Originally posted by Jarett:
A buddy gave my some chains to use. I did not realize they were so dangerous. I will now be getting a strap. How big a strap should I be getting for a full size truck.
It's not just chains that are dangerous. All extraction equipment is dangerous - just some more than others, especially when you're dealing with the weight and suction of mud and a full-size vehicle.
Get a 30', 3" wide tug-strap that is rated - should be 30,000 lbs or more. Try to avoid any of the ones that come with hooks ont he ends; looped strap is safer. You can't imagine the elastic force generated in a stretched tug-strap that's rated for 30,000 lbs.
If you're tugging off of non-secure points on your truck (or even secure points when in mud), be ready for the projectile(s) - get people out of the high risk areas and find as much cover as is available. Snapping lines can wrap around trees, so hiding behind a tree may not be enough. The more dense the tree cover, the better. On Stave you may want to judiciously park "watching" vehicles to take the brunt of the damage (don't tell the looky-loo people that you're having them park their new truck in that specific spot to sacrifice its sheetmetal for the benefit of those doing the recovery work!).
The whole "recovery thing" is one of the reasons that I avoid mud - very high risk because of the tremendous force needed to move a sunk truck.
It's a wonder that there aren't more injuries on the Stave mud flats in the circumstances.
Here's some reading that will hopefully help:
Snatch block basics:
http://www.dodgepowerwagon.com/glovebox/snatch.html
Warn's Winch Guide:
http://www.warn.com/InternetHome/guides/safewinching/page2-3.shtm
Some additional suggestions:
http://www.news24.co.za/News24/Wheels24/4x4/0,3999,2-15-1129_992655,00.html
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DMMcG
'98 XJ
[This message has been edited by DMMcG (edited October 23, 2001).]
