Chains vs. Straps

[joejeep92]

People have always told me never never use chains for a recovery and being the ornery cuss I was have used them ever since. However recently I was thinking about going to straps for weight reasons though. Who on here uses straps and who uses chains?

 

[in4aride]

straps, WAAAAAAAAYYYYY less dangerous if it breaks.
ive seen chains snap back thro windsheild and grills where straps pop back maybe a foot and fall to the ground...

VERY unsafe to use chains for a recovery/pull

 

[Begster]

Most 4x4 clubs don't allow the use of chains on trail runs, or as part of their required equipment.

 

[in4aride]

Most 4x4 clubs don't allow the use of chains on trail runs, or as part of their required equipment.

ya youd get yelled at and pushed outta the way out here, theyre just too dangerous

 

[DrMoab]

Chains are good to have in your box of gear though. There are many uses for them, not just hooking your rig to another.

If you are yanking someone out...use a strap. I will not allow you near me with a chain.

 

[ChiXJeff]

Absolute and complete BS being spewed a lot in this thread. Chains and straps are both useful, but used completely differently.

Like Ryan, you will *NOT* take a running start, aka yank, on a chain around me. That is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Chains require a slow, steady pull. I'm also willing to bet that I've pulled out much heavier and much more stuck rigs (think corn silage chopper and fully loaded wagon sunk to the axles) with a couple of logging chains.

Straps can give you a false sense of security. A yank on that strap will store a huge amount of energy. Your connections need to be rock solid, if one of them breaks off, it'll be like a d-ring on the end of that strap coming your way.

 

[in4aride]

How is what I've seen and experienced bs? He asked for thoughts opinions and experience between chains and straps for a recovery. And unfortunately most people resort to snatching vehicles that are stuck nexactly what you don't want to do with a chain.

 

[zr2toxj]

Agreed. The whole debate about chains is rather humorous. Yes a cheap Walmart dog chain is going to be a problem. For the record, I only use straps, but chains have a lot of different grades as do straps.

Strength for strength, give me a grade 8 alloy logging chain. See if you can break it.

Obviously, straps have the stretch factor which is useful when you need to snap someone out of a hole, but chains serve a purpose too. Choking around something with a strap will damage it, but won't bother a chain at all.

Everything has a purpose and usefullness if used properly.

 

[ChiXJeff]

How is what I've seen and experienced bs? He asked for thoughts opinions and experience between chains and straps for a recovery. And unfortunately most people resort to snatching vehicles that are stuck nexactly what you don't want to do with a chain.

Your comment about straps falling to the ground is a perfect example. While both will fly, a strap has the potential to deliver a lot more energy given the same pulling vehicle. And worse, if it wasn't the strap that broke, but the attachment, you're now throwing a solid object.

A friend of mine watching a mud drag watched a full size Blazer yank the d-ring & mount right off the stuck vehicle. That strap had a couple of feet of stretch in it when it let loose. The d-ring & mount hit the Blazer's tailgate, bent it in half, and pushed it up to the driver's seat.

The short story is don't be stupid. Both are useful, and both are approached completely different.

 

[in4aride]

That's a bad mounting point. Not a bad strap.

 

[mcantar18c]

Straps are a little more comfortable, but chains have a better effect. Kinda hurt your wrists a bit though, and can scratch up the bed posts.
Wait... what are we talking about here?

 

[WB9YZU]

Jeff has a point.

Both Chains and Straps are safe, if you understand the proper application of them.

Chains are used to provide a solid, static connection between a load and a puller. Whether that puller is a come~along, or a vehicle, it does not matter.
Because the connection is a solid, unforgiving one, you do not want to induce a shock load. Shock loads break chains, and they break Jeeps.

"Snatch" Straps are used to provide a more dynamic connection between a load and a puller. Because of this, they do not work with a come~along, and do not do static pulls well. Clubs like them because they provide a softer connection between the load and the puller. A strap can allow you more pulling power in low traction conditions because you are using the puller vehicles momentum for the pull, not brute force. Straps also do well as Tree Savers. Their width and softness saves the bark. I have seen a tree cut in two by a winch cable- not a pretty sight.

The draw back of chains is that if used improperly, you can break more hardware than the chain.

The draw back of straps is that they store energy, and if that energy is released uncontrollably, can be be dangerous. An example of this is a strap with hooks. If a hook comes off during a pull, that hook now becomes a homing missile. It will head toward the end which is still attached to something.

In short, know your equipment.

Ron

 

[tbburg]

There was a photo floating around the web a while back. 'Wish I could find it. Pic of a YJ Wrangler. D-ring mount came off another vehicle, and the D-ring and strap it was on punched through the YJ's windshield and the driver's seat headrest.

 

[DrMoab]

Yep, Straps hold no energy at all when they break.

 

[in4aride]

I have never seen a strap. jUST the strap. Break and cause even the remotest amount of damaged. A d ring on the end if one, sure. But never a strap itself.

Good thing this thread was about failing d rings. :gag:

 

[DrMoab]

It doesn't matter if it is the strap or whatever it is mounted to fails. The point is that if anything fails, the amount of energy stored in a strap can be dangerous...but not as dangerous as a chain.

 

[kastein]

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1031405

Nope, straps never cause damage.

I'd rather face a strap than a chain any day, but honestly I'd rather not face either. Put a weight (heavy coat or similar) over a strap and much of its destructive potential will be eliminated. Also, keep them clean and dry and they will last far longer and pack nowhere near the punch they do soaking wet.

 

[MT Mike]

I have never seen a strap. jUST the strap. Break and cause even the remotest amount of damaged. A d ring on the end if one, sure. But never a strap itself.

Well we all know that if YOU have never seen it happen, then it is just not possible.
Many other people HAVE seen straps, JUST the strap, fail and cause damage.

Good thing this thread was about failing d rings. :gag:

Try reading the thread title again. The thread is about the advantages/disadvantages of chains vs straps. :looser:

Bottom line, either a strap or a chain has the potential to cause serious physical harm or property damage in any recovery situation. Common sense and regular equipment maintenance/inspection can lower that potential dramatically.

 

[Darky]

All I've ever been told, here and otherwise, is to use a snatch strap for recovery, not a chain or a tow strap. Make sure you attach to a secure mounting point.

A chain may work great for static pulls, but when someone's stuck somewhere, how often are you going to giving it a slow steady pull?

 

[joejeep92]

I have used logging chains for most of my pulling for a long time. Never had a GOOD chain break. Seen straps and chains come off the pull point and cause some damage though. I think all the people talking about never using a chain ever ever ever is just paranoia and lack of experience using them and or have never been stuck way back in the middle of nowhere with just a chain trying to get their jeep back up on its wheels...