Thread: MaxTrax used today

Originally Posted by Aaron

lol. We will see I guess. Ive only had it for a few months. Ive had the hilux since my L plates.

Now for my second question.

If you drop mountain climbing hardwear on the ground it is thrown in the bin. Is it the same for shackles?

You should get your gear all messy as soon as you can, like christening new shoes when you were a boy.

No seriously, try to keep the strap clean, the dirt is abrasive.
Can't see dropping a shackle hurting it, it's going to get shocked a lot worse (unless you somehow drop it from a great height, then you should just walk away whistling)

A point of interest about buying shackles (correct me if I'm wrong anyone) is that, for a given pin size, a bow shackle has a higher Safe Working Load than a D-shackle. Being rounder they're a bit harder to store but the higher rating is worth the effort.

Also, for recovery kit, only buy shackles with ratings stamped on them - don't ever buy galvanised mild steel shackles for recovery (especially Chinese ones). The bigger the pin diameter the bigger the rating of course, but also when using shackles to attach a rope or strap to a vehicle recovery point (the only place it is appropriate to use them as they should never be able to become a missile in that situation) the bigger the pin diameter, the less stress is placed on the eye of the rope or strap because it's bent around in a bigger circle.

Excellent points, Dave, about gearboxes and strength and forward versus reverse recovery and diff stressing. Obviously these points become more important the more immobilised the invalid vehicle is and they're moot rather points when we talk about a light vehicle stuck on wet grass, but it's certainly given me food for thought.

I could not see it posted, why did you use a shackle on the recovery hook? Wouldn't the strap suffice? A shackle is a mounting point as are the recovery hooks. Why double up? If your hook failed a strap giving away at force is bad enough, with a shackle on the end it is very dangerous. Chassis can still bend but are a lot stronger than bullbars, in theory anyway.

Originally Posted by Aaron

I was told it was ok to put hooks there. Bastards!


I dont have a rear tow bar/or recovery points. I want rear recovery points, but dont want a rear two bar.

I wasnt aware of the reverse gear things though, thanks.

The Equaliser strap is attached with two 3.25 shackles to the back of the Hilux.

Sounds as though im lucky it was bogged down deeper.

Thanks for your advice!

Mate, I hate to say it...

But someone stole half the info off your number plate

Originally Posted by GrahamH

A

Excellent points, Dave, about gearboxes and strength and forward versus reverse recovery and diff stressing. Obviously these points become more important the more immobilised the invalid vehicle is and they're moot rather points when we talk about a light vehicle stuck on wet grass, but it's certainly given me food for thought.

have a dig around on the forum for the maths involved in working out the forces involved in recovery and just how quickly a "lightly" stuck light vehicle (which a lolux isnt at 1.4-1.7t depending on options) becomes a major working force on a vehicle.

Originally Posted by dobbo

I could not see it posted, why did you use a shackle on the recovery hook? Wouldn't the strap suffice? A shackle is a mounting point as are the recovery hooks. Why double up? If your hook failed a strap giving away at force is bad enough, with a shackle on the end it is very dangerous. Chassis can still bend but are a lot stronger than bullbars, in theory anyway.

Thankyou for your question. It never even crossed my mind to be honest. I see people oppinions on this. Shackle or no shackle ?

Originally Posted by tombraider

Mate, I hate to say it...

But someone stole half the info off your number plate

hah... Thankyou

Originally Posted by Aaron

Thankyou for your question. It never even crossed my mind to be honest. I see people oppinions on this. Shackle or no shackle ?

Standard riggers response...

"Dont add unnecessary........" (complexity/risk etc. etc.)

If you dont need it (eg a shackle on a hook) dont do it...