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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Tow straps are dangerous

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K-Mo

09-19-2004 20:44:02




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Be careful with nylon tow staps. I just talked to my brother and he was witness to a tow strap incident. The strap did not break but a clevis pin did and shot the clevis through the windshield of a semi tractor. I have also heard a story of a pickup hitch breaking off and flying through the cab of a payloader.
I think I'll stick to log chains.

K-Mo




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Patches

09-20-2004 18:24:01




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
Tow straps are ILLEGAL in the State of Missouri. Minimum $500.00 fine if caught.



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Leland

09-20-2004 16:33:54




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
And one other never hook a strap over a hitch ball. Saw a 2 5/16 ball snap off went thru tailgate and ended up in dash board , good thing his girl friend had to pee.



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msb

09-20-2004 08:17:39




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
DO NOT!!!! USE TOW STRAPS WITH LOG CHAINS!!!! Or any other metal of any kind.When the strap stretches it can cause a tremendous force to be unleashed making anything like a log chain a DEADLY weapon! A farmer near me was using a log chain along with a tow strap to pull out brush where his daughter had just built new a house.The chain broke and it killed the farmer when the tow strap threw the chain around the roll bar on the tractor.It nearly took his head off aand squeezed the roll gard down to about half its original size in the process.I either tie the strap on or use a tow hook on the truck to hitch to.
Cables are just as dangerous.There was a local case where a bulldozer was badly stuck.When the cable broke, it came back and cut the tow truck driver's legs off at the knees.

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G-MAN

09-20-2004 07:43:38




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
I agree with RJ and Indydirtfarmer. Tow straps are probably safer than log chains when used correctly, and this sounds like a case of not enough common sense and not strong enough components. When using tow straps, always make sure there are no sharp edges in contact with the straps. And yes, a heavy blanked over a tow strap OR log chain can help prevent a tragedy. Tow straps work by stretching some under load and then "snapping back", as they're slightly elastic. That's what allows them to pull things on a nice steady pull that would require jerking with a chain. Using a quality sufficiently-sized chain or strap with the proper hitching components is the correct way to get out of a stuck. Either method can kill if done incorrectly or with poor equipment.

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TheRealRon

09-20-2004 04:47:20




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
Nylon tow straps are far safer than chains and do less damage to the equipment. In your case the pin broke which tells me whoever was using the strap had no clue how to use it correctly.

I have a 30,000lb nylon strap and the proper size and type shackle brackets and use it for logging and recovery work. I've pulled a OTR sleeper out of a ditch with it.

For anyone who uses one, please read the instructions that come with it and use your own common sense.

PS If you ever see anyone place the end of the strap over a ball mount, get as far away as you can as fast as you can.

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Indydirtfarmer

09-20-2004 05:10:24




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to TheRealRon, 09-20-2004 04:47:20  
KEY WORDS..... .COMMON SENSE. In the wrong hands, a #2 Dixon pencil is a fatal accident waiting to happen.
One of the "advantages" of nylon straps is the ability to withstand "yanking". When someone takes a 7,500lb truck and yanks on a stuck 7,500 lb vehicle, the forces are FAR greater than the total of the two vehicles. Even the strongest straps have a limit. BUT...Like you said Ron, they are safer than chains or cables when put to the test. Years ago, I saw a winch cable snap while someone was trying to pull a stump out of the ground. It cut a 3" dia. tree in two. Imagine what it would have done with a human body. John

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Indydirtfarmer

09-20-2004 03:47:38




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
An old trick to deaden the "slingshot" effect of a nylon strap is to lay a heavy coat, or a tarp over the strap when pulling. If it does break or come unhooked, the weight of the tarp will lessen the backlash somewhat. They are still dangerous when used improperly, or overloaded. John



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Jay (ND)

09-20-2004 07:17:59




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to Indydirtfarmer, 09-20-2004 03:47:38  
That actually works very well - I usually tie my jacket around it (the wintertime is when it gets used). I've only broken one, but it just raveled around my jacket, never even came close to a vehicle.



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Mark - IN.

09-19-2004 23:28:06




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
You're right. Nylon straps, especially worn or frayed can kill. But what about those once big and strong log chains? Rusty, corroded, and weakened with time? Can be just as deadly. Before you get rid of that dirty motor oil, try putting your log chains in a 5 gallon bucket and dousing them in it, then hang to let excess drip off. Can be messy, but slows or prevents rust and corrosion.

I figure that if I drag close to the drawbar (trees, etc), if the chain or strap slips or breaks, it has less length to whip at me. I'm more comfortable at having it get me in the a$$ than I am at having it get me in the spine or back of my head.

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RJ-AZ

09-19-2004 21:53:43




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
It doesn't sound like the problem is not what you are towing with(Strap,Chain or Cable) but what you are using to attatch them to the stuck unit or the pulling unit. Always choose the proper tow strap, chain or cable for the application. And most of all tow with your BRAIN !!
I have seen a lot of bumpers torn off as most are attatched with four 1/2" bolts.



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Ray,IN

09-19-2004 21:02:58




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to K-Mo, 09-19-2004 20:44:02  
You are right. The nylon tow straps/ropes store a great deal of energy in them when pulled, especially when used to tow more than the rated load; which most do. The largest tow strap I've ever seen was rated to tow 20,000lbs and it was so big and stiff it was difficult to handle. That's less than a empty semi tractor/trailer combo weighs isn't it?



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DuaneWKKC

09-20-2004 02:39:46




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 Re: Tow straps are dangerous in reply to Ray,IN, 09-19-2004 21:02:58  
Try going down to the local TSC store, they have tow straps rated at 60,000lbs. Look very heavy and hard to handle.

DuaneW



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