Thread: Life Span of Snatch straps

The assumption that a snatch strap breaking on it's own will do very little damage, is the main reason that people and equipment are damaged. People assume incorrectly that there is very little weight and energy in a broken strap. There are a number of steps which should be followed before any recovery is undertaken and unfortunately lots of people end up taking shortcuts.
The main reason that snatch straps are so dangerous is simply due to lack of training. A cheap product which is purchased and stored in the back of a vehicle with very little regard for it's correct use and application.
The main difference between a 'Snatch Strap' and a Kinetic Energy Recovery Rope (KERR) is in the manufacturing process. Rope is manufactured differently to straps. Very simply, Yarn is twisted into Strands and Strands are twisted into Rope. This in turn means that in order for a rope to fail many strands need to fail.
There is a reason why certain organisations including the Army do not use a Snatch Strap.
In the photographs of the damage to the Kluger and the LandCrusier, i would question if any safety check was performed and if any safety lanyard or dampener was used. I would also question if any other work was performed prior to the snatch rope being used such as simply digging around the tyres etc. As has been noted by others, not lowering the tyre pressures would not have helped.
The other post which mentioned that a shipping container strap was used is also worth commenting on. As was noted the strap 'only broke once' when the rescue vehicle treated it like a 'Snatch Strap'. Once again this is a classic example of using the wrong piece of equipment and people assuming because it looks like a snatch strap it is a snatch strap.
One last point to note. It is all very well to carry recovery equipment in your vehicle but the vast majority of new vehicle do not have adequate recovery points fitted and a 'tie down' point is not a recovery point.
I am amazed that people will spend a vast amount of money on a vehicle, trailer/caravan and an assortment of additional equipment but are reluctant to spend what is in reality a small amount of money to learn how to use not only their vehicle but the equipment as well.

Originally Posted by XDrive

The assumption that a snatch strap breaking on it's own will do very little damage, is the main reason that people and equipment are damaged. People assume incorrectly that there is very little weight and energy in a broken strap. There are a number of steps which should be followed before any recovery is undertaken and unfortunately lots of people end up taking shortcuts.
The main reason that snatch straps are so dangerous is simply due to lack of training. A cheap product which is purchased and stored in the back of a vehicle with very little regard for it's correct use and application.
The main difference between a 'Snatch Strap' and a Kinetic Energy Recovery Rope (KERR) is in the manufacturing process. Rope is manufactured differently to straps. Very simply, Yarn is twisted into Strands and Strands are twisted into Rope. This in turn means that in order for a rope to fail many strands need to fail.
There is a reason why certain organisations including the Army do not use a Snatch Strap.
In the photographs of the damage to the Kluger and the LandCrusier, i would question if any safety check was performed and if any safety lanyard or dampener was used. I would also question if any other work was performed prior to the snatch rope being used such as simply digging around the tyres etc. As has been noted by others, not lowering the tyre pressures would not have helped.
The other post which mentioned that a shipping container strap was used is also worth commenting on. As was noted the strap 'only broke once' when the rescue vehicle treated it like a 'Snatch Strap'. Once again this is a classic example of using the wrong piece of equipment and people assuming because it looks like a snatch strap it is a snatch strap.
One last point to note. It is all very well to carry recovery equipment in your vehicle but the vast majority of new vehicle do not have adequate recovery points fitted and a 'tie down' point is not a recovery point.
I am amazed that people will spend a vast amount of money on a vehicle, trailer/caravan and an assortment of additional equipment but are reluctant to spend what is in reality a small amount of money to learn how to use not only their vehicle but the equipment as well.

Great reply man.
Can i just point out i use the container strap because i feel its a lot safer than rope, snatch strap or cable. Plus im a pensioner and dont have a lot of money period.
Even when it does break from improper use it does no damage at all.
That is a good selling point for me. Less to have to fix.
I do however agree with your above comments. I am not following correct procedure per say.

Originally Posted by Geedublya

It may have been one of the brands in this comparison.

UNSEALED 4X4 ISSUE 012

Personally I'll be sticking to ARB or Opposite Lock.

Just Straying from the topic, , read the luxury 4wd section in that mag and see the prejudice to the land Rover products.

No has mentioned a chain?
I have 2 chains, ex lifting with rated hooks.
Good, bad or indifferent Idea?
Jonesfam
PS Used to pull, not snatch.

Originally Posted by jonesfam

No has mentioned a chain?
I have 2 chains, ex lifting with rated hooks.
Good, bad or indifferent Idea?
Jonesfam
PS Used to pull, not snatch.

It's an option.....even with a snatch strap I try a dead pull first than a light snatch.

Have used chains, hard to avoid shock loading 100% as slack is created at times.

I have 3 lengths of Dyneema for static recoveries. Less weight..

Originally Posted by Eevo

that a broken snatch strap can do that much damage. friction from the air quickly arrests its momentum. and thats only possible if it has low momentum.

to give a more extreme example. imagine being hit by a feather going 1000km/h.

its really not going to hurt.

I just imagined being hit by a feather doing 1000kph and it hurt a lot. I've got this imaginary welt across my face. Does it matter if I was doing 1000kph and the feather was still, or the feather was doing 1000kph and I was still? My imagination has a hard time getting a feather up to that speed, but I have no trouble imagining a Range Rover doing 1000kph with my head out the window pulling wind faces....