Snapped 20k tow strap

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Jul 9, 2004 | 10:08 PM

95f150

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Joined: Nov 2003

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From: Alberta

Snapped 20k tow strap

I snapped a brand new 3"x20' (20, 000lbs rated) tow strap the other day. I was wheeling down a trail and was crossing a beaver hole (which i have done numerous times) when my front end went straight down. My truck was literally standing up on its front end. Bumper was right into the mud, and h2o was higher than my 35's.

I had to call a buddy from work to pull me out with his chev

. I had put shackles front and back on my truck thanks to fishys advice. The chev back up and i hooked my strap around my rear shackles and his hitch and then when we started going she snapped and back in i slid. I only used this strap once and kept it clean and protected. Luckily he had a 12, 000lbs rated strap with duct tape all over it and it survived

. When my truck finally got out the front axle was covered in like weeds that was holding on for dear life probably causing the strap to break. I didnt plan on going offroading that day so i didnt have my digital camera, but it was the first time i needed a pull. Anyone else have any war stories with offroading a crappy tow straps?

Jul 9, 2004 | 10:26 PM

faroffthetrack

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Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 545

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From: Houston

Pusht there's your answer right there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95f150

duct tape all over it

Jul 10, 2004 | 02:21 AM

Hardcore4x4er

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i was pulling out a 92 chevy and i snapped a 4 inch wide strap think the guys said that it was 30,000 pounds. strap was almost new. I found that the best tow strap is an old fire truck hose with a loop tied in the end, I got one at a yardsale for 5 bucks and its gotten its five dollars worth and lots more. Ive played tug-a-war with it yanked on chevys and she still be holding. lol sounds nuts but its works

Jul 11, 2004 | 11:43 PM

fishmanndotcom

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Joined: May 2000

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From: Senoia, GA

i keep hearing ppl using old fire hoses are they really that good? and how can you 'tie' a loop in the end?

-cutts-

Jul 12, 2004 | 12:50 AM

99xlt4.04x4

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From: Coastal North Carolina

I forget the name of the knot and its really hard to tell someone how to tie one, but you can do it. I have knot in one end of my strap that doesn't slip or break. As for the strap, i broke it several times (4 incher). It wasnt pretty. 2 trucks pulling on me at the same time was more than the strap could take. And more than the other guys bumpercould take too.

Jul 12, 2004 | 01:01 AM

fishmanndotcom

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Joined: May 2000

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From: Senoia, GA

well i think i will go that route! i have several friends that are firfighters! i can get them to get me one!

-cutts-

Jul 12, 2004 | 01:36 AM

81f150on40s

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i have found that an excellent source for towstrapsis to make friends with a rigger.osha says that when their lifting straps start to show the red wear marks they have to be thrown away.you can get some massive(i mean like ten inch)straps for free.talk to some crane operators,make friends with em,and they can get em for ya.the main thing to remember with a strap is that even a ten inch wide 50,000 pound lifting strap will break if givin the opprotunity to be cut,so dont let it.but for the horror story........buddie got his jeep cherokee stuck,he told me his wal-mart strap would hold up,i didnt believe it,but yanked anyways,i reckon i should have checked how far away that big ditch was before i did it,needless to say there was now a jeep stuck in the mud and my truck on 40 inch hawgs in a ditch,we ended up calling a local off road recovery company and somehow i had to pay for myself to get out(still aint quite got that figured out)