Soft Shackle,Any Good Or Impulse Buy?

[Renegade1LI]

Saw this in HD figured I'd get one and see if there is a use for it. At first look I like it, not sure why, it will fit easily in the atvs or s x s. The question is what will it do that a sling and steel shackle won't. The problem is I want to get a few more looks good in the tow kit bag? Well I'll have some of there needed, lol.

 

[toolenthusiast]

what will it do that a sling and steel shackle won't

Hit you in the head and not turn you into spilled lasagna, that’s what.

 

[Firebrick43]

They are a fun project to make and not that hard either. @toolenthusiast has the biggest advantage correct, much safer. I use them on the sail boat, truck tow strap, even in lifting applications some times. Small ones are a better/stronger solution than caribiners for hanging gear and attaching things to packs and such. I have proof loaded little 1/4" ones that I have made to over 9000 lbs.

You replaced your cables with amsteel right?

My mothers cousin was a vegetable for the rest of his life when a winch cable snapped and caught him across the head.

 

[AA/FC]

They work good and they absolutely improve your overall safety when doing recovery work..... Especially when using kinetic recovery rope.

 

[Callelle]

We avoid anything metal recovery wise rock crawling these days. Synthetic rope and soft shackles are the way.

 

[toolenthusiast]

We avoid anything metal recovery wise

Yup. Metal stuff is persona non grata… uh, taboo… err, verboten… or, “looked down upon”?

 

[mrvm]

Make sure your other recovery gear is compatible with soft shackles. For example sharp or abrasive edges can damage a soft shackle. Soft shackles are strong, safer, versatile and can float on water rather than sink.

 

[toolenthusiast]

My mothers cousin was a vegetable for the rest of his life when a winch cable snapped and caught him across the head.

I’m sorry to hear about that. Thank you for sharing the story. A lot of people don’t believe how serious things like this are because they’ve never met a victim or a victim’s family member.

I had a good friend who died because his old Ford N-series flipped over when he was clearing some trees for his neighbor. I’m constantly trying to convince people to not run their tractors with the rollbars folded down

 

[Firebrick43]

I remember maybe till I was 10 or so that we would visit when we were in the area of his nursing home and his mothers car was out front. More to visit her. The only reaction he had was slightly smile if you put a sucker on his tongue.

He was pulling a truck out that was stuck and cable broke. I wasn’t there when it happened all I remember is the scar across his upper fore head on the right side.

 

[Dig Doug]

They work great! Get a few more for quick access!

for my can am x3 I have a Speed strap and a few soft shackles, and a 4500lb winch, The Speed strap loops in / out of it self and is fairly quick to use.
For a quick tire change i use the speed strap and 4/5 ft of the winch line to tip car up on 2 wheels makes for a speedy tire swap! along with a cordless impact gun.
Dukes Of Hazard style fast!

 

[Renegade1LI]

Great, lots of good info, I'm used to a whole different way of rigging.

 

[Pinemarten]

Soft shackles and synthetic winch rope have their place. They do require more maintenance than steel. You need to wash them to remove dirt or the service life will decrease dramatically. A sudden breakage is more like to occur if washing is neglected.........and that is never good. The logging industry uses steel shackles and steel cable, which is why I opted for a steel cable for my Warn drill winch for firewood gathering. I didn't want to be washing my rope after wood cutting.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Most projects we do today we're not allowed to use nylon slings. Everything is steel and rated plus safety really looks at everything we use. I just don't see the advantage of soft shackle over a steel one.

 

[rick carpenter]

I found this interesting...

 

[Rinspeed]

I had a good friend who died because his old Ford N-series flipped over when he was clearing some trees for his neighbor.

I had a neighbor lose his life with the same style tractor doing the same thing.

 

[southalabama]

The YouTube towing guys all running synthetic winch line and soft shackles.