Ummm bad advice. Chains and ropes are VERY VERY dangerous when it comes to pulling out vehicles. Chains do not give. I don't care if you are talking 100 links or 4 links LOGGING CHAINS DO NOT GIVE. This is the intention of having a tow strap instead of using chains. The chains will only take so much before they eventually shatter, and release all their potential energy at once. A strap will most likely begin to unravel and then break. Although it may happen so fast you don't notice it, the unraveling is taking out ALOT of energy from the strap.
Second, ropes are a no no.
They are simply TOO weak. They are not designed to stretch like a tow strap is, also dissipating the energy.
Lastly, a problem arises when you are mixing materials. What happens when the chain slips off the hitch (or breaks) now you have a 10 pound weight on the end of a long very flexible, light weight "string?." Here is an experiment for you. Take a 10 foot piece of string and swing it around your head like a helicopter. Notice how hard it is to make is go all the way around, and how little energy the piece of string is storing? Now tie a regular old nut on the end of the string. See how much potential energy that string/nut how contains? This is basically what you are creating when you are tying a piece of logging chain on the end of your tow strap by way of rope.

I do agree with not standing in the way of the straps, however. The safest place to be for ALL is inside the vehicles. This way you at least have a barrier of some sort between you and that piece of strap/chain/rope that is zooming towards your head.

MK

 

The chains are hanging on a rope, the rope is tied to the recovery strap. They are weight only. when a strap snaps the weight will absorb the energy and direct the now loose end into the ground. A T-shirt layed over the strap will do the same thing. I found towls etc. tend to move/slide to the middle of the strap, or even fall off B4 you apply tension to the strap.