have to worry about cutting them.The thing is you have to pull and not jerk or tug unlike a strap the chain does not store energy to release when it breaks if your just pulling.Ive been around chains and equipment for years it dos'nt go flying if you just pull.That said the deadly combination is a strap and a chain because the chain gives weight and the strap stores energy and makes it fly.

IMHO, nothing wrong with that. If I use my short piece of chain as a sort of adapter to pull a vehicle, I use a tow strap rather than a recovery strap, recovery straps store energy, tow straps are made to not stretch much at all, so it's fine for a gentle pull (like using a 4x4 to pull a car off a snow bank). I wouldn't think of using that with my recovery strap.

And yes, even just using a clevis to hook a recovery strap up is dangerous. That video clearly illustrates what can happen with an idiot behind the wheel. I remember hearing a couple years ago about a guy who tried doing that sort of thing with a Jeep (IIRC it was a Cherokee). Clevis failed at the pin and came through the back window of the Jeep, through the seat back, through the driver's head, through the windshield, stretched tight and snapped back under the Jeep hard enough to wedge itself on. The strap had to be cut to get the body out.....

Be safe ya'll!