I agree with several of the last posts.

However SAFETY is 1st, fun 2nd. Cause we all wanna go home, fix, and do it again.

If you're dead or paralyzed you wont be wheeling!

With that being said, most all of us have done things we know we shouldn't just to go wheeling, be it equipment or parts on our rigs. If you ever do this, you better make sure you can live or die with the outcome. But most importantly do not make those decisions for other people.

Wow, OK i am off the soapbox, sorry for the long post.

Travis

P.S. Remember as well guys. Certain politicians/groups would like to get our sport banned. If we wheel smart, we'll just keep on wheeling. And they wont win.

 

chances are if you get it from harbor freight, its junk.. dont get me wrong they have some pretty sweet stuff, but most is just cheezy.. Im not bashin, im just sayin i wouldnt trust something from there as much as a name brand product..

 

sorry bro but when ive seen 30ton trucks jerking over 100tons with a 3/8ths chain im not against using chains at all

 

sorry bro, but if you ever pull out a chain on my run, nobody will hook up to you until you put that away and use a strap.

or you're on your own.

 

x2...

just because some military guys do it.. doesn't make it safe...

And you are describing the worst possible use of a chain... "jerking".. Chains are not designed to be 'jerked' on.....

 

im a truck driver for the army with two deployments ive seen every kind of truck or tank stuck in the mud that you can, i kno its the worst idea to jerk on a chain, but keep in mind the word IRAQ you dont always have what you need when you are over there, you cant go to autozone so we used what we had since we couldnt go to walmart for whatever, when you are goin thru certain hardships you make due with what you got. but sorry there is no way i would hesitate to use a chain on a light little 4k tug when ive seen them jerk 100 tons without breaking. think what you want but if you respect your equipment and use it wisely then it will treat you well. such as chains

 

well, i guess you should wheel alone then.

not only are they not safe, i've seen them snap from truck drivers that don't know any better, but they're heavy as hell.

it might work once or twice, but might snap the third time sending someone to the morgue.

our sport is dangerous, we have to keep the suits away from banning our sport.

good luck there bud. don't hurt anyone.

 

dont worry i wont hurt anyone cause im smart enough to tell anyone around not to stand around the chain and if anyone is by the chain itll be me. and ive seen em break too but thats cause they wernt inspected and replaced like they shoulda been, and btw it took about 10 jerks on that chain to get my HET out so id say even after the 5th time with a 4k load youll still be okay.
not to mention you can just look at the rating for the chain and compare that to how much our xj's weigh with is right around 3500

oh not to mention ive seen tractors pull out other tractors weighing up to 2 tons with around a 3 ton wagon behind it so yeah trust but repect your chain, a WORN chain is just like a WORN strap.....DANGEROUS

 

X2^ I use a chain to get me unstuck. IT's all about placement, the chain's wear and the guy driving. I wheel alone also but I dont use a come along and I always let someone know where I'm at.

 

exactly. a worn strap should be tossed.

i inspect every piece of my equipment, including my jeep. if anything is even slightly worn (except for tires) it gets replaced.

i am a trail guide for one of canada's better off road events, so i have to practice what i preach.

i also inspect every rig that comes out on my runs. if it doesn't pass my inspection, it doesn't come on my run.
but all seasoned wheelers are usually pretty good when it comes to recovery gear. but some are noobs and learn the proper way. no hooks, no chains and no worn straps. but we'll always offer up our own straps for others.
with that being said, i carry 3 proper recovery straps, so they're used in rotation. one strap used per tug. they need time to relax and recover.

chains are dangerous, no matter what. i don't care who has what experience with them, they have no place in a jeep.

sorry bud, but that's the way it is. ask this on pirate and see what they say.

 

I use a chai because it is all Me and Dad have to pull with.

 

I didn't read through all the thread but
whether you usea chain or a strap if you don't use it right some one will get hurt

and I have seen more people get hurt from a strap than a chain
because most don't have a big enough strap and it brakes

 

You said it all right there.

 

why is it OK for tires to be worn out and not a strap
tires are as big a safety issue as any thing els

 

I thank his is talking about cut, tore frayed or weathered straps.