Tow strap reminder
 

http://www.startribune.com/local/192...refer=Homepage
Star Tribune

Last update: May 25, 2008 - 1:44 PM


A Virginia, Minn. man died Saturday afternoon after he tried to pull a
vehicle out of a mud pit.

The man, 32, was using a tow rope to remove a stuck off-road vehicle
from the mud when the metal piece that secured the rope to one of the
vehicles broke and struck him in the head, according to the St. Louis
County sheriff's office.

He died at the scene. His identity had not been released Sunday morning.

The accident occurred in the 7800 block of Hill Road in Sandy Township
about 2 p.m.

Tow strap reminder
 

RoyJ wrote:
> http://www.startribune.com/local/192...refer=Homepage
> Star Tribune
>
> Last update: May 25, 2008 - 1:44 PM
>
> A Virginia, Minn. man died Saturday afternoon after he tried to pull a
> vehicle out of a mud pit.
>
> The man, 32, was using a tow rope to remove a stuck off-road vehicle
> from the mud when the metal piece that secured the rope to one of the
> vehicles broke and struck him in the head, according to the St. Louis
> County sheriff's office.

You just have to wonder why they even allow deathstraps to be sold.

--
DougW

Tow strap reminder
 

DougW wrote:

> RoyJ wrote:
>> http://www.startribune.com/local/192...refer=Homepage
>> Star Tribune
>>
>> Last update: May 25, 2008 - 1:44 PM
>>
>> A Virginia, Minn. man died Saturday afternoon after he tried to pull a
>> vehicle out of a mud pit.
>>
>> The man, 32, was using a tow rope to remove a stuck off-road vehicle
>> from the mud when the metal piece that secured the rope to one of the
>> vehicles broke and struck him in the head, according to the St. Louis
>> County sheriff's office.
>
> You just have to wonder why they even allow deathstraps to be sold.

Doug, note that the post referenced a rope - we tend to forget that it's not
just a snatch strap problem but anything with any amount of stretch. I've
seen chains and cables (especially cables) let go with amazing damage as
well as fiber straps or ropes. For that matter, I watched one idiot tie a
proper strap around a bumper and darned near get beaned when the whole
bumper let go.

Most times, people get hurt because of the fool using the tool.

--
Will Honea
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Tow strap reminder
 

The description sounds like he was using a tow rope with steel hooks,
about the worst combination. The rope stretches and stores the energy,
the el-cleapo hook comes off the other vehicle, and the hook comes
shooting back at high speed.

Will Honea wrote:
> DougW wrote:
>
>> RoyJ wrote:
>>> http://www.startribune.com/local/192...refer=Homepage
>>> Star Tribune
>>>
>>> Last update: May 25, 2008 - 1:44 PM
>>>
>>> A Virginia, Minn. man died Saturday afternoon after he tried to pull a
>>> vehicle out of a mud pit.
>>>
>>> The man, 32, was using a tow rope to remove a stuck off-road vehicle
>>> from the mud when the metal piece that secured the rope to one of the
>>> vehicles broke and struck him in the head, according to the St. Louis
>>> County sheriff's office.
>> You just have to wonder why they even allow deathstraps to be sold.
>
> Doug, note that the post referenced a rope - we tend to forget that it's not
> just a snatch strap problem but anything with any amount of stretch. I've
> seen chains and cables (especially cables) let go with amazing damage as
> well as fiber straps or ropes. For that matter, I watched one idiot tie a
> proper strap around a bumper and darned near get beaned when the whole
> bumper let go.
>
> Most times, people get hurt because of the fool using the tool.
>

Tow strap reminder
 

You really can't expect a news writer to properly explain what what used. It
could have been anything.
--
Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty

Tow strap reminder
 

Stupendous Man wrote:
> You really can't expect a news writer to properly explain what what
> used. It could have been anything.

Odd are it was one of those made-in-china recovery straps/ropes
with the cast metal hooks.

In all fairness I probably would have used one of those myself if
not for what I read in an offroad magazine.

Speaking of, this article covers the issue quite nicely.
http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Tow_Straps.htm

--
DougW

Tow strap reminder
 

DougW wrote:

> Stupendous Man wrote:
>> You really can't expect a news writer to properly explain what what
>> used. It could have been anything.
>
> Odd are it was one of those made-in-china recovery straps/ropes
> with the cast metal hooks.
>
> In all fairness I probably would have used one of those myself if
> not for what I read in an offroad magazine.
>
> Speaking of, this article covers the issue quite nicely.
> http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Tow_Straps.htm

Harbor Freight sells a slug of those things - cheap. I've bought a couple
but the first thing I do is cut the hooks off. With most, that leaves a
usable sewn loop and the strap itself is actually pretty good.

Like I wrote, the fool using the tool is the most dangerous part of the
operation.

--
Will Honea
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Tow strap reminder
 

> Speaking of, this article covers the issue quite nicely.
> http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Tow_Straps.htm
>

I use a strap with two sewn loops and D-rings. I don't undertand why the
article admonishes against looping over the axle, sometimes it the only
thing strong enough to hook to.

About 1968 old we were on our annual Easter campout to Estero Beach, Mexico.
A whale had washed ashore and a lot of people were trying to push it back in
the water. It was obvious that wasn't going to happen, so they decided to
pull it out and eat it. Dad thought he would help and backed his 63
International Travelall up and then hooked his 7/16 logging chain around the
beasts tail. He started to pull with me in the back watching the fun, and
the whale didn't like that much. He flipped his tail and the chain parted.
The chain fortunately went up and over, leaving an impressive set of dents
from the back window to the front bumper, and not busting any glass. The
mxican cops then shot the whale a few dozen times and really ****ed it off.
Later that day they got a dozer to pull it out of the tideline and butchered
it. Quite an education for a boy.

--
Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty

Tow strap reminder
 

Stupendous Man wrote:
>> Speaking of, this article covers the issue quite nicely.
>> http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Tow_Straps.htm
>>
>
> I use a strap with two sewn loops and D-rings. I don't undertand why
> the article admonishes against looping over the axle, sometimes it
> the only thing strong enough to hook to.

In older vehicles, yes. Do that with one of the newer ZJ or WJ
back axles and you'll bend it. Those darn things are so weak you
can't even jack under them. :/

My ZJ isn't much better. Thankfully I have towpoints and a classIII
rear hitch. So far so good.

Best suggestion someone gave me was to hand them the strap and
say, "hook this to what you want to come out." :)

--
DougW

Tow strap reminder
 

"DougW" > wrote in message
...
> Stupendous Man wrote:
>>> Speaking of, this article covers the issue quite nicely.
>>> http://www.offroaders.com/tech/Tow_Straps.htm
>>>
>>
>> I use a strap with two sewn loops and D-rings. I don't undertand why
>> the article admonishes against looping over the axle, sometimes it
>> the only thing strong enough to hook to.
>
> In older vehicles, yes. Do that with one of the newer ZJ or WJ
> back axles and you'll bend it. Those darn things are so weak you
> can't even jack under them. :/
>
Suckers are "Trail Rated" too, aren't they?

Earle