The danger of snatching

[Burnsy]

Thats the other Option mate, back up to them hook up a tow chain and slowly and carefully pull them out. I have done it this way many times and whilst it is not ideal I have used winch extention straps for this purpose without any problems. There is no where near the amount of kenetic energy when using an extention strap. I have snapped a couple (very old and damaged, but was all we had - not my 4wd). When they broke they only recoiled about a metre and at no stage did they have the energy in them to get any where near the tow vehicle to be dangerous or cause damage.

Slow and steady is the key.


Regards

Jas

Agreed Jas, I always dig first and themn try to extract without actually snatching.  I have broken two sntah straps in my time and am quite happy for straps to break, it is steel breaking and ripping that worries me.

[Squalo]

Just wondering where you got the plates from, custom would be my guess, need to get some for the patrol

GG

GG they are off the shelf items from Superior Engineering. $90 per plate.

http://www.superiorengineering.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=4405

I thought 16mm might have been excessive, but I was recently snatched up Patrol Track at Scenic Rim Adventure Park, both my diffs were on the crown for 250-odd metres and the vehicle towing me was a 454-powered comp truck with two snatch straps and a winch extension strap - and I am glad I went heavy duty. We certainly put it to the test and she came through with no damage at all to the plates or the chassis after that little effort.

[Squalo]

My Prado has the same factory point as D4D's (see inner loop in pic below). I have bought an equaliser strap to attach to this point on either side of the vehicle with rated shackles. These factory points seem to be a lot heavier duty than just tie downs. With the added force reduction of the equaliser strap, I'm assuming they are ok?

I personally wouldn't. The only factory point I have seen that seems to get the nod from 4wd clubs is the Nissan Patrol hook, which I used a few times before I got my Superior plates. But the moment the Nissan hook strikes a rock (which is easy to do) I believe it should be retired.

The risk with any factory loop point is that it will let go, and because it can only be used with a shackle that shackle then becomes a projectile.

On the rear, I use one of these.

If you already have it, and the shackle is stamped with the correct WLL rating information, I'd keep using it. The pin works fine too, but the advantage of the 50mm receiver hitch is that it removes the likelyhood that you'll deform the pin, and the shackle allows the strap to handle angles without it contacting the fairly sharp edge of the receiver itself.

From a Patrol4x4.com topic - "Snatch straps are rated with a MBS - minimum breaking strain, shackles are rated as WLL (working load limit). The ACTUAL breaking strain of a 4.5t shackle is actually well over 20t for it to meet Australian standards, WLL of 4.5t means that the shackle will withstand a force of a minimum of 4.5t without deforming in any way shape or form (ie the pin will be easy to remove). If the pin is hard to remove/unremoveable the shackle has deformed and must be thrown away."

[Squalo]

Info on how I fitted the passenger side plate can be found in this topic at P4x4:

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/nissan-patrol-gu-gr-10/98-gu-front-recovery-please-someone-give-straight-answer-71271/#post673731

[Squalo]

Industry guideline info on safe use of snatch straps here:

https://juststraps.com.au/pdf/Snatch%20Straps%20Industry%20Guidelines%20Final%20March%2008%20Amended%20pdf.pdf

[hookedon4wding]

The risk with any factory loop point is that it will let go, and because it can only be used with a shackle that shackle then becomes a projectile.

I was thinking about this with regard to using an equalising strap, especially considering the talk about backup straps/rope in this thread. With the setup below, whether using factory tie down points or aftermarket points, if one side fails, then the shackle is attached to the equalising strap which is in turn still attached to the opposite side of the vehicle meaning there would be no flying shackle. The equalising strap effectively acts as a backup.

Is this theory correct?

[Burnsy]

I was thinking about this with regard to using an equalising strap, especially considering the talk about backup straps/rope in this thread. With the setup below, whether using factory tie down points or aftermarket points, if one side fails, then the shackle is attached to the equalising strap which is in turn still attached to the opposite side of the vehicle meaning there would be no flying shackle. The equalising strap effectively acts as a backup.

Is this theory correct?

Had not thought about that when I was talking lanyards before but it seems sound.  With that in mind, using an equalising strap at both ends would be pretty much totally safe so long as noone is standing near the vehicle.

[whitey]

Always been on my mind and never bought up in conversations around the smoko table or camp fire but it is now very high on the agenda to make sure i relay all these points to the "group" and boys at work when the subject of straps and hitch points come up, great feed back and knowledge you guys

[morgue]

I got dragged into a safety meeting today at work, over an issue of towing vehicals out of a bogged situation...

The Shire Council has had the wind put up them by Workcover and the incidents that have happened over in the West,  13yo kid, died after being struck in the head by a snatch strap when it broke of the bogged vehical, plus a couple of tow ball incidents.

Anyway, a 4wd expert, gave the meeting (he has been there and done that, Workcover and RTA accredited...so to speak)...Never use a snatch strap to get a bogged vehical out...always use a tow line, min allowance 3000kg.
Then depending on the weight of the bogged vehical and the depth of the bogged vehical, then this is how it goes.
Bogged vehical 4wd Toyota Cruiser...2000kg min, without trailer or other weight on top or in the vehical...if there was, then it means a whole new type of hurt.

1/. Bogged to wheel studs....min tow line, 3500kg to 5000kg line.
2/. Bogged to just below wheels and just below door sill (multiply line capacity x2, in this case 5000kg tow line x2...10000kg tow line)
3/. Bogged to over wheels and above door sill, doors hard to open ( muliply capacity of line x3,...ie need a 15000kg tow line)

[Crisp Image]

3/. Bogged to over wheels and above door sill, doors hard to open ( muliply capacity of line x3,...ie need a 15000kg tow line)

May as well get the D8 with the 35mm winch rope out for that then.
You don't know what bogged is till you can walk out of a hi track dozer cabin onto the dirt without stepping down!
Regards
Crisp Image

[Squalo]

1/. Bogged to wheel studs....min tow line, 3500kg to 5000kg line.
2/. Bogged to just below wheels and just below door sill (multiply line capacity x2, in this case 5000kg tow line x2...10000kg tow line)
3/. Bogged to over wheels and above door sill, doors hard to open ( muliply capacity of line x3,...ie need a 15000kg tow line)

All good and well but the assumption made here is that the tow vehicle has the power and traction - and room - to do a straight tow. On a worksite with heavy machinery this is almost always going to be the case, but not so in more remote areas.

But yes, it's the safest way for sure. All situations should first be tested with a simple tow recovery before going to a snatch.

[morgue]

The memo came around today at work, the retrieval of bogged vehicals / plant has been banned until further notice, the main problem is that the bogged vehical may not have the proper recovery attachment points for a bogged retrieval, regardless of what the recovery vehical may have.

On questioning this, it was relayed to me that the chassis recovery points on a vehical ie under front bumper etc are only ment for towing, not for recovery from a bogged situation. It was further said, that trying to recover the bogged vehical from these towing points, will null the warranty of the vehical and may cause insurance problems...both vehical and health(if physical injury results) also if retrieval is during working hours....  Workcover as well.

So one if the mowers gets bogged...I have to call in a designated team member who has been accredited to retrieve bogged vehicals / plant... so it will be hurry up and wait.

The fun police strike again.....