Which shackles and snatchstrap?

[Apache]

<Homer> Mmmmm... Snaaatch straaaap...

Seriously, you're dead right. Might be cool to talk about down the pub, but pretty deadly in the hands of a stoopid person - which is possibly why I dont have one

[KERRSURF]

For properly safe winching or snatching a sail or drag line should be used, stops flying shackles from coming along the direction of tow.

A drag line is a smaller line attached to tow line but at 90 degrees or so, so that if tow line fails the tow line is dragged away from the line of tow thus stopping the shackle/tow point from hitting tow point.ie: other vehicle.

A tow sail has the same effect in that it prevents collision of rope/shackle with tow vehicle by causing drag on the tow rope sending it to ground.

[KERRSURF]

<Homer> Mmmmm... Snaaatch straaaap...

Seriously, you're dead right. Might be cool to talk about down the pub, but pretty deadly in the hands of a stoopid person - which is possibly why I dont have one

Andy, if the above methods are employed then snatching can be done in relative safety.

I have seen some very dubious winching techniques, so I think forethought and training are paramount in ensuring safety in any rcovery situation.
It's often an innnocent bystander who gets hurt when things go wrong.

[nero279]

a sail will do sweet fa on a snatch strap, it's not what they're designed for. They ain't always that effective on a steel winch cable either. The design relies on chance, with a steel cable it's twisted, it won't recoil straight, it will whip from side to side on the way. When the cable's under load it's slightly stretched, when it breaks it tries to compress itself, but after the initial stretch has gone, it can't, so the compression turns into a twisting force trying to untwist the cable, creating a side to side motion, the sail slows the side to side motion, and therefore slows the overall recoil, if it slows enough the weight of the cable itself drags everything to the floor. The only other way a steel cable can recoil is to wind itself back up into a coil, the sail can get wrapped up in the coil if this happens, rendering it completely useless.

With a snatch strap or a KERR you never get that untwisting force, and therefore the side to side movement, for the sail to work on. Because they're not of a twisted construction they recoil straight, the sail simply serves to keep them going straight but does very little in terms of slowing them down.

Dunno about a drag line, never seen or heard of anyone using one.

[KERRSURF]

I should have stated thet winching with steel rope is another animal all together. I agree with Nero, steel cable can whip around like crazy.

Nero, you have never seen/used a drag line? very effective method for all types of tow line, including steel.

[simonlord]

What part of Nev's answer did you not understand

Hi Yoshie, I fully understand Nev's answer, however, posts #4 and (albeit after your reply) #14 suggest use of the tie down eyes. Hence my question asking which people use/prefer/recommend.

[simonlord]

I use the recovery on the front and the tie downs on the back with bow shackles through them. I use both sides with a 10m webbing strap. As I have a bodylift, there's no bumper interference on the back.

Haven't had to do any heavy duty recovery as I only do laning, and if you get so bogged in that you need snatch recovery on a green lane you have to ask whether you should be there when its so soft.

Agreed Apache, I don't fancy getting that stuck - so i think a normal tow/recovery strap is the way forward for me - i think i'll get 2 of the procomp straps.

My Surf isn't lifted (yet!) but i do have a tow bar on the rear, though it's not got a US style receiver (that i could plug a recovery shackle thing into). I understand not to use the towball (i really don't fancy that thing flying in my direction!). So can anyone recommend how/where to attach one or two straps on the towbar for a recovery? Anyone have any photos as examples maybe?

[yoshie]

You could drill the bar each end and mount towing eyes. I would plate the bar to give it extra stength where the eyes are being mounted.

I take it the tow bar mounts to the rail each side with 3 or 4 heavy duty bolts?

[simonlord]

You could drill the bar each end and mount towing eyes. I would plate the bar to give it extra stength where the eyes are being mounted.

I take it the tow bar mounts to the rail each side with 3 or 4 heavy duty bolts?

Thanks Yoshie, that sounds like a good plan. Can you recommend a good towing eye for this application? Link?

Yes the tow bar mounts to the rail each side with heavy duty bolts, 4 i think.

[NiftyNev]

How strong is the tow bar and what is it constructed of. Most that take a towball are usually pretty average. Now if you had one like this it would be nuch better. If I was to modify one for "tow eyes" I would do it like the second pic and have them through the rear section and welded to the tow bar side plates.

Nev

[simonlord]

How strong is the tow bar and what is it constructed of. Most that take a towball are usually pretty average. Now if you had one like this it would be nuch better. If I was to modify one for "tow eyes" I would do it like the second pic and have them through the rear section and welded to the tow bar side plates.

Nev

Hmmm, i've got one of these i think: http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/?doc=16&cid=260&vid=594

Not sure how strong it is, currently it's used to tow a horse box and two horses (2 - 2.5 tonnes). Rekon i can attach tow eyes/recovery points to it?

[NiftyNev]

Rekon i can attach tow eyes/recovery points to it?

I'll have to leave the answer to this one up to others. I have no idea how good/strong towbars over there are. They may be great tow bars but poor recovery tools.

Nev

[stormforce]

haven't you got 2 tow eyes in the end of the chasis rails at the back as thats where i attatch my rear strops to

[KERRSURF]

haven't you got 2 tow eyes in the end of the chasis rails at the back as thats where i attatch my rear strops to

thats what I do.

[simonlord]

haven't you got 2 tow eyes in the end of the chasis rails at the back as thats where i attatch my rear strops to

Had a look this afternoon, and i don't seem to have these. Maybe they were removed when towbar was added? Got pictures of them?