Who’s Snatch strap should be used?

[Wooky]

My take is somewhat different.....

The stuck vehicle has very little to do with the breaking strength of the strap/rope required as it is a net energy consumer and cannot add any extra force or energy into the system. The MBS of the kinetic strap/rope needs to be sufficient to absorb and contain all the input force/energy applied into the system by the vehicle doing the actual recovery without becoming unsafe even if the stuck vehicle does not move. It must also be able to do this while stretching to about 90% of its available stretch so as to make the kinetic recovery as kinetic as possible but never exceed its elastic ability.

Therefore the kinetic strap/rope must be sized according to the vehicle doing the recovery not the stuck vehicle and needs to calculated as a function of vehicle weight and the drivers technique (speed used).

Also if I am the one doing the recovery I would rather use a kinetic strap/rope that I know has the correct specs for my vehicle weight and recovery technique along with a known history of use/abuse.
In this way, as I am doing the actual force application, I know as many of the variables as I can.
As much as it is polite to offer your strap or rope if you are stuck I would rather use my own if I am doing the recovery.

Just my 2c....

[Brandon]

Not to forget that the "stuck" vehicles weight can be influenced by 1) terrain it is stuck in. 2) damage to vehicle. 3) if in mud or sand how deep it is stuck.

Recovery is something people often overlook, it is advisable to do a recovery course and learn a bit about the subject.

Very good topic.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[XJ Junkie]

Wooky the kinetic energy most goes to the stuck object, not the recovery vehicle, because it’s ‘free’

[Wooky]

Wooky the kinetic energy most goes to the stuck object, not the recovery vehicle, because it’s ‘free’

Not really ... The stuck vehicle is actually a fixed anchor point for one end of a spring (the strap/rope) until such time it begins to move.
The "free" vehicle is the only object that can generate any energy that is input into the system .
Once the energy has been created it is stored within the spring (strap/rope) governed by Hooke's law.
The action of the spring (strap/rope) is then governed by the release of the elastic potential energy and the recoil forces are applied equally on either end of the spring (Strap/rope) acting around the center of mass of the spring (strap/rope).

[Chris Stoffel]

The energy needed to snatch a vehicle is not as high as we think.

[Chris Stoffel]

But, I would use my strap if the other guy don't have a strap.

[Wooky]

The energy needed to snatch a vehicle is not as high as we think.

The thing is we create and store quite a large amount of potential energy in the strap/rope but only about 50% is actually exerted on the stuck vehicle but over a vastly extended period of time until all the potential energy is spent. Time is the crucial factor and what makes kinetic recoveries work.

As long as you stay within the elastic limit of the strap/rope the system is pretty much self regulating BUT once you exceed the elastic limit the forces get out of hand very quickly and that is " when shit gets real".

[nicoT]

Ek het so 'n paar jaar terug op die soutpanne buite Strandfontein aan die Weskus tot op my pens vasgeval. (ja ek weet ek was stout en is goed deur die groenetjies op 'n ander 4x4 forum uitgehaal)
Dit het twee voertuie in tandem gekos om my daar uit te kry.
''n paar plaaslike boere wat ook daar gespeel het het my uitgekry en later langs 'n vuurtjie het en gehoor vd GEBRUIK en die ou kontant gegee vir wat hy vir die kinetiese tou betaal het... Hy het die tou vir my gegee.
Ek verstaan die tou verloor elke keer van sy elastisiteit maar ek kon darem al vier keer 'n n maat wat in nood was uithelp.


Sent from my SM-A305F using Tapatalk

[nicoT]

Een twee drie en uit is hy.. OK drie uur later

Sent from my SM-A305F using Tapatalk

[BushWacker]

... these are good photies ...
... “ highly commended “ ...

[grips]

Once you are on your belly in mud forget about kinetic ropes.

[nicoT]

Once you are on your belly in mud forget about kinetic ropes.

Dit was baie grawe en conveyer belts onder die wiele maar ons het hom uitgepluk gekry . En boonop met 'n skuins angle want dit was te modderig reguit voor my Navara.

Sent from my SM-A305F using Tapatalk

[Apocalypse]

When someone gets stuck off-road & needs recovery, there’s a commonly accepted etiquette that the person whose vehicle is stuck must provide his rope & not the person performing the recovery.

Whilst the above is a sign of good manners, there’s another logic that’s often overlooked.

When selecting a recovery strap/rope, consideration needs to be given to its rated breaking point. Whilst there’s no hard & fast rule, it’s accepted that the Breaking Point rating should be at least 2.5 times your vehicles weight. There’s other suggestions that it should be 3.5 to 4 times your vehicles weight, but I believe that’s too high.

The above is determined according to the weight of the stuck vehicle, because that’s where most of the recover energy ends up.

So if we have a lightish vehicle attempting to recover a big Patrol or Cruiser with a rope that’s rated for the lighter recovery vehicle, it’ll increase the risk it snapping.

It’s obviously impossible to know what weight of vehicles you’re likely to encounter that need you to recover them. That’s why this is a good idea, namely to buy a rope/strap that’s rated to your vehicle, not somebody else’s.

I think it makes sense.

I could add volumes on the above when it comes to forces on the strap and have elsewhere.

and yes, etiquette is that the stuck guy gets his strap out to be covered in mud, snot, etc.

BUT

you have to remember that when a snatch strap breaks, your vehicle and life (as well as spectators) is in serious danger.

So when you pull up to some 'how's your father' one who pulls out some old , sun aged, well knotted piece of old mooring rope and asks you to pull him - forget it.

The question really is, when should you agree to recover another person .

I can tell you, if I like the guy but the gear is rubbish, I'd rather use my own.

If the guy is half pissed and clueless when he's sober - He can call someone else for help. not interested.

[Rabbiddog RIP 7/6/21]

I agree with Apoc

Unless the stuck person has decent kit I would rather use my own, and this includes members of the club, I have seen scary equipment.

I am a bit fussy as to what is attached to my 4x4.