Tow straps ThRead

inski

inski

New member
Where can I get said "looped" ended tow strap? I have a hook ended strap that served me well twice now, saved someone else and got myself saved once. But I know the loop ended ones are better. We used that type in the military.

My current strap is from VIP, 3-5 years old. Should I check it for rot? Its been wrapped up for lots-0-months. Might get 2 new ones.

 
I think that VIP has the loop style straps. I need to pic one up myself. My winter car kit is just about finished though (fleece blanket, hand and foot warmers, jumper cables, extra hats and gloves, flash light, leatherman and first-aid kit). Am I missing anything?

 
I'll check out VIP and Napa tomorrow. Them things sure are handy.

I really dont do winter kits or survival kits other than a cell phone and tow strap. A Leatherman and flash light is a good idea.

 
Yeah, I might be going a little over-board with it all, but I like having it just the same....who knows whats going to happen?

 
I got a AAA kit at Target or something that has a tow strap. I think it hooks though
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.

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Tow_Straps.htm

Is it worth swapping the kit out for loop-strap?

 
I always used "loop" straps 4 wheeling. I have seen the hook type give and go through a windshield and through the seat right next to a guy.

I ordered mine on line I think they were 20 or 30k pull strength.

 
I have gotten some stuff at AWDirect for sweep work.

I have also gotten some of my equipment from Archies off road in wells. They will ship.

*plug for local biz*

 
I always used "loop" straps 4 wheeling. I have seen the hook type give and go through a windshield .
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good point. one time in a winter rally in quebec, we stopped to pull some guys down off a big snowbank. tugged and tugged, but no go. one last try and POW something came loose and hit the back of our car. the guys in snowbank were like "allez allez" (french for go go) so we took off. soon the car started filing up with blowing snow...wtf??!! turned out that the tow hook that came loose sproinged back and hit our car and totally vaporized a taillight...the hole was letting snow into the car.

so yeh, that's why plain hook type straps are iffy.

another thing, when tugging on a looong strap or cable, hang a car floormat or a blanket over middle of the cable...that way if something comes loose, the cable 'hinges' at the mat and is less likely to bust stuff. I worked on a tow truck in high school, one time the guys were winching a tractor trailer up off its side in the ditch and the cable came loose at the wrecker end, whipped back and cut right thru side of the trailer
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I just carry rope with me. I'm a sailor so I have high tensile strength. I've used it before, works great for having my car pulled out of a snow bank... hehe.

All I really add to the stuff in my car for winter is an ice scraper and a little tub of sand. I already carry tools, flash lights and stuff.

 
i did have a big tow strap for when i got stuck all the time in the sidewalk machine at work. looped ends, make one end like a slipknot with the loop, hook the other to a really big truck and hang on:D

i only have a chain in my car because i use it with the tractor for hauling wood, or un snafu-ing my plow truck

the tow strap i did have was from wal-mart, it lasted a few years, many tugs on small rigs, and eventually snapped it in half pulling the 3/4 ton out with the exploder. that's the day i bought my chain

 
so is it a definite no-no to have a braided-nylon strap with hooks? It's not too late to return my AAA car-kit. The only important things in it were the strap and jumper cables.

 
metal ends for towing anything have always worried me. if the clip breaks, you get a hunk of metal coming flying back at you. I've heard horror stories about it. If I found you stuck I'd probably tow you with my rope rather than something with metal ends on it

 
if it's a regular flat strap, like the huge ratchet strap tie downs, it should be okay, as long as it's rated for a lot more that the car weighs. if i weren't so broke i'd be getting a good strap for the girlfriends honda. the only extra thing i'd get with it is one of those clevis things, like a D-hook and a bolt on one end that threads through. soneone will know what i mean...

 
Nope, it's round... rated for 2000 pounds of force though.
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Burn it so that nobody will ever try to use it for anything, and then get yourself a real strap. I could exert more than 2000 pounds of force tugging a lawnmower out of the muck.

-----Added 10/31/2009 at 06:20:00-----

the only extra thing i'd get with it is one of those clevis things, like a D-hook and a bolt on one end that threads through. soneone will know what i mean...
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yeah that thingy.
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need one for the tow hook in the bumper of the suby

and I might have exerted more than 2000 lbs on my last strap using a race mower to pull a golf cart out of the mud (I'm not a redneck I swear)

 
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