Thread: Snatch strap misuse danger

Wow very lucky to survive, especially with the remoteness.

I just read the thing...

toyota (well there's the first warning)
16 yo NT male L plates (theres 2-5)
snatch strap connected to chain looped round a tyre tied on with fencing wire

At the end of the strap was a short length of chain around the actual grader tyre so that the strap does not wear as it drags across the ground. The chain was connected back to itself with fencing wire.

Now 1-5 might have led to it being an accident... but that last bit.. sorry, this is not an accident It's a statistical probability

I beleive snatch straps are an accident waiting to happen, in this case common sense would have prevented this tragedy. First don't use a snatch strap, second no matter what you use to haul the tyre use a breakaway system at the tow point, a piece of wire or rope that will undo or break if the tyre hangs up.
WTF were they thinking using a snatch strap in this situation, this accident was bound to happen, with disastrous results, I hope he recovers completely, Regards Frank.

Agreed. Hope he recovers, but doesn't sound like it was particularly safe.... I was also very surprised to see that it was only about 3m from the back of the vehicle! When I started reading I pictured quite a long strap.... but boy was I wrong!

Frank, what do you recommend for recovery if not a snatch strap? All I have is rope and a snatch strap. Oh and a steel cable winch.

fair go mate. Obviously the remoteness precludes periodic visits from the work cover inspectors. Most 'accidents' are avoidable, even if not the ones in the 'statistical probability' category,

All credit due to the RFDS

Having also been a recipient of severe eye trauma (not at the end of a snatch strap thankfully) and also resulting in non dilating pupil OUCH I feel the pain !!

Originally Posted by Judo

what do you recommend for recovery if not a snatch strap? All I have is rope and a snatch strap. Oh and a steel cable winch.

For recovery a Snatch Strap is the go, but for the purpose of dragging I'd probably suggest a chain or Lifting sling , they don't store the energy like a snatch strap.
Ive recently swapped from steel wire rope to Synthetic rope for my winch & now feel a lot safer for doing so.

Originally Posted by Judo

Agreed. Hope he recovers, but doesn't sound like it was particularly safe.... I was also very surprised to see that it was only about 3m from the back of the vehicle! When I started reading I pictured quite a long strap.... but boy was I wrong!

Frank, what do you recommend for recovery if not a snatch strap? All I have is rope and a snatch strap. Oh and a steel cable winch.

First, avoid getting into a position where youi need recovering, an old mate of mine said "if you get bogged and can't get out, then you shouldn't have been there in the first place".
Look at the majority of 4WD accidents that involve snatch straps, most 4WD'ers have no Idea how to use them safely, most tow points on 4WD's are useless, shackles used to connect to tow vehicles are used incorrectly and will eventually fail. In other words the general 4wd'er has no knowledge of how they should be used, safely. It's like handing a toddler a loaded pistol and hoping he/she doesn't blow his/her head off. Ban the ****ers, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Tank

First, avoid getting into a position where youi need recovering, an old mate of mine said "if you get bogged and can't get out, then you shouldn't have been there in the first place".
Look at the majority of 4WD accidents that involve snatch straps, most 4WD'ers have no Idea how to use them safely, most tow points on 4WD's are useless, shackles used to connect to tow vehicles are used incorrectly and will eventually fail. In other words the general 4wd'er has no knowledge of how they should be used, safely. It's like handing a toddler a loaded pistol and hoping he/she doesn't blow his/her head off. Ban the ****ers, Regards Frank.

So I think what you're saying is, don't get bogged. I can't believe I didn't think of that!

It does say that the "connection to the tyre let go".

I do not know one way or the other but it does not say the snatch strap broke. My money would be on the fencing wire.

Kudos to RFDS and Careflight, they do a marvelous job