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Old Bob
Dodge Dakota
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5/01/2005
08:06:22
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 Subject: Tow Straps
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Message:
I have been reading this board a couple of years, and have always found a answer to almost any question I have had...Except one, whats wrong with using a tow strap with a hook? also whats wrong with a good chain.
Excuese me if, but if your stuck, will you stay stuck if I have hooks???
Thanks
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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5/01/2005
11:37:22
|  RE: Tow Straps
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There's nothing wrong with a hook, assuming it's properly designed/built/installed; just like the rest of the strap. Most people use loop straps because they are lighter and easier to carry. It's also easier to hook a loop strap to your truck.
I carry both. Why? Just becausae I sort of ended up with them, I guess. Last time I pulled a car (mustang) out of a ditch was in a snow storm in southern WY. I had the other driver loop the hook strap around his suspension and bring both hooks foreward. Then I hooked the loop to my trailer hitch, and the other end to both hooks. Made for a very easy hok up and tow.
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OBIO3
Dodge Dakota
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5/01/2005
14:05:24
| RE: Tow Straps
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Hook or loop is a mater of preferance and/or what's there to hook on to > With a chain you HAVE TO remove all the slack out of it before you start to pull > If it's slippery your going to spine and go nowhere > By far the best is the stretch type rope or strap > You hook on and take off scaring H-ll out of the stuck person lol > But actually it's a sling shot effect that is quit smooth and very very effective > I've been amazed several times how well this works Once I pulled a 4X4 chevy out of a snow bank with a VW bug LMAO > Only way to go >
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Walt_Felix
Dodge Dakota
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5/01/2005
20:02:47
|  RE: Tow Straps
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No, the reason many experienced off-roaders avoid straps with hooks on the ends is because a tow strap has a lot of tension on it while you are tugging. If it comes loose or breaks, that energy has to go somewhere and it normally ends up acting like a rubber band with the loose end flying back at the vehicle it’s attached to. With no hooks, that energy is spent very quickly and the tow strap will drop harmlessly to the ground. With a hook, it will transfer that energy to the hook which will then travel a lot farther than the tow strap alone would and with much more destructive power. I saw a broken hook go through a windshield once. If it were a foot to the right, the driver could have been seriously hurt. I know some off road parks won’t allow straps with hooks, Paragon for example. Chains are good because they dissipate any unwanted energy very quickly. The bad part about them is that they are heavy, noisy when stored, and the hooks can come loose. Also as mentioned earlier, you don’t get the same pulling force with them. You can tug with a strap but you have to pull with a chain. The best tow straps are the ones with loops on the ends.
__________________
Walt Felix
http://www.Walt-n-Ingrid.Com
http://dodgetruckworld.com/waltfelix
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Dan Fearday
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
00:48:25
| RE: Tow Straps
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A lot of people use a clevis with their strap. They lock around and seem to be a lot safer. I like chains to hook to another vehicle just because you do not have to worry about it getting cut by rubbing on something semi-sharp. You can also take the slack out very easily with a chain, and then hook it to a recovery strap (actually hook it through the loop and then connect it to itself). Make sure it is hooked well. If you take care and use them wisely, either will work. But I do agree, a strap will stretch and if you have something metal on the end that might give way, it becomes a slingshot.
Dan
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The Mazz
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
11:05:45
| RE: Tow Straps
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I recomend hookless straps...I used a chain once and only once! Never again...It went straight through my windshield and would have killed my freind sitting next to me if it were like a foot to the left. I just dont like using anything w/ a metal or heavy end. I would recomend loop ends 100% of the time! Hope I was of some assistance.
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Old Bob
Dodge Dakota
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5/04/2005
09:41:53
|  RE: Tow Straps
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Thanks everyone for your help, the hooks are off and I have a nice loop on each end. The hooks now are on the ends of a 6 foot hunk of Biker Viper chain. Once again, Thank You.
Old Bob
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Slick.
Dodge Dakota
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12/13/2008
05:41:47
|  RE: Tow Straps
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I like to use the strap and hooks, may not be as safe, but saves time on trails, (yes all time is prescious). i also use common sence, if the strap may break we dont use it. we dig and fight her out.(timley but never a fun day without some play). Why is is that my jeep seams to do all the pullen, and none of the sticken?
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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12/14/2008
14:19:37
| RE: Tow Straps
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I have chains and a recovery strap and various hooks and hardware.
My recovery strap has loops and no hooks. I have 2 chains, 5400lb with removable hooks. I also have a link to connect both chains together, also 5400 lbs, or I can use it to connect the chain to itself and not use the hook.
I also have a draw bar hook that fits in my receiver. I also have a draw bar with no ball. And I have a 10,000 lb U shaped shackle.
I also had a family (in-laws) friend who owns his own welding shop weld on some tube metal under my frame rails in the front of my 02 QC. I then bolted on some tow hooks from an 80's S-10 blazer that I picked up at a salvage yard - they point down and curve out slightly. I used my dremel to sand them down and then spray painted them black.
I think I'm covered for most any situation. I keep all of this in my tool box in the bed of my truck.
So far, I've only used the chains for landscaping - pulling up stumps.
- Dan M
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verdesardog
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2008
14:19:06
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
I have operated tow trucks for many years...chains are dangerous. In my dakota 4x4 I have: hydraulic 10500lb pull winch with 80' of syntietic line,2ea 3/8" X 10' wirerope slings with loop ends 1ea 1/2" X 10' wire rope sling with loops, 1ea 3" X 30' strech n snap strap with loops on each end, 1ea 6" X 8' tree saver, 2ea 20k lb snatch blocks and several shackles.
Why is it I always have to pull the other guys out, never myself????
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Kowalski
GenIII
12/23/2008
09:27:32
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
Another handy item to carry is a recovery hook. You can hook it to an axle, and then connect to it. A chain can retain a lot of energy, like the Mazz pointed out. I had one let go and clean the yellow light off the roof of a truck many years ago. The chain we had to tow a big block Caprice over the road only had one hook end, and we foolishly used a padlock to secure the other end. The first time the chain went slack and then taut again, it let go. I still use a chain, but with very good connections.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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TexasTodd
GenIII
12/23/2008
18:35:13
| RE: Tow Straps
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I'm not sure why 'Slick' dug up this old post,
Probably 'cause it's got some good info in it.
Dan M.- I think you are ready for any pull for just about anything!
Kowalski- what's a recovery hook? Mentioning hooking it to the axle seems like it could damage things, so I probably/obviously not sure what it is.
Drive it like its paid for!
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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12/23/2008
22:42:04
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
Todd that's the idea!
I have used the chains to do landscaping - pulling up shrubs. I was never a boyscout but I believe in being prepared. Some of the places I go fishing and camping are pretty remote, sometimes I don't see anyone all day once i get off pavement.
Actually, I remember that I used the chains one other time, before I bought my recovery strap. I went fishing at a local WMA and when I went to leave a tree had fallen down and blocked the road. Nice pine tree (so it wasn't too hard to cut) about 8-10 in diameter where I used my axe to chop it in half. Then I pulled the bottom half out of the road with the chain and pushed it down into a ravine.
I read a story on a local fishing website about a guy who went fishing one winter day and came across a huge poplar tree about 35-40 inches in diameter than fell and landed leaning across the only road out of the area he was in. He had a toyota with a winch. He used a frying pan to dig to allow enough room for his truck to fit under the tree and used his winch to winch his truck under the tree.
Reading that story is what made me decide to purchase the chains, shackles, axe, shovel, etc. I keep it all in my tool box in the bed of the truck.
So far I've pointed disoriented mountain bikers in the right direction. One day I know I'll run across someone who is stuck and needs a pull. i'm pretty sure it'll be a wrangler or car. I would never take a car down some of the roads I drive on, but some people do. There's some wrangler guys around here that go mudding when it rains and tear up the roads and trails I take to go fishing. I've had to back up and take a different way once when I was out exploring new fishing areas. I would have drove the front end of my truck into the ground had i tried to drive through one hole. Also, some times the roads wash out. One major road in a local USFS area was washed out for about 2 or 3 years before they finally fixed it.
- Dan M
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Kowalski
GenIII
12/24/2008
08:46:35
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
A recovery hook is a large hook, about a foot or maybe a little longer, and opening about 5" maybe ? Just ballpark numbers to give you some idea. You can get it around an axle or other beefy areas, and then atach a strap or chain to it. If there's a brake line on top of the axle, it won't damage it like a chain or strap might.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/24/2008
13:19:25
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
here are picture of a recovery hook (j-hook)
http://www.towdixie.com/servlet/the-Rescue-and-Recovery-cln-Recovery-J-dsh-Hook-Assemblies/Categories
http://www.truckntow.com/pc-11404-147041-the-fish-hook-265-x-1-heavy-duty-recovery-j-hook.aspx
- Dan M
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Bucket
GenII
12/26/2008
10:46:35
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
TexasTodd... its good to see your registered!! alas...no more clowns posing with your name.
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TexasTodd
GenIII
1/04/2009
18:38:49
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
I guess I don't pull people, or get pulled out much.
I thought I wouldn't want to put a hook, towed by another vehicle, on any of my axles or drive train, but rather on the frame somewhere, right?
Seems like the force would rip something out!
Drive it like its paid for!
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SxtJDK03
GenIII
1/06/2009
15:27:48
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
Yea, I prefer to have the looped ends on my straps. Where I work we represent a rigging company that manufactures straps and slings, they also have a vehicle recovery line that has 30,000 pound breaking point straps, which is what I carry with me. They have 20 and 40 foot lengths available. I like them because I can hook one end to my tow package and do a choker loop on the other end to hook on someones frame. Makes things easier.
Wheel 'til it breaks!
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TexasTodd
GenIII
1/09/2009
09:33:30
|  RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
Bucket,
That is ONE AWSOME looking Dak!!! (Your avatar)
Is that for African safaris? I'm not even being sarcastic, your truck looks awesome.
definiely unique!
Drive it like its paid for!
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Bucket
GenII
1/09/2009
10:07:57
| RE: Tow Straps
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Message:
Thanks TT, I use it for prospecting in the desert so i like to blend in out there,i only actually drive it a couple of times a year,but when i do.....i drive it like its paid for ! cause it is. My daily driver is a 98 Dak.
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TexasTodd
GenIII
1/09/2009
13:08:27
| RE: Tow Straps
IP: Logged
Message:
Bucket,
Normally, I'm not all that into off road type truck, but the truck in the photo looks Bad-A$$!!
THAT'S a truck I wouldn't mind being seen driving in!
Tell us more about it, if you will.
Drive it like its paid for!
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