Thread: Safe recovery

Originally Posted by Don 130

Lucky as well because they were hooked onto the tow ball, another no-no. when a tow ball lets go, it becomes a bullet headed for the tow car. People have been killed by them. Better to use a sling around the towbar itself if there are no rated recovery points to use.

I have seen news reports about tow balls breaking and killing people, but this is when a snatch strap is being used, which is going to subject the tow ball to a much greater load.

Now I am not saying that it is safe, and I would not do it, but I would have thought that winching like they have, would not place any more load on the ball than what a large caravan would when towing. From memory I think the balls are rated to 3500KG.

I suppose the big difference is if the ball breaks with a van attached all that happens is the van stops, the ball stays in the trailer ball receiver, if it breaks on the end of a wire, who knows. There is some stretch in winch wire and it will recoil reasonably violently if something lets go. I saw something recently that said winch rope, ,dynema, doesn't do that?

The safety chains should hold it to the vehicle. I have never heard of a ball breaking whilst towing though.

I have broken a towball towing our old (admittedly overloaded) camper trailer... was an interesting experience...

Originally Posted by Tank

As the rope was around a round object (towball) and hooked back onto itself the SWL of the rope is reduced by 1/3, if it had been around a square pin/bar and hooked back on itself the SWL would be reduced by 1/2, Regards Frank.

wouldnt that also change given the diameter and profile of the round object?

I'm thinking along the lines that if the cable was hooked around the correct diameter & profile pulley, the cable wouldnt flatten out or kink/bend anywhere but where the hook came back around the cable....

The 1/2 and 1/3 reduction would be an average of sizes, the smaller the diameter the more reduction.
It is based on the angles created where the loop or hook joins back with the main part of the rope the wider/flatter the angle the worse it is. Same as if you use a bridle strap for towing/snatching, the shorter the bridle strap the flatter the angle, a long strap on the other hand has very little angle, hope I've explained it for you, regards Frank.

Originally Posted by wardy1

But getting back to the early part before the stupid drowning.... Why did they each take the same line on that not so difficult hill?

Not real smart these guys

I was wondering the same thing.

What a mess - thanks for sharing that great example of what not to do.