Tow Strap/Recovery Strap
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Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,255
From: Shokan, NY
Tow Strap/Recovery Strap
I thought I posted this a day or so ago, but I don't see it.
My Fit sank into a friend's wet lawn, and half a dozen people pushed it out. I thought about buying a recovery strap for $35 to carry in the car. I've had this car for ten years, and this is the first time I needed a tow. The strap would be 10" in diameter and 3" tall when rolled up, so it wouldn't fit in with the spare. I'm having second thoughts about buying a strap. Any comments?
My Fit sank into a friend's wet lawn, and half a dozen people pushed it out. I thought about buying a recovery strap for $35 to carry in the car. I've had this car for ten years, and this is the first time I needed a tow. The strap would be 10" in diameter and 3" tall when rolled up, so it wouldn't fit in with the spare. I'm having second thoughts about buying a strap. Any comments?
Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 884
From: MA
When it comes to "preparedness," it's possible to go overboard or to miss the forest for the trees.
Where do you regularly drive? How likely are you to get stuck? How far away is assistance? What are the consequences of not having immediate recovery?
Scenario 1: You mostly drive in urban/surburban contexts where the risk of getting stuck is quite low, and where assistance is readily available (either a tow truck or, as in your situation, some friends to give you a push). In addition, if your car had been truly stuck, you presumably could have relaxed inside your friend's house until professional help arrived. So, very low risk of a bad situation. I wouldn't bother with a tow strap.
Scenario 2: You frequently drive in very rural/uninhabited areas, on gravel/dirt/snow/unimproved roads, where assistance might be many miles/hours away and/or you might not be able to call for assistance in the first place. In addition, getting stuck and not being able to get yourself out could quickly become hazardous to your health (e.g., freezing conditions). This scenario presents a higher risk of getting into a bad situation, but I doubt a tow strap would be of much use for self recovery. I would rather have food/water/camping gear.
I have done a lot of work and driving in Scenario 2 areas, and I've been stuck many times including several impromptu overnight stays. My Fit would not be a useful vehicle in that situation, regardless of whether I had a tow strap in the back or not.
I'll also note that if you put something in a vehicle that doesn't have it's own storage space it will be in the way. If it's in the way you'll eventually start taking it out, at least some of the time. If it's not always in the car, it definitely won't be in the car the one day in 10 years when you need it.
Where do you regularly drive? How likely are you to get stuck? How far away is assistance? What are the consequences of not having immediate recovery?
Scenario 1: You mostly drive in urban/surburban contexts where the risk of getting stuck is quite low, and where assistance is readily available (either a tow truck or, as in your situation, some friends to give you a push). In addition, if your car had been truly stuck, you presumably could have relaxed inside your friend's house until professional help arrived. So, very low risk of a bad situation. I wouldn't bother with a tow strap.
Scenario 2: You frequently drive in very rural/uninhabited areas, on gravel/dirt/snow/unimproved roads, where assistance might be many miles/hours away and/or you might not be able to call for assistance in the first place. In addition, getting stuck and not being able to get yourself out could quickly become hazardous to your health (e.g., freezing conditions). This scenario presents a higher risk of getting into a bad situation, but I doubt a tow strap would be of much use for self recovery. I would rather have food/water/camping gear.
I have done a lot of work and driving in Scenario 2 areas, and I've been stuck many times including several impromptu overnight stays. My Fit would not be a useful vehicle in that situation, regardless of whether I had a tow strap in the back or not.
I'll also note that if you put something in a vehicle that doesn't have it's own storage space it will be in the way. If it's in the way you'll eventually start taking it out, at least some of the time. If it's not always in the car, it definitely won't be in the car the one day in 10 years when you need it.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,255
From: Shokan, NY
When it comes to "preparedness," it's possible to go overboard or to miss the forest for the trees.
Where do you regularly drive? How likely are you to get stuck? How far away is assistance? What are the consequences of not having immediate recovery?
Scenario 1: You mostly drive in urban/surburban contexts where the risk of getting stuck is quite low, and where assistance is readily available (either a tow truck or, as in your situation, some friends to give you a push). In addition, if your car had been truly stuck, you presumably could have relaxed inside your friend's house until professional help arrived. So, very low risk of a bad situation. I wouldn't bother with a tow strap.
Scenario 2: You frequently drive in very rural/uninhabited areas, on gravel/dirt/snow/unimproved roads, where assistance might be many miles/hours away and/or you might not be able to call for assistance in the first place. In addition, getting stuck and not being able to get yourself out could quickly become hazardous to your health (e.g., freezing conditions). This scenario presents a higher risk of getting into a bad situation, but I doubt a tow strap would be of much use for self recovery. I would rather have food/water/camping gear.
I have done a lot of work and driving in Scenario 2 areas, and I've been stuck many times including several impromptu overnight stays. My Fit would not be a useful vehicle in that situation, regardless of whether I had a tow strap in the back or not.
I'll also note that if you put something in a vehicle that doesn't have it's own storage space it will be in the way. If it's in the way you'll eventually start taking it out, at least some of the time. If it's not always in the car, it definitely won't be in the car the one day in 10 years when you need it.
Where do you regularly drive? How likely are you to get stuck? How far away is assistance? What are the consequences of not having immediate recovery?
Scenario 1: You mostly drive in urban/surburban contexts where the risk of getting stuck is quite low, and where assistance is readily available (either a tow truck or, as in your situation, some friends to give you a push). In addition, if your car had been truly stuck, you presumably could have relaxed inside your friend's house until professional help arrived. So, very low risk of a bad situation. I wouldn't bother with a tow strap.
Scenario 2: You frequently drive in very rural/uninhabited areas, on gravel/dirt/snow/unimproved roads, where assistance might be many miles/hours away and/or you might not be able to call for assistance in the first place. In addition, getting stuck and not being able to get yourself out could quickly become hazardous to your health (e.g., freezing conditions). This scenario presents a higher risk of getting into a bad situation, but I doubt a tow strap would be of much use for self recovery. I would rather have food/water/camping gear.
I have done a lot of work and driving in Scenario 2 areas, and I've been stuck many times including several impromptu overnight stays. My Fit would not be a useful vehicle in that situation, regardless of whether I had a tow strap in the back or not.
I'll also note that if you put something in a vehicle that doesn't have it's own storage space it will be in the way. If it's in the way you'll eventually start taking it out, at least some of the time. If it's not always in the car, it definitely won't be in the car the one day in 10 years when you need it.
Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 465
From: Vancouver , BC
I share your concerns and have a small tow strap in the vehicle, but in reality it may not be long or good enough, i cant remeber the rating/length...its probably 6"x3"x2" still in its wrapper from princess auto. ive thought about a winch!! one of those ATV ones!...but probably not a good idea. I do carry one of those jump start packs in the car too......but my wife does sometimes take the "crate o stuff" out of the car
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,523
From: Manitoba CANADA
A strap or rope will be somewhat elastic and may stretch a fair bit. If it happens to snap that energy could backlash and the end could slap someone standing nearby with quite a bit of violent force. No actual experience with something like this happening but personally I would consider a chain to be bulkier but safer.
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,255
From: Shokan, NY
I share your concerns and have a small tow strap in the vehicle, but in reality it may not be long or good enough, i cant remeber the rating/length...its probably 6"x3"x2" still in its wrapper from princess auto. ive thought about a winch!! one of those ATV ones!...but probably not a good idea. I do carry one of those jump start packs in the car too......but my wife does sometimes take the "crate o stuff" out of the car
Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 884
From: MA
There are different flavors of recovery gear, each with a different (safe) use and purpose.
1) Chains are heavy and when they break they break things, including people. Remember that force = mass x acceleration, so if you pull (accelerate) a chain hard enough to break it, the force the broken chain will apply to whatever it hits is often very destructive.
To put that in qualitative terms, if you try to pull a badly stuck vehicle with a chain, there's a good chance you'll break the chain (see previous sentences) or, alternatively, you'll pull the bumper (or wherever the chain is attached) from one or both vehicles.
2) "Tow" straps are non-elastic. They're made for static pulls: pulling a vehicle onto a trailer, pulling a disabled but not badly stuck vehicle onto the road, lifting an engine from an engine bay, etc. They often have high (static) weight ratings, but are not meant for hard/rapid pulls (i.e., for the weight/load to be applied to the strap very quickly). If you use them for that purpose, you'll often produce the same result as with the chain: a broken strap (and possible injuries) or badly damaged vehicles.
3) Recovery/kinetic straps (e.g., Yankum roaps) are designed to stretch and recover. This both increases the force that can be applied by the tow vehicle to the stuck vehicle and also slows the application of that force, reducing the chances of damage to either vehicle. If your lifestyle finds you stuck or rescuing stuck people on a regular basis, you want a kinetic strap.
With reference to a stuck Fit (or I suppose using a Fit to pull out another vehicle if you're adventurous), if you're using the small eye that screws into the front or rear bumper as your tow point you don't want to pull hard. If a very gentle pull doesn't move the stuck vehicle, you should enlist a professional who will almost certainly use a large winch attached to your lower control arm(s).
1) Chains are heavy and when they break they break things, including people. Remember that force = mass x acceleration, so if you pull (accelerate) a chain hard enough to break it, the force the broken chain will apply to whatever it hits is often very destructive.
To put that in qualitative terms, if you try to pull a badly stuck vehicle with a chain, there's a good chance you'll break the chain (see previous sentences) or, alternatively, you'll pull the bumper (or wherever the chain is attached) from one or both vehicles.
2) "Tow" straps are non-elastic. They're made for static pulls: pulling a vehicle onto a trailer, pulling a disabled but not badly stuck vehicle onto the road, lifting an engine from an engine bay, etc. They often have high (static) weight ratings, but are not meant for hard/rapid pulls (i.e., for the weight/load to be applied to the strap very quickly). If you use them for that purpose, you'll often produce the same result as with the chain: a broken strap (and possible injuries) or badly damaged vehicles.
3) Recovery/kinetic straps (e.g., Yankum roaps) are designed to stretch and recover. This both increases the force that can be applied by the tow vehicle to the stuck vehicle and also slows the application of that force, reducing the chances of damage to either vehicle. If your lifestyle finds you stuck or rescuing stuck people on a regular basis, you want a kinetic strap.
With reference to a stuck Fit (or I suppose using a Fit to pull out another vehicle if you're adventurous), if you're using the small eye that screws into the front or rear bumper as your tow point you don't want to pull hard. If a very gentle pull doesn't move the stuck vehicle, you should enlist a professional who will almost certainly use a large winch attached to your lower control arm(s).
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,255
From: Shokan, NY
There are different flavors of recovery gear, each with a different (safe) use and purpose.
1) Chains are heavy and when they break they break things, including people. Remember that force = mass x acceleration, so if you pull (accelerate) a chain hard enough to break it, the force the broken chain will apply to whatever it hits is often very destructive.
To put that in qualitative terms, if you try to pull a badly stuck vehicle with a chain, there's a good chance you'll break the chain (see previous sentences) or, alternatively, you'll pull the bumper (or wherever the chain is attached) from one or both vehicles.
2) "Tow" straps are non-elastic. They're made for static pulls: pulling a vehicle onto a trailer, pulling a disabled but not badly stuck vehicle onto the road, lifting an engine from an engine bay, etc. They often have high (static) weight ratings, but are not meant for hard/rapid pulls (i.e., for the weight/load to be applied to the strap very quickly). If you use them for that purpose, you'll often produce the same result as with the chain: a broken strap (and possible injuries) or badly damaged vehicles.
3) Recovery/kinetic straps (e.g., Yankum roaps) are designed to stretch and recover. This both increases the force that can be applied by the tow vehicle to the stuck vehicle and also slows the application of that force, reducing the chances of damage to either vehicle. If your lifestyle finds you stuck or rescuing stuck people on a regular basis, you want a kinetic strap.
With reference to a stuck Fit (or I suppose using a Fit to pull out another vehicle if you're adventurous), if you're using the small eye that screws into the front or rear bumper as your tow point you don't want to pull hard. If a very gentle pull doesn't move the stuck vehicle, you should enlist a professional who will almost certainly use a large winch attached to your lower control arm(s).
1) Chains are heavy and when they break they break things, including people. Remember that force = mass x acceleration, so if you pull (accelerate) a chain hard enough to break it, the force the broken chain will apply to whatever it hits is often very destructive.
To put that in qualitative terms, if you try to pull a badly stuck vehicle with a chain, there's a good chance you'll break the chain (see previous sentences) or, alternatively, you'll pull the bumper (or wherever the chain is attached) from one or both vehicles.
2) "Tow" straps are non-elastic. They're made for static pulls: pulling a vehicle onto a trailer, pulling a disabled but not badly stuck vehicle onto the road, lifting an engine from an engine bay, etc. They often have high (static) weight ratings, but are not meant for hard/rapid pulls (i.e., for the weight/load to be applied to the strap very quickly). If you use them for that purpose, you'll often produce the same result as with the chain: a broken strap (and possible injuries) or badly damaged vehicles.
3) Recovery/kinetic straps (e.g., Yankum roaps) are designed to stretch and recover. This both increases the force that can be applied by the tow vehicle to the stuck vehicle and also slows the application of that force, reducing the chances of damage to either vehicle. If your lifestyle finds you stuck or rescuing stuck people on a regular basis, you want a kinetic strap.
With reference to a stuck Fit (or I suppose using a Fit to pull out another vehicle if you're adventurous), if you're using the small eye that screws into the front or rear bumper as your tow point you don't want to pull hard. If a very gentle pull doesn't move the stuck vehicle, you should enlist a professional who will almost certainly use a large winch attached to your lower control arm(s).
Thanks for that. I've decided not to get stuck again, so I won't need a recovery strap. 😋
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