Not to get off topic, but seeing that there have been over 500 views of this thread, there are probably some readers who need to know that the implement used, be it a chain, cable, strap, rope, barbed wire, etc, is only part of the equation. I would wager that more people have been hurt (and certainly more property damage done) while trying to extract a recreationally stuck vehicle by using an inappropriate attachment point than using an undersized chain, etc. And the danger of injury from a failed attachment becoming a missile is directly related to the energy stored in the chain, etc and inversely to the mass of the chain, etc. A chain will store less energy and its mass will absorb more of the energy released when the attachment fails thus transferring less energy to the missile. Conversely, a snatch strap will store more energy and absorb less due to it lighter mass, thus transfering more of the released energy to the missile. I may not have the physics stated technically correct but think grade school, shooting a spit ball with a rubber band vs trying to shoot a spit ball with a key chain. The spit ball from the rubber band is going to hurt alot more. On the other hand, as amply illustrated in previous posts, the implement used also has an impact on the likelyhood of failure of the attachment point due to differences in the delivery of the energy from the pulling vehicle - the shock load delivered by a chain is more likely to break the attachment point than the shock load delivered by a snatch strap. My illustration is not to endorse a chain over a strap or vice versa. It is just an illustration that there are many more factors than just having a strong chain or strap, one of which is your attachment point.
Fortunately, finding a good attachment point on a deuce usually isn't to difficult. Other vehicles not always so easy. Just be carefully out there. I am done preaching safety, at least for now. Ron
There is a huge difference between recovery straps/ropes and tow straps/ropes. No offense but IMO snatching with a tow strap or tow rope with attached metal hooks is more dangerous than jerking with a chain due to the release of stored energy when it breaks (and it will break before a snatch strap or snatch rope of similar size). Once again my two cents. Ron
I gotta agree with him, load chains are for just that thing not pulling. I've seen load chains used for pulling break and go right through the back of the cab, if you get in the way it will go through you too.
