I always refer to prior experience with this question.

I once, V shaped, a perfectly straight bumper using chains to pull some one out. (V shape was his bumper not my tow hooks).

I once broke a snatchem strap rated for 20k into the tailgate of my buddies F150.

Each event caused $400.00 worth of damage and that was 10 years ago!

If I had to carry either /or my answer would be "Both".

Rick

 

i used a 15,000 pound rated strap to jerk ( and i mean jerk ) out a late 70's (back when they used real metal) model mack fire truck. i would guess the truck to weigh 30,000-40,000. I was pretty impressed with my truck's abilities. the fire truck was stuck but not burried too bad. The strap held up fine. Sometimes i like to use a strap in conjunction with a chain.

 

Chains Are Better Than Straps?

I dunno......I'm kinda of a handcuff guy myself........Oooops, wrong thread.


I prefer to ****** with a strap, and pull with a chain.
Either way, I ALWAYS use a blanket or heavy coat in the middle of the chain/strap to prevent snap-back

 

Both are good, and both will work.

BUT...if you overload either, they will break , and do so with some very nasty results.

I saw a chain that was on the end of a ****** strap to use to attach it to the vehicle come flying back and it went thru the tailgate, the cab, and took the carb off the engine. I will never use a chain on the end of a strap if I know I have to do anything but a slow steady pull.

The reason the 15k strap didn't break when pulling out the 30-40k truck, is the pulling truck did not develop 30k worth of force.

A ****** strap will develop 6 x the weight of the pulling vehicle if used properly. That means, for my 4x4, I need at a minimum a 30k strap. For my dually, I need a minimum of a 45k strap Anything less, while it may work, but will most likely break.

Here's another thing. How is a clevis supposed to be used ?? The bolt is supposed to be on the hook, and the curved part is supposed to be on the strap. Well, if the bolt pulls out, as this is how they usually fail, you now have 5 lbs of metal on the end of the strap flying back at you. If you put the strap on the bolt (use it backwards), then when the bolt pulls out, the strap will slide off it (the curved part will still hold on to whatever it is on), so you don't have 5 lbs of metal flying back at you.

WHENEVER you are using these things under load, THINK about what you are doing, and what can fail and how. It just may save your life one day.

 

Thats exactly why a strap is a terrible thing to have break, they are streched out and when they snap they have all the pulling energy plus the elastic energy, so its a double wammy effect, which makes them fly very fast(much faster than a chain).
Chains are designed for pulling with CONSTANT PRESSURE, steady pulls so when they do break they tend to drop to the ground, but when anything is snapped and broken it will fly.

IF you use a chain for snapping, use a old tire w/o a rim between chains to take the shock out of the snap and give it more elastisity.
TIm.

 

On the clevis issue...

Ive used it twice with chains, and once with a strap. I have one as my pulling hitch on my photo gallery. I carry an 18 inch pipe wrench in my truck just to tighten and loosen the actual bolt of the clevis.. So far it hasnt let me down and i doubt it will break. Its a solid one inch clevis.... But regardless, that dont mean it gets yanked at...

Tx

 

Speaking of clevises, don't use one to tie two straps together.

We broke two 2" straps this weekend, neither break was big deal. They snapped back hard and definately could take out an eye, but not kill you. I've never seen a chain break and hope I never do. I wish someone made an affordable 2.5" 35000# strap.

Just use your head, keep it down or behind something thick. If it's a straight pull check the angle of the line and stay out of the path. If you're using a ****** block or some other pivot point breaks can sweep out in an arc.

 

I have been off roading all my life, and I have a few comments. Yes, either can break, but a broken chain is FAR more dangerous, hands down. Would you rather be hit in the head with a chain or a strap? To the guy who knew someone who lost an eye by a broken strap: he would have lost his entire head if that was a chain. Never, ever "yank" something with a chain! If the chain is strong enough, you can damage your truck. Straps take the jarring force away by stretching, giving better results when trying to free someone. It also transfers much less force to either vehicle.

Many 4x4 clubs don't even allow chains on their runs. Some states are even eliminating chains from being used to secure a load on a trailer! If you are pulling vehicle to vehicle, use a strap. If you are pulling another item, such as a tree stump, it may be necessary to use a chain, but BE CAREFUL when you do! I have had straps break, and its never been a big deal. Once a friend got a little ding in his tailgate, but he was dumb and used one of the cheap straps with a hook on each end. I've had regular ****** straps break, and never, ever had damage to a vehicle from one. On the other hand, I've seen bent frames, trailer hitches ripped off the frame, hooks tear through a frame, etc. from using chains.

Jim

 

Guys, Chains are for tires aren't they? I've learned my lesson not to use a chain for anything other than binding. I use one on the bucket of the tractor to skid logs out of the forest, 10 feet long. I use straps with chain to secure loads on the log trailer. I use a tow strap with reinforced looped and sewn ends to tow everything out of everything. A 45k strap 6 inch strap 50 feet long is less than $100 bucks. How much is your truck and how much is your life worth. The strap sits under the back seat and doesn't jingle down the road. Anything breaks but a little common sense fixes everything. ks

 

I only use straps and when im tuggin something stuck good I usually open my toolbox lid to keep anything from flying through my window. and I also have the stuck guy open his hood. it may leave a funny looking dent, but at least its not in your face. I got a 6 inch 60k strap from tractor supply and a 2 inch diameter nylon rope that works wonders, I tugged a huge RV with its bumper sitting on sand and the axle buried and it came out easy.

 

Very good advice.
I knew about the hood open part, but didn't think of the toolbox lid open till I got a toolbox.
Of course this won't work with side opening toolboxes.


phox

 

I use a 1" diameter steel rope with massive loops on the end of it. They use it for hoisting generators and what not up with cranes. This thing weighs somewhere around 50-100lbs. I was trying to pull my buddy out one day and I jerked him so hard that I ripped his tow hook out of his frame. Tow hook skipped across the roof of my truck and landed in front of the truck. The rope slid across the side of the truck. This thing is stout. I need to get a pic of it. It's very impressive.

 

I use something similar. I use 4 inch double braided nylon mooring line. I have a little over 100' of it. One end has an eye built in (thanks to the bosun mates) and the other end is open. That end usually gets tied into a bowline knot to put on a tow hook or shackle. The line is nowhere near its load limits pulling out 4x4s.

 

I think in either one over kill is a good thing. Personaly I perfer a strap b/c it is lighter and you can jerk on it with less violence. I keep a 60,000 lb stap in my box, I think it is 6" wide and I dont really see my dually breakin it unless I could hit about 75 mph in 30ft. Just make sure wich ever you use they are rated for about twice of what you want to pull and you SHOULDNT have to worry about breakage.

 

STAPS!!! i always have a stap in my truck. straps are much more safe. i have pulled a number of people out, i live right by a off road park, and if i would have been usin chain i prolly wouldnt have much of a truck left. i have broke a number of straps and had them hit the back window, bumper, tailgate, tires, and sides of my truck. The most damage is maybe a mark on the paint that usually washes right off. PLUSS, straps are alot lighter, more compact, and easyer to cary. staps with steel hooks are ok because a stap breaks in the middle and if its hooked properly, the hooke wont come off, personally i like the staps with a loop at the end (slips over trailer hitch perfectly).

Best thing to do is use staps but maintain them, after a dirty pull take a preshure washer to them while u cleam your truck. The dirt left in the straps works like sand paper on cloth (breaks the fibers makeing week spots on the strap which obviously makes them easyer to snap)

Staps all the way, leave the chains for the trailers!