Long story short,

I just need help selecting a new tow strap. I use chains, and they do ok, and my old strap (brand unknown) just needs replacing, inspection of it reveals it was frayed and I know it just is not going to cut it anymore. I mostly need it for cheap insurance to yank out a truck just like mine at minimum. My brother and my dad both have crew cab 4x4 common rails, one is a long bed fully loaded welding rig, and my brothers just has a toolbox. Both trucks on larger tires 285s and full bumpers on my brothers and dads minus the front, both have brushguards only.

I will obviously also pull smaller trucks if I have to, but I need a strap strong enough to yank these things out of ditches, high centering in mud holes and/or sand or rootplow that we frequent should we get in a bad situation..


I was thinking of getting a bubba rope, does anyone have experience with one?

half the price of it, Northern Tools has a Smart Straps brand one that is guaranteed for 40K lbs, this one peaks my interest..

I only know of these because other than the above situations, I don't go looking for trouble with my truck, I just use it to get me out of a bad situation and only need (most of the time) what a stock 4wd with good tires will do...

thanks for reading this, and for your help in advance...

 

I have 3 straps. I forget the brands now but they are all several years old and have been used a decent amount. I just make sure to NEVER get the cheap nylon style with metal hooks. I got my last one from a company that deals with tow trucks and truck drivers. You will pay a few dollars more but you will also have a strap that will last for many years. I also have 2 straps that are 4 feet long and made for lifting, Rated at 12k pounds and I would wrap them around the axle of my old jeep when trailering it.

I'll look up the websites and post back here tomorrow.

 

http://sjmetalmfg.com/ Located here in Missouri, don't see it online, ask. They make some serious straps.

 

http://www.truckntow.com/default.aspx Has a lot of stuff. I got my lifting straps from here.

 

find out where the crane guys, riggers and trucking companies get their nylon/wire rope from. then go talk to those guys, chances are you wont need more then a 25000 ibs strap but the mud can be very sticky. those guys can set you up right. these are the guys i go to , superslings.ca , however they are a bit out of your way.

 

I use the ARB ****** Strap, it's the only one I've ever used so not sure how it compares to anything else. It's a bit elastic and has some "give" to it.
http://store.arbusa.com/Tow-Straps-R...-Gear-C19.aspx

 

My buddy is a tug boat captain for Higman Barge Lines, and he brought me a tug line, about 1" in diameter, and did a custom splice for me, then I just went and put some shackles on the end. He told me its a 500 ton line, think phillystran was the name of the company that made them. I have no worries with it thats for sure

 

If you have any buddies in heavy construction they probably have a stock of old lifting slings that have slight damage rendering them illegal to use for lifting anymore.
Of not, find the nearest rigging company and get a 3" dbl ply 20' long nylon eye to eye sling. It will last you the rest of your life.

 

Lifting is not snatching....

****** straps are a different beast. 4WheelParts used to have a sale on 4" Pro-Comp straps every so often.... I dunno if they still do that.

You might find a good deal online on CyberMonday or whatever day it is.

 

The flex in a properly sized strap is what makes it so effective. You can take a run at it, and it stores the kinetic energy of your rapidly stopping truck and applies it relatively smoothly to the stuck truck. It's the difference between snatching a truck, and snatching a bumper.

That said, the same stored energy can be applied to a loose hook, or a hitch ball making it a potentially lethal projectile. The cheap straps with metal hooks are good for towing the rice burner home on flat paved road, maybe.