Equaliser Straps

[Traveller]

Hi folks,

I have been recovered and recovered others on several occasions using a single snatch strap attached to a single recovery point on each vehicle.

I have now heard about equaliser straps, and have a rough idea how they work, but I have not seen it used in person and I would really like to get an idea how good they are.

Can anyone who uses one please share how it is done, what length strap is used, how effective it is when used on an angle, and any tips you might have.

Thanks.

[ranewman]

Are you talking about "kinetic" recovery straps? If you are, there is a Rover/off road vendor here in the states that has a good video how they work on their web site. I have one but have yet to take it out of the package.
Do a google search for "lucky 8 land rover". Then go to the archives.
Rick

[Symon]

All they do is spread the load over two points so the chance of breaking a recovery point is reduced.  I use an old tree trunk protector as mine, does the job OK.

[Ropes]

As Symon said, spreads the load, they aren't flexible, normally used on the front of vehicles because there aren't many vehicles with two recovery points on the rear.

[Burnsy]

One of the other big benefits of equaliser straps that people overlook it that anything attached to steel is effectively attached to a safety lanyard.  Say a hook, recovery point or shackle lets go, it can not become a missile that is capable of hitting the car at the other end as the the strap is still attached to the other side of the car and as such will catch the offending piece of steel.  Even if it is a hook that is not actually attached to the strap after it breaks there is a fair chance it will have it's trajectory changed as the equaliser strap whips around in an arc in addition to having some of it's speed removed.

Just make sure you thread the equaliser strap through the snatch strap eye and never attached the two together with a shackle.

[BigJules]

I don't believe they are necessary for ladder chassis 4wds. Unless you're effecting a huge recovery either chassis rail should be up to the job.

There is merit in the suggestion that it shares the load, but if something is going to break, sharing the load here will simply mean the next weakest link will be identified.

Also, the Dyneema straps are terrific (I never said I don't like them, just that they are uneccessary) but are vulnerable to damage if left attached. If one was to rub up against a rock and graunch the strap between the rock and the bash plate the strap would be cactus.

[apsilon]

I have the heavy duty one from Just Straps. As said it allows the load to be distributed between two points which IMO seems like a good idea given most newer vehicles don't have big recovery points on the front so the tie downs are usually used (which are manufacturer approved recovery points on some models).

[Matto]

I have the heavy duty one from Just Straps.

+1.

As the others have said, they're simply to spread the load between two points on the chassis. For monocoque cars (like our Pathfinder), this is A Good Thing. Some R50 owners have had recovery points torn off the vehicle by a heavy snatch recovery, when a equalising strap or bridle wasn't used. Part of that was caused by the design of the recovery point, but the fact remains that using a bridle between two points greatly reduces the load on each and probably wouldn't have been a problem.

As Burnsey says, never use a shackle to attach a snatch strap to a bridle.

As for how effective they are, and how well they work at an angle, I'm not sure how you'd even measure that. You certainly wouldn't be worse off by using a bridle in any circumstance I can think of (not to say there isn't one, just that I'm not imaginative). For the cost of them, and the extra 10 seconds they take to set up, I'm happy to include it in my gear.

Good luck!
Matto

[Traveller]

Thanks for the replies folks, much appreciated.

I hadn't seen one commercially made or advertised and was unsure of the length required. I have an old tree trunk protector which I will use in the short term, but I will also check out Just Straps and Dyneema as well.

[Matto]

An old tree-trunk protector will work fine. You don't want it stretchy, like a snatch strap.

I think mine is 2.5m or 3m long.

Good luck!
Matto

[wholehog]

I have the heavy duty one from Just Straps. As said it allows the load to be distributed between two points which IMO seems like a good idea given most newer vehicles don't have big recovery points on the front so the tie downs are usually used (which are manufacturer approved recovery points on some models).

Me to!!!

[kiwipete]

I have a tree trunk protector that can be used as a equaliser strap but my understanding is that a equaliser strap should not be used with a snatch strap but use them when winching another vehicle.... or using a block back to your vehicle....
 

[KevinD4D]

I have one I got from TJM on special at the Gold Coast show last year. Never used it but it was mainly bought in case I have to recover a vehicle that does not have proper recovery points or IMHO they are dodgy...Just a little more insurance...

[apsilon]

I have a tree trunk protector that can be used as a equaliser strap but my understanding is that a equaliser strap should not be used with a snatch strap but use them when winching another vehicle.... or using a block back to your vehicle....

Never heard that before and in fact mine specifically says "for use with a snatch strap".

[KevinD4D]

So does mine and come with instructions on how to use it with a snatch strap. Has a canvas protective sliding sleeve so the snatch strap does not damage it. Has a breaking strain of 15,000kg. Snatch is 8,000kg.