Tow Strap

I want to get a tow strap.
Would you recommend ends with loops or hooks?
Anything else to consider?

 

I like loops.

 

Personally, I go with hoops. No reason to add a potential projectile in the mix.

 

Soft loops are better. If something slips or breaks when tugging, hooks become possibly deadly projectiles with a lot of stored energy.

I'd recommend getting something in the 20+ foot length, and something that is advertised as having "elasticity" vs a simply strap that won't stretch much. This will help recover stuck vehicles and actually reduced the amount of force you have to tug with, as the strap expanding and then contracting acts as extra pull power. This also makes the recovery easier on both vehicles -- less shock when the strap gets tight.

I'd also recommend getting a pair of soft shackles too. Makes it easier to connect to both vehicles and again, can't become a deadly metal projectile.

I've got some random 30' one off Amazon, but I know lots of people like the snatch strap and bubba ropes.

 

Loops for recovery straps, ie pulling out of mud or other stuck situation.
Hooks are for towing, ie getting a broke down vehicle out of traffic and into a parking lot.

 

>>I'd also recommend getting a pair of soft shackles too.
So you use the soft shackles with the loops, i.e. the loops don't connect to vehicle?
What is the 'recovery ring' I see that comes with some soft shackles?

 

I highly suggest you get one of these. Even if you have tow points, the vehicle recovering you may not (or even worse attempt to recover you with a tow ball hitch) so you can stick this in their hitch instead

Houert Shackle Hitch Receiver 2", 35000lb Capacity Receiver, Heavy Duty Receiver Shackle Bracket with 3/4 D-Shackle,Towing Accessories for Trucks & Jeeps

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V79ZLD9


Also don’t use tow straps with hooks. They can easily become a deadly projectile just like the tow ball hitch

 

I have hooked these to both the vehicles:


And the tow strap hooked up to them as well, in between the vehicles.

This way the strap doesn't see any sharp points and fray, and it won't sinch down on a vehicle recovery point if you run the strap through its own loop (this will be hard to un do and loosen).

 

I've 2 20 ft smittybuilt straps in my tacoma, 4 soft shackles, multiple D-rings, 100feet of synthetic winch rope incase things get really weird, 100feet on the winch and some snatch blocks incase i need more pulling power or I cant get a good pull angle. think ill get one of those rope retention donuts incase i need to run 2 winches for distance.

the long straps are nice to use as tree protectors as well just wrap around the tree a a few times.

thought would like to own a nice kinetic rope, but haven't gone there yet only ever used one once and it was really nice

 

do you mean one of these? https://www.factor55.com/p-rrp-standard-duty-soft-shackle-00264

can make you winch a force multiplier. by "doubling" the pulling power

 

Yes

 

i man you can do similar with a snatch block, but these seem easier to use and look cooler and with the right version you can run another winch line against the inside and really get some force multiplied for a pull.

 

Bubba Rope and soft shackles.

 

I've got a Rigid hitch receiver with a shackle mount that I got off of Amazon:

$66 RIGID HITCH INCORPORATED Enhanced Tow Strap Shackle Mount (TSM-22-D) for 2" Receivers - Made in U.S.A.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MS1W3C0/

I used it in with a 7/8" x 20' Ditch Pig kinetic recovery rope:

$129 Mibro Ditch Pig 447521 20 ft. (6 m) Kinetic Energy Vehicle Recovery Double Braided Nylon Rope with 24700 lb. Safe Working Load

https://www.amazon.com/DitchPig-Kinetic-Vehicle-Recovery-Braided/dp/B01F39PC5K?th=1

I've used it for maybe 20 recoveries total and the rope is still good. The rope coils up nicely in the underseat compartment of my DCSB and the shackle and receiver fit in the driver's side bed cargo box.

Whenever it breaks I'll probably upgrade to a Yankum kinetic rope.

 

because of boredom I've been making my own soft shackles with dyneema rope. Not too sure how strong they actually are but I've got a pile of them. Haha.

 

I've been meaning to go kinetic, but am too cheap....and lazy!

I've just been carrying a tow strap around, but have never needed it yet!

 

$83 ALL-TOP Nylon Recovery Kit with Hitch Receiver: 3" x 30' (35000lbs) 100% Nylon Snatch Strap + 2" Shackle Hitch Receiver + 3/4 HD Shackles (2pcs) with Isolator + Storage Bag

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07FL59Y51?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title