91Toyota

Need something to carry behind my seat because I screw around way too much to not carry something. Chain is 20ft long and is $27...and not sure on strap...?

Anyway, which should I get? I know a strap you can yank with it right? And a chain is a big no-no...lol

cubuff4runner

Definately a strap

904_runner

Get a strap with no hooks.

Then grab yourself some d-ring looking things. sorry don't remember the exact name. and call it good.

ryantowry_81

Clevice

904_runner

thanks.

Marlin calls them recovery shackles.

http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/accessories.htm

Alex 400

strap, but don't get some bs one that is only rated for like 8000, I snapped one like nothing at a mud pit a couple months ago. Get at least a 20,000 pound test strap. probably will not fail you.

Ezrider_92356

straps most defently

littlecommando

but, straps can break, chains dont break

904_runner

But if they do.....or if they slip...

what would you rather have flying at you or your truck?? metal or rope?

MMA_Alex

chains break. wire breaks, everything can break if you put enough force into it.

straps are more versatile, and you can get a little bit of a running start to give some extra force, but be careful because you can easily exceed the breaking strength.

any way you go I would get stuff that is way beefier than what the manufacturer recommends, because they tend to use low safety factors for extrication gear, especially with the offbrand/cheap stuff.

annoyingrob

Straps break, chains break things off your truck.........

Junkers88

Strap. I bought a 20' x 3" starp for about 60$ that is rated at 20,000lbs. I also picked up a couple of D rings for the bumpers. And yes you can use a strap to "rubber band" someone out of a hole as long as you don't stretch it too far. Also if a strap breaks it'll snap back at the rig and do minor damage if any at all, when a chain goes you end up with a lot more damage and God help the person that gets hit with it.

Junkers88

Oh forgot to add that no matter which one you use you should buy a horse blanket to hang over the strap/chain/wire/whatever so that if it does snap the blanket will slow it down some. That and a horse blanket looks kewl on the seat.

apalmer1

yeah if you have a strap its not as big of a deal but certainly if you have a chain or cable put a dampner on it. If your just getting towed through mild stuff, which im assuming you are because your 2wd then i would get a good solid strap, chains are only for when you absolutely need to use them.

what i do and what i would do for you is go to a contracting place or a place that sells industrial equipment and get a construction strap used for hoisting trusses, and whatnot. some of them are rated for like 70,000lbs and are much more durable than even the best automotive ones.

Junkers88

apalmer1 has a great idea about the industrial straps. That and you could always do the firehose trick.

91Toyota

Okay...well I thought the other route would be better. I bought a 5000k lb work load chain. Its 5/16" thick and is in a nice little box that I'll keep behind my seat "just in case". I've had to use tie-downs before and that sucked. Chain was $25...and the strap was $45...not loaded with money right now so I went with the cheaper route...considering I DON'T have any clevices (d-hooks) or anything to grab onto.

I will be a strap in the future...how about a 6" by 30' and 58,000lb break strength? LOL...they had that at my local off-road shop...haha

Matt16

The reason why its not such a good idea to get the highest breaking strain possible is that you loose the bungee cord effect. Then its like running in to a brick wall when you take up the slack.

RobD

Keep in mind that a rated chain, such as a Grade 70 transport chain, is rated for a continuous pressure, not a sudden yank. You can easily exceed that if pulling aggressively. And any chain is only as good as the weakest link.

Use a strap with D-ring shackles and attach only to the frame, crossmember or a frame mounted receiver. Never use a ball, either on a bumper or a drop bar.

Keep people out of the range of your recovery strap. They store enough energy to injure or kill.

And never join two straps together with a shackle. If you must join them, hook them over each other and insert a rolled up newspaper or magazine into the joint to keep them from becoming permanently joined.

Junkers88

Hey man whatever works in a stuck situation is better than nothing. I used chains for a long time back when I ran 3/4 and 1 tons and did some mudding. Grab a cheap blanket like the ones that Uhaul uses to pack things and throw it behind the seat so you can drape it over the chain when you pull with it. I've only ever seen one chain break and it took out a back window of a truck and broke the passengers seat in half at the hinges when it went in but those guys were trying to slingshot a stuck blazer out of a mud hole by backing up to get slack and then standing on the skinny pedal. It would have killed the driver had it hit the other side. The best way to pull someone out is with steady pressure and make sure the stuck rig is in gear and tires turning to help dig itself out.

a4runnerfreak

If your gonna be your own strap in the future, just how are you gonna pull that 1 off? Are you all of a sudden the stretch dude from Fantastic 4???? Just yankin yer chain....<----come on, that was funny!!! Just be super careful using the chain.....! A friend of mine went the chain route, went to pull some guy out some nasty mud, and 1 of the links failed. Shattered my friends kneecap, and shredded his leg bone. He has a prostetic leg now