snatch strap used for towing?

[DBKDISCO]

Hi Guys,

Can someone out there explain why you shouldnt tow a vehicle with a snatch strap? or can you
and why I should by a tow rope? that looks like a snatch strap

also what is the drag chain used for? do you tow with it or drag stuff with it

thanks

[bee utey]

At the risk of being told off :p I had a snatch strap cut in half and professionally restitched, it makes a sweet tow rope. There is probably a maximum length for a tow rope on the road and I feel a 8 metre snatch may be pushing it.

[slug_burner]

Most advice I have been given says do not use snatch strap for towing and do not use a tow rope for snatching. I don't know if you know that a snatch strap has elastic properties that allows for the storage of energy. The use of a snatch strap to tow would give a less jerky tow but you would probably reduce the life of your snatch strap. For cost reasons alone it would be preferable to tow with a rope which could be replaced for 1/2 or less of the cost of a snatch strap.

As for the use of a rope as a snatch strap, the shock load that would be delivered if you took a run up would be excesive and possibly damage either the recovering or recovered vehicle.

Drag chain is used to drag fallen trees off the road or to drag logs to use as fire wood.

Chain or snatch strap could be used for towing in an emergency.

[alien]

If towing a disabled rig from the bush on the main roads I use an old snatch strap.
You do need to think of the loads on each rig and anchor point though.
I've found the elasicity in it helps remove the "jerking" that happens when the strap isn't kept tight.
Also when starting off you get a little momentum up before the full weight of the towed rig is on the strap, kinder to the running gear.

A tow rope or extension strap have no elasticity so you need to take up all the slack before moving.

A drag chain is used mostly for draging trees off the track.
I have a chain that is used on trucks, I use it for draging trees ect..
I also use it as a back up winch when combined with a high-lift jack.

[stig0000]

i towed about 80km on and offrd with a snatch strap after a pootrols starter motor took one for the team(yes it was a auto) towed it home no probs, did it kill me strap?? its still in one peace,, complete with a very precisely placed knot:angel::angel:

worked well, apparently is illegle to tow a car onrd enyway, dont no how true it is;)

[BigJon]

, did it kill me strap?? its still in one peace,, complete with a very precisely placed knot:angel::angel:



I was going to say probably, until I read about the knot. Now II can say definitely.

[Blknight.aus]

Short version, you can use either a snatch strap or a chain for towing.

The first is hard on the strap but easy on the vehicle the latter is easy on the chain but harder on the vehicle.

in more detail.

the reason you dont tow with a snatch strap is two fold.

first it stores energy so if you stop both vehicles and its tight there is an unquantified amount of energy stored in the strap. The other reason and in my opinion the more important reason is that it wear the strap.

Snatch straps have a limited number of uses, every time you pull on the strap you use up a percentage of its life and the strap looses some of its elasticity, once thats gone its no longer a snatch strap, its a tow strap. Abrasion of the strap significatnly weakens it.

Thats why you use a rope for towing, a rope has a much better resistance to chafe damage than a strap.

The chain is for making up anchor points or doing stuff with that would kill your rope or the strap. Its also used when you need a Zero stretch connection like when you're winching or tying something down.

[Homestar]

Wrecked my brothers new snatch strap years ago by towing another vehicle - worked great, but when we got home, I found that the towed vehicle (driven by a friend) hadn't kept the strap tight all the time, so it had got all fluffy in the middle from dragging on the road... Broke the next time my brother used it.:( Needless to say, he wasn't happy, and I had to fork out for a new strap...

[blue_mini]

Ive got a strap that ive used for towing a few times (from when i had a sierra and ended up getting dragged off fraser with it) and its a bit fluffy and has abrasions on it. I wouldnt think for a second of using it as a snatch strap. Or towing over off road conditions. Only time ive used it since was to jar the clutch on a mates toyota stout with everyone well out the way and pretty much idling only.

[Xtreme]

Who carries and/or has used a solid tow bar for long distance 'recovery' towing and how did you find it worked?

[Blknight.aus]

I've got an A frame.

Its excelent. for forwards towing, providing you do it right its just like towing a trailer.

[Xtreme]

Three of us out of seven carried solid tows on our Madigan Line trip a few years ago. It meant that we could have connected four Landys together for a push/pull recovery if required - fortunately we they were not required. But we still don't know how they would have performed under those circumstances. We were tempted to hook up at Big Red and drive over like a train but after more than a week out in the scrub involving a double crossing of the Simpson, some of the group were more keen to reach Birdsville and the pub.

On a previous extended trip I did tow a fully loaded Defender with a solid bar, from Ivanhoe to Broken Hill, a distance of 320kms - my fuel consumption suffered somewhat but apart from that, the 38mm pipe tow bar worked well and we had no problems. Radio comms between vehicles was, of course, necessary especially during the initial stages while confidehe in the system was building.

Must get up to Stockton sometime and try out the 'train with one dead carriage' sometime as I'm still interested to experience how it would work under actual conditions as opposed to theory.

[Scouse]

Who carries and/or has used a solid tow bar for long distance 'recovery' towing and how did you find it worked?I have a solid tow tube/bar for general flat towing & a purpose made A frame for Morris Minors.

Both work very well but the tube/bar needs to be secured tightly to the towed vehicle to have a nice solid connection.

[DBKDISCO]

Thanks Guys for all that infor, it was more than I was expecting:)

love the wealth of knowledge on the forum :D

[slug_burner]

solid tow can double as a rockslider for storage/space reasons

[POD]

I've towed several times with a solid hitch, they certainly have their advantages however the driver of the towed vehicle has to be very careful to keep the hitch in a straight line in the direction of travel, if you get a bit off-line when the towing vehicle is under brakes, the rear vehicle wants to dart off to the side. Mine has an ORAC-style coupling on one end and a plain tongue on the other. Certainly easier than trying to keep a tow-rope taut.

An old cocky and truckie I know swear by the following towing arrangement: two short lengths of steel cable with an old car tyre in the middle! Works a treat as a towrope-come-snatch strap.

[Wal Rat]

Just a note guys if you get seen flat towing for any reason even with a solid bar in nsw 3 points lost for each driver and a fine over $300 each. Even on dirt roads. Have had to attend many times and tow broken down cars and console drivers:( after they have been caught .:mad:

[Pedro_The_Swift]

and you cant use a drag chain to tie anything down with,,
also cant use it to lift with,,;)

[POD]

Had to tow the 91 RR home the other day with the 94RR, after the auto died on my way to work. As we approached where the dead vehicle was, we passed a traffic cop who was sitting waiting for customers. In knew we would have to go past him on the way back unless we wanted a long detour over rough roads, so we did. He pulled out and followed us for about 5km, then overtook and went on his way without bothering us. I was much relieved, as I was not 100% sure of the legality of flat towing esp with solid hitch.
I've got an offroad trailer coupling on one end of my solid hitch, but the towed end just gets attached with shackles. Unfortunately this makes for a bit of slop, would be nice to have a solid coupling either end but that would require a dedicated mount on the towed vehicle. I'd be interested in methods of securing a solid hitch to the front of a vehicle without slack?

[Xtreme]

I've also used shackles with a solid tow - wrapped gaffer tape around them to stop the slack. Worked well for the 250km tow.