Chain threaded thru a 4 foot piece of old fire hose will make a tree strap with no harm to the tee trunk.
axle straps and tree straps do prevent major damage
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a chain thru fire hose will reduce the damage to a tree
for looping over/around metal frame members a piece of chain is more dependable than a synthetic strap or rope(which can be cut on the sharp metal edges)
different types of hooks are of great benefit when recovering other vehicles
several of them are similar to the ones auto transport use to secure their cargo on trucks or trains
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if you have a chain w/o either chain hooks
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or open hooks
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you can use a clevis to employ individual T hooks similar to
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reads to me like the OP's recovery kit was incomplete(he really needed more than just a short piece of chain)
just this old man's 2 bits worth this evening
T
You are linking towing equipment, NOT recovery equipment- there is a difference.
Axle straps are used for securing a vehicle to a trailer or rollback, not for recovery- check the WLL. It is not safe to put a strap or chain on an axle for recovery.
A hook cluster IS NOT a recovery tool- it is used to hook into slots in the frame for securing the vehicle during towing. They are not rated for towing purposes, most have a working load under 5000#s, and the holes in vehicle are not rated for recovery either. Even a J Hook should not be used for recovery, their working loads are not nearly high enough for the forces that a stuck vehicle can put on them (most are around 5000#s also). They are sufficient for a rolling vehicle to be winched onto a rollback or trailer, but not for actual recovery work. There are a lot of tow truck operators who use them but there are a lot of tow truck operators who really don't know what they're doing and are very unsafe.
You are linking towing equipment, NOT recovery equipment- there is a difference.
Axle straps are used for securing a vehicle to a trailer or rollback, not for recovery- check the WLL. It is not safe to put a strap or chain on an axle for recovery.
A hook cluster IS NOT a recovery tool- it is used to hook into slots in the frame for securing the vehicle during towing. They are not rated for towing purposes, most have a working load under 5000#s, and the holes in vehicle are not rated for recovery either. Even a J Hook should not be used for recovery, their working loads are not nearly high enough for the forces that a stuck vehicle can put on them (most are around 5000#s also). They are sufficient for a rolling vehicle to be winched onto a rollback or trailer, but not for actual recovery work. There are a lot of tow truck operators who use them but there are a lot of tow truck operators who really don't know what they're doing and are very unsafe.
Go to mcmastercarr.com Schedule 120 chain in 3/8 is probably fine. I would recommend a grab hook at one end and a open hook with a safety latch at the other. Get clevis style for easy assembly. You can buy everything from mcmaster. Just get hooks and shackles that are at least as strong as the chains rating. I think that chain has something like a 5 to 1 safety factor.I completely understand what you are saying here. Obviously I can see where having a chain on board as part of recovery kit is a good thing, I have absolutely no idea what spec chain or hooks I should use, and if I went to a supplier and asked for some "towing chain" I'm not sure what their response would be! Any chance of giving some chain specs and type of hooks/shackles to use?
TIA, Nick
Go to mcmastercarr.com Schedule 120 chain in 3/8 is probably fine. I would recommend a grab hook at one end and a open hook with a safety latch at the other. Get clevis style for easy assembly. You can buy everything from mcmaster. Just get hooks and shackles that are at least as strong as the chains rating. I think that chain has something like a 5 to 1 safety factor.
Thanks for the info. I'm in the UK so I'll just Google for a local supplier.
Nick
I’ve been trying to stay out of the almost-8-year-old thread, but I feel I should chime in here.
G120 chain is a very high grade chain for overhead lifting. It’s overkill for off-road recovery, and at the US supplier that was recommended to you, it’s two to three times the price of lesser grade chains.
Commercially available tow chains are typically G70 or G40/43. I’d choose a G70 chain in a size that gives you the rating you need. Bear in mind the working load limit is one fifth of the yield strength, so there is a very generous safety factor.
I keep a 20’ x 5/16” (8mm) G70 chain with grab hooks in my truck. 4700 lbs rated load.
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