Another injury from an incorrectly used snatch strap

**XDrive** · 14th July 2015, 08:00 PM

As has been stated previously, any recovery should start with a thorough examination of the situation and the surroundings. This is then followed by the 'self recovery' techniques. Self recovery is as is stated, you recovery yourself. That is by digging, jacking, using Maxtrax or other similar devices.

If these methods all result in the vehicle not being recovered, then you can move on to other 'mechanical' means, such as a winch, either hand or electric or a kinetic recovery rope or strap.

The advantage is, that when you come to use a winch, you have 'lessened' the load on the winch through your own self recovery attempts. If for example you have a mound of sand in front of your tyres and you dig this out and shape it to make it into a 'ramp', you may still not be able to drive out, but the force or effort required by the winch is less. again, in the example, it may require 5t of pulling force to recover a vehicle initially. After digging and shaping, the force required may only be 1t. This has the effect of making the recovery safer, less energy required and two, less stress on equipment.

Unforunately, snatch straps have been marketed and sold as an easy solution. There is a reason why more and more companies are reluctant to let their staff use snatch straps, some even going so far as to ban them from their sites. The army does not use a snatch strap as a recovery method.

It is very hard to calculate the 'shock' load, exerted by a snatch type recovery as every situation is different. Snatch straps are also affected by being wet and this can severly limit the load required for the strap to break. The strap is designed to be the 'weak' link in the recovery situation, however, with a 'shock' load, other components are also severly impacted and can fail.

I have often mentioned in our courses that when people get everything wrong and then throw a dampner over components, thinking that this will magically make it alright, we can appreciate the idiom 'on a wing and a prayer'. Again Dampners have been marketed as a magic solution to get you out of trouble, when you do not know what you are doing.

A 'kinetic recovery' rope or strap when used correctly for the correct application should take a similar amount of time to set up and use as self recovery or winching. Provided no short cuts are taken. Unfortunately these devices are sold as a 'quick and easy' method of recovery and there is no such thing in existence that is either quick or easy. Simply put, shortcuts are taken in most snatch' recoveries and although again in most situations people are lucky enough to get away without injury or damage, they simply do not understand or comprhend what they have done. Therefore the mistakes are compounded over and over again, until at some point, someone is injured.

The key to any recovery situation is in your head. Use it wisely.

**JDNSW** · 14th July 2015, 08:07 PM

While I do believe that it is possible to do kinetic recovery safely, having what I think is a thorough understanding of the physics and material properties involved, the whole concept scares me - and I have used four wheel drives and conducted winch and simple pull recoveries for over fifty years.

John

**loneranger** · 14th July 2015, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by JDNSW

While I do believe that it is possible to do kinetic recovery safely, having what I think is a thorough understanding of the physics and material properties involved, the whole concept scares me - and I have used four wheel drives and conducted winch and simple pull recoveries for over fifty years.

John

I don't have your experience but its my understanding of the physics that scares me.

**weeds** · 15th July 2015, 04:47 AM

I think short cuts are taken with all types of recoveries........

Yes clubs are good......have been a member of two over the last 20 years......but clubs even get caught up in the situation and take short cuts or don't follow there own rules.

I will always carry a snatch strap, I think it is a quick and easy recovery tool

I have driven away from a few beach recoveries as the vehicle stuck wasn't prepared to learn........most time I didn't even get to discussing a snatch, just asking them what tyres pressures they are running and if they are will to adjust sets the seen pretty quick

I did help a young group (mid/late 20's) that got stuck in sand about six meters from my campsite site........I was breaking my neck to use my max trax.....hang would have been a borrowed set. They were very embarrassed considering they were nearly in my kitchen but they were happy to lower tyre pressures and were impressed with the max trax, i also gave them tips on sand driving. These guys thought they had a 4WD and everybody does a beach run so off they went, they had managed to get around all day without issue.

**p38arover** · 15th July 2015, 10:24 AM

Report in today's local paper attached.

At 17-yo, he wouldn't have the years of 4WD experience. We've all done silly or unfortunate things in our youth. I hope he recovers fully.

**p38arover** · 15th July 2015, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by weeds

I did help a young group (mid/late 20's) that got stuck in sand about six meters from my campsite site........was breaking my neck to use my max trax.....hang would have been a borrowed set. They were very embarrassed considering they were nearly in my kitchen but they were leader to lower tyre pressures, were impressed with the max trax, i also gave them tips on sand driving.

Umm, please clarify, Kelvin.

Tombie · 15th July 2015, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Tote

The reason I joined a club many years ago was to get experience and training, I agree that people shouldnt have to join a club, that sort of regulation does not achieve anything. Maybe just attaching some detailed instructions to the snatch strap as a sewn on piece of fabric would help. Snatch straps get used as they are the fastest way to get a vehicle recovered and on its way, people don't like using shovels if they percieve that they don't have to and novice 4wd enthusiasts often don't have the money for a winch.

Regards,
Tote

Can you, Hand-on-heart, say you sat and read the Vehicle Handbook for your vehicle before use? Or the Washing and Care instructions for each item of clothing you own? Or the full terms and conditions of the last piece of software you installed?

I doubt it...

A huge warning sticker on the packet MAY draw some attention, but likely to not be heeded too much...

**Tote** · 15th July 2015, 08:47 PM

Scarily I did read the manual for the Disco from Cover to cover when I got it and will probably do the same for the Defender when it arrives....

What I was thinking of was a large tag sewn to each end of the snatch strap with some basic instructions on how to use it safely, they have legislated putting the load limits etc on the straps I reckon some basic instructions may be of some use. The other suggestions that get bandied about like banning straps and having a licence to purchase one are not practical to implement and a waste of time.

You can't stop people doing silly things easily but in the club training that I have conducted there are many people without 4wd experience who are genuinely surprised when they are told that dropping a strap over a towball is a bad idea.

Regards,
Tote

**Eevo** · 15th July 2015, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Tombie

Or the Washing and Care instructions for each item of clothing you own?

haha, i do. i feel so guilty now.

**flagg** · 15th July 2015, 11:10 PM

Attitude has been brought up a few times, and I agree but I think also that people panic and the adrenalin affects their decision making too.

Maybe I'm lucky but I've seldom been in a hurry when I've been stuck.. but people seem to get it in their head that that to get it out really quickly. I know when you are in a river the water can stuff things up etc but just taking the time to settle down, work out a plan etc lowers the risk of a stuff up so much.

When I get stuck I make a cup of tea or at least sit down, outside of the 110 and eat something or just relax for a bit. At first my mates thought I was a nutter but once we did it they understood the benefits.

Hard to tell if it would have helped this poor kid or not though

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