Basic recovery rope / straps / hilift

teebs · Just got MTs Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Odometer: 172

Want to get a basic recovery rope so I don't need to be blagging one when I inevitably get stuck like the newbie I am Laughing

What should I be looking for in terms of breaking weights, the vehicle is only a soft-top SJ. Also how important are shackles? Would a combination of these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/18mm-GALVANISED-BOW-SHACK...93%3A1%7C294%3A50

and this be OK?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Duplex-8-meter-tow-winch-...93%3A1%7C294%3A50

Also what points on the vehicle should I be securing to? I have a replaced steel bumper up front, tow bar and steel nudge bars at back and steel rock sliders on the sides. Or is straight to chassis best if possible?

Finally is it worth spending more on a good hi-lift or will something like this be OK. Is it a must have item even for a newbie? Are the ones with straps to hook onto the wheel directly worth having? And call me stupid but what are their uses, other than obvious jacking.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-TON-48-HIGH-HI-LIFT-FAR...93%3A1%7C294%3A50

bertie_bas205 · Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 10:09 pm Post subject:

You have a PM....

Bertie.

idratherbesurfing · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:21 am Post subject:

damar webbing products (google for them) do a good 4m 14 ton recovery strap with two shackles for about £20... its where mine is from

I wouldnt bother with the hi lift if youre just starting out, theyre more trouble than theyre worth if you dont know how to use them

Just use common sense and have fun!

leeds · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject:

Hi Teebs, those shackles do not appear to be rated shackles. The rating is embossed on the main shackle body. OK those markings could possibly be on the other side of the shackle.

Only buy shackles which are rated. They may cost a pound or two more but it is well worth it for getting rated shackles.

The strop is apparently a tow strop, a recovery strop and a winch extension strop. There is a big difference in the requirements between a tow strop and a recovery strop. A tow strop is normally made from polyester and does not large amounts of elasticity. A recovery strop is typically made from nylon and has more elasticity then a polyester strop to cope with the shock loads that can occur in recovering a vehicle in comparison to towing a vehicle.

Regards

Brendan

ooky_123 · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 11:33 pm Post subject:

I have just bought a selection of lifting rated duplex slings and rated shackles from the ebay trader handystraps1

he is a top bloke, very helpful, and can supply certified lifting (7:1 safety factor) strops .. and shackles.

I rekon our 1.3 tonne Jimny is never going to brake the 4 Meter 2 tonne certified straps and 3 1/2 tonne bow shackles.

his ebay shop is http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Handy-Straps__W0QQ_armrsZ1

bertie_bas205 · Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 5:57 am Post subject:

Andrew from Handystraps is a good lad to deal with.....

Or you could try this bloke.....

http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?t=20808&highlight=

Bertie Wink

H2 Jay · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject:

Best thing you could possibly carry strap wise is a heavey duty kinetic strap. Theres nothing like them. Im comparison, regular straps are garbage for mud recovery purposes.

Used to have conventional straps, then a mate got bogged down to the door handles. I took 20 - 30 tugs and he didnt budge. Hooked up two jeeps and he still didnt budge.

next day we went back with a kinetic strap, and 2 tugs and whack he came right out. They stretch upto 25% of of they're length, then come back together. Giving 3x the pull of just ur jeep. Its like watching something from a cartoon...where u go off, the rope stretches etc and then all of a sudden, the bogged down car comes flying out.

Saved our bacon many times now in situations u think are impossible and kinetic straps make it easy. Bought a few now of ebay, 11 tonne 9 meters long.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Kinetic-Tow-Strap-9m-11000-KG-4x4-Land-Rover-Rope-11ton_W0QQitemZ130311756803QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item1e572f9c03&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1683%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Jay

crazymac · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:43 pm Post subject:

bertie_bas205 · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:10 pm Post subject:

Crazymac..... They can be dangerous, used correctly and attached to a sound recovery point they are an effective way of recovery....

Bertie.

H2 Jay · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

Would have thought that goes without saying. It shouldnt be called a recovery point if it isnt sufficient. When i bought my disco, it had recovery points back and front. Back ones were excellent, front ones were totally un-suitable, wouldnt have pulled the skin of cold coffee.

Common sense should say to make sure your recovery points are strong and durable. Smile

leeds · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:03 pm Post subject:

There is a big difference between a recovery strap and a recovery rope/KERR (KERR = Kinetic Energy Recovery Rope) A KERR can be lethal if things go wrong. I believe that the British army bans the use of KERR on soft skin vehicles, i.e. Land Rovers and only allow their use on hard skin vehicles such as tanks etc.

The Aussies use nylon recovery straps and I think KERR are basically unknown out in Australia.

There should be a label sewn into every strap with details such as length, strength, date of manufacture, material/use etc.

IF there is no label in then assume it is made from polyester and is a tow strap etc. A decent recovery/snatch strap will clearly state that it is intended for such use or that it is made of nylon.

Regards

Brendan

bertie_bas205 · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject:

Leeds, im afraid yer wrong my friend..... The Aussies do use them,

I sell Blackrat kinetic straps born n bred in Austrailia.....

They have a good rep over there.

As you said about the straps make sure you use the right one for the job.

You wouldn't hire a JCB to plant a Pansy.....

If it hasn't labels on them i personaly wouldnt use them as the rating etc cannot be confirmed....

Even with everything in place, ye cant rule out lack of knowledge or general stupidity...

Bertie

leeds · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject:

Hi Bertie, I think there might be a little misunderstanding here.

I use ARB snatch straps bought both here and in Australia. Talking to Aussie 4 x 4 drivers and discussing recovery techniques on www.aulro.com I have got the strong impression that they do not use KERR but would use snatch straps.

Apparently snatch straps will lose some of their elasticity with use. However aulro could not quantify the rate of lose of elasticity with use. I can understand the physics of this and can see how it will be difficult to quantify it as two recoveries are rarely the same.

Retirement of synthetic ropes/straps should be done but when?

Difficult to quantify as a well stored but little used strap could last decades.
However a badly/heavily used one might need retiring after its first outing.

Lack of knowledge can be overcome if someone has an open mind. General stupidity however is difficult to overcome

Recovery kit comes in the bracket of safety kit to me. Buy recogonised names from reliable sources.

If it is cheap, especially too cheap to be true it probably is. Buy cheap pay twice over.

Regards

Brendan

hillbilly col · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject:

i'm also looking to get some recovery ropes but get confused between working load limit and breaking load Embarassed

a local rope company has these on ebay but would they be suitable/strong enough

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4x4-AND-OFF-ROAD-KINETIC-...ksid=p3286.c0.m14

p.s all our recovery points are very secure as they have been used quite often Embarassed

it's just we need to replace some straps that have broke

paul_c · Off-Road Guru Joined: 17 May 2009 Odometer: 1378

I have a heavy car (Pajero) and it takes a hefty tug to unstick it, should I get stuck. I'm getting better at driving, which means that when I do get stuck, I get even more deeply stuck than before! I've probably been recovered, or recovered someone else 30-40 times, and on the 3 occasions a rope has snapped, it was pretty obvious it was too weak and was going to snap!

leeds · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject: