new shackle
- Thread starter seventyfive
- Start date
Isn't the idea of soft shackles to use them in static pulls? Not that you had another option, just wondering if it's advised on dynamic pulls.
Not a last resort option at all. I prefer a static recovery any time I can, but given a good recovery point I don't see an issue with soft shackles in a dynamic recovery. I like them over steel shackles in dynamic situations for safety alone. K rope is great option to recover vehicles and is relatively quick. If something were to fail (recovery point, rope, shackle, etc), I'd much rather have a soft shackle attached to that k rope than a steel one.
I had this discussion with the guy in our group that owns a rigging company. He doesn't see any issue either in using them in both static and dynamic situations either. I'm actually headed up next month to his shop to do some testing on some gear. He's got all kinds of cool testing tools for breaking strengths in different situations/applications.
I plan on ordering quite a few more for our kits. I've already had quite a few military and state groups looking them to add them to their kits. Based on weight and ease of use on "unknown" vehicles is huge. Not all recovery points are easy to connect to and the soft shackles provide a good solution to that.
I think people get a little wary of synthetic line when it appears to be "worn"/fuzzy. This doesn't compromise the line. Only when a strand is cut is when you have to replace it like any synthetic line.
I remember when people (Kyle for one) were making fun of synthetic winch line back in the day.
EDIT: This isn't to say I wouldn't suggest keeping steel ones. I would/will for sure. There are some recovery points that just don't lend themselves to being friendly to the synthetic line. We know our training trucks quite well, so it's easy to know what will work where. It's those times when you're with a group or traveling somewhere unfamiliar where I see them being extremely helpful.
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I'm certainly not against them, I've got two soft shackles in my bag and use them frequently. I just remember being advised never to use them in a dynamic pull, but that's good to know. I have nothing against synth line, I run it on my winch, but wouldn't if I were in a rocky area.
That's not bad advice. I just see them as being more useful in lots of "other" situations. I've seen a steel shackle pull through a inferior recovery point during a K rope demonstration. If that would have made contact with a person, it would have likely been lights out. In the same breath though I am not sure a soft shackle would have been appropriate on the same recovery point given that it wasn't a smooth and forgiving attachment point.
The XD line by MasterPull is great line albeit expensive, but it can be used in almost any environment without risk of damage.
I'm just glad I brought them with me to Bolivia otherwise who knows how long we would have be standing around figuring out how to move that big Volvo.
Well I was pretty sure it was you giving me that advice at the VT ORW in Rockingham last year.... but may be mistaken
That's good to know. I've been wanting to go synthetic for some time now, but I want a line that's built for longer term use in adverse environments.
I didn't know synthetic had made it's way there yet.
Cheers,
Kennith
Cover it from the elements. Yours might not last though because of how much you'll be using it with those goofy ass tires.
Kennith will have no fewer than 3 synthetic winchlines which he'll rotate in for specific use. Orange obviously in hunting season. Yellow in winter so when he has to pee on his winchline to thaw it out it won't show. And a blue line for the rest of the time.
Yeah, because I'm going to spend over two thousand dollars on rope.
I'd keep a steel backup just in case, though.
Cheers,
Kennith
Says the guy with how many sets of tires???
I've only got one set of tires right now.
I have to get some new wheels, and I'm not sure which way I want to go. Also, I'm not going anywhere important in this vehicle for a while, and I don't want another set slowly drying out on a rack.
Cheers,
Kennith
Here's an old picture of it parked at another house while I was away for a little while. I needed it fired up twice a week. I couldn't keep it at my place.
Obviously, the easily removed stuff was indoors.
That was some time ago, but even now it doesn't look that much different on the surface. It's not decked out with a bunch of crap; certainly not the world's biggest Rover head-turner, but it's more than enough to get the job done.
On long, troublesome trips, it's best to be simple and look reasonably stock.
Cheers,
Kennith
