Weld-on Tie Down Points

[ntsqd]

I'd imagine that a squishy tire could make life really um adventuresome! Especially if it wasn't noticed to be squishy when loaded.

 

[jeffncs]

@Yeller I never expected this to spiral through so many topics. Trailering always seems to pull out lots of opinions though!

I’ve used frame straps for decades (I have 2 sets of 4 in trailer box now in 2 lengths). While I have the double j-hooks, I use spring gate hooks for vehicles. The strap may loosen but the straps isn’t coming off!

I’m not sure I can even weld the brackets to the front axle after looking at it again last night. The passenger side has some goofy bracket exactly where I’d want to install this one.

 

[nvrstuk]

I'm guessing that goofy bracket is the OE anti sway bar bracket??

Yeah, lots of opinions on trailering for sure. Almost a Chebby/Ford thing... lol

 

[Jdgephar]

I will admit that Im hooked on these axle straps. When I first stole them, I thought I’d never use them. But now I can’t let them go.

I was well on my way to a welded bracket, but now I have 4 of these in the chain box.

Those short straps are dirt cheap at Walmart, too. I have a set that I use with the safety chain.

 

[ntsqd]

I'm trying to phrase this politely and I'm going to fail at that, but when I consider what it is that I'm strapping down and how much of an investment I have in it I want really good pieces to use. Price isn't first on my list of concerns and Wal-Mart, Harbor Freight, & Tractor Supply are not my first choice of vendors for those. Mac's and US Cargo Control have been my go-to's for stuff like that, but @dmoses42's earlier link to truckntow has me intrigued. I'll definitely be looking at that page again. Specifically axle straps from Mac's aren't too expensive.

Oil, grit, and grime takes its toll on rigging like axle straps faster than the webbing in ratchet straps. I consider them to be consumables in the long term and plan on periodically replacing them. Keeping them clean will definitely extend their life, but I don't know if washing them is a good idea. Before I washed them I'd look into what to wash them with, and how to do it. I just looked to see if by chance Mac's had posted something about that and found nothing on that specific topic, so I dropped them a note asking for one. Spoke too soon, just found this:

I did find this blog post on crossing vs. not crossing straps. Reinforces the consensus here:
https://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/blog/news/tie-down-debate-cross-or-not/b/mcnws7/

 

[dmoses42]

Just to be clear, I know nothing of the company I linked. I was just looking for a reference showing the frame hooks. Might be a good company, might not. I hope they are, since I posted a link to them....

 

[jeffncs]

I use the flat snap hook 2” straps from these guys. Excellent quality and fair price. I’ve been think about buying a new set of twisted hooks to test for a while.

https://usaratchet.com/storefront.h...FW6RuYWORXHFdaLyEvisvVP4VcvU2CC905p6fl1h1zTgX


As a side note, I use old fire hose sections ans sleeves slid over the webbing to shield them from the sun. UV kills plastic / nylon / ….

 

[nvrstuk]

TS, my first thought also... same thing about cheap prices on straps at Walmart. I worry about strap materials, thread use, stitches per inch & # of rows of stitching, etc... wasn't that long ago that I realized how the least bit of dirt or grime literally KILLS any fabric type strap, synthetic line etc. How many of us unroll a strap on the ground?

How many unwind your synthetic rope from your winch on the ground or let it hit the dirt when winching? Every time dirt gets in the synthetic rope it's killing the lifespan & linpinching? Guess that's why I'm so reluctant to go synthetic.

Anyway, use quality equip & double check those straps for tightness every hour or so on the road... helps with the kinks in our old legs too...

Happy 4th everyone! Be safe with fireworks (& towing).

 

[ntsqd]

The Number 1 sin when I was regularly rock climbing was to step on a rope. You. just. don't. do. that. I have seen people stepping on their poly winch lines and just had to shake my head.

I'm not going to fear a poly winch line making contact with dirt, but I do try to wipe it off ASAP. Same with trailer straps. Just don't step on either of mine no matter where they're laying.

 

[.94 OR]

Speaking of straps.

 

[nvrstuk]

Speaking of straps.

What a greatly post! Now I know what pattern is best. Now I have to go out and look at all my straps including the short ones for axles.

This reminds of my ujoint angularity post & the strength loss when turning the frt wheels in 4wd... Hard to always go straight but there sure are less ujoint & subsequent axle repairs! lol

 

[Yeller]

I’ll throw my pennies worth in. Synthetic winch line, we ain’t 20 no more, just do it! Dragging cable up a hill sucks, let alone you will find that single burr in the entire line, every time. I’ve found the inexpensive lines to last and be strong. That being said I don’t mind changing a $70 line annually even with minimal use or after an abusive situation. Which I feel is safer than running expensive line and running it until it’s dead, which I have done and would do again feeling pain about replacing it. I’ll second don’t step on the line!

 

[jamesroney]

I’ll throw my pennies worth in. Synthetic winch line, we ain’t 20 no more, just do it! Dragging cable up a hill sucks, let alone you will find that single burr in the entire line, every time. I’ve found the inexpensive lines to last and be strong. That being said I don’t mind changing a $70 line annually even with minimal use or after an abusive situation. Which I feel is safer than running expensive line and running it until it’s dead, which I have done and would do again feeling pain about replacing it. I’ll second don’t step on the line!

OK, I guess I didn't understand the assignment.

In 1983, I purchased a brand new 30 foot long Warn red 2 inch wide recovery strap with sewn in loop ends. It was revolutionary, and at the time, I thought I was the King of the mountain. It turns out that with a recovery strap and a 150 foot Warn 8274 Winch cable, you can effectively defoliate the entire area in front of your stuck vehicle for a pie shaped area approximately 180 feet in radius. The problem for me was that the largest tree, plant, weed, or shrubbery had a trunk diameter less than 2 inches, and a corresponding root structure. Needless to say, the anchor points were inadequate. As it turns out, the Warn red 2 inch wide recovery strap has a fair amount of elasticity to absorb shocks. Evidently this is a desirable trait. For whatever reason, we decided to abandon the vegetation clearing operation to go get an anchor. The Pull-Pal did not yet exist. There were legends that people could self recover if they buried their spare, and used it as an anchor. For some reason, the combined intellect of myself and my friends joined to determine that the proper tool of choice for an anchor point was a shovel, and a 33x12.50x15 BFG Radial Mud Terrain buried into the earth. As it happens, the 33 inch BFG has the capability to grow in size under two conditions. If you need to carry one in the back of a CJ5, and if you need to dig a hole to bury it. As it happens, two young men can dig a hole to bury a tire in the dark, 50 feet up-slope in the Orinda Downs silty clay earth in approximately 2 hours. With a proper winch cable channel, and adequate burial, the 33 inch BFG is adequate to provide at least 4,900 lbs of static line pull.

So now it's dark, cold, I'm exhausted, and this is the final attempt. But Safety First! Someone tie a blanket to that winch line. (@Yeller, your single burr becomes important later...) OK, done. Someone else go tie the winch cable to the anchor chain. BUT...Dragging a cable up a hill sucks. Let's make the run 30 feet shorter by using the strap. OK, choker chain, strap, and now we have 25 feet of free cable, Seems short, but hey...we probably only need 20 feet to get out of this ditch. Engine running, headlights pointed skyward, tires churning, winch pulling, and like a miracle...the titanic rises out of the depths of the abyss. Front end clear, rear end now firmly in the obstacle. About 25 feet of winch line remaining. Plenty of winch line left. Keep pulling until vehicle is well clear of the ditch. But why did the winch stop pulling? OOH...headlights dimming, alternator struggling. Better keep it running. Buddy waving, screaming something, Best to just let it all simmer down. Exit the vehicle, to evaluate the situation. Why did the winch quit? OH. Winch hook firmly embedded in fairlead. Used up all of the cable. Ugh. the 30 foot long Warn red 2 inch wide recovery strap is firmly between me and salvation. So the executive decision was made to pay out a little cable, liberate the winch hook, and celebrate success. This should be easy. Legendary Warn 8274 with automatic drum brake, Push the out button, payout a couple feet of cable, hit the in button, and the choker chain, new 30 foot long Warn red 2 inch wide ELASTIC rubber band, and a 150 lb BFG radial mud terrain tire exit mother earth like a slingshot. 5000 lb Jeep attached to the winch cable is an unmanned missile rolling back almost EXACTLY in the same trap, only this time there is a Tire, wheel, elastic strap, and winch cable leading the way. Lookout below. I say almost the same location, because this time the right front spindle has exited the chat, and departed the vehicle. Miraculously, it's still running. Shut it down.

So now dawn is approaching, and it's time to surrender. Must make the walk of shame and get help. Jump in my buddies Jeep for a ride. All the excitement is over, and the adrenaline is done. I'm sweaty, tired, a little scared, and cold. Could use a jacket. Probably left it in my rig. Too late. The good news is that it is now 7AM on a weekday. So my dad hears the whole story, and gets strangely quiet. He makes phone call. Lots of questions about the legal status of the location, and distance to pavement. More discussion, and the decision is made. They will send "Tiny." My job is to get back to the site and re-attach a wheel that rolls. My buddy will guide Tiny to the scene. Turns out "Tiny" is not a person. Tiny is a GIANT tow truck with 400 feet of 5/8 winch cable on a drum the size of Cuba. I don't know how Tiny is going to get to my rig, but happy to know I won't be needing the shovel anymore. So the plan is for Tiny to stay on pavement, and pay out enough winch to pull me sideways out of the ravine, and up the embankment. The guy that is driving Tiny is literally twice as wide as he is tall. He looks at the scene, and he just starts shaking his head. Everything from him is 1 word conversation. Fast forward 10 minutes, and Tiny now looks like an Alpine Ski Area chair lift, cables are tensioned and I was extracted in a single pull, no drama, no conversation, no noise. Cops show up. Cops talk to driver of Tiny. Cops and driver seem to have quite a rapport. Cops leave smiling. Man what a pro.

So now I'm sitting on the side of the road, and the guy driving Tiny is packing up his stuff, and he FINALLY says like 10 words. "Why is there a jacket wound up in your winch?" Remember @Yeller's little cable burr? Well, the blanket for the cable was not a blanket. It was my jacket with the arms tied in a loose knot. But that burr grabbed the fabric, and sucked the jacket past the fairlead, and wrapped it up like a mummy.

So the take away here is to not use a rubber band in your winching. Later on...my same buddy ran over my new warn 30 foot red 2 inch wide recovery strap while I was towing his jeep on pavement. Scuffed it right in half. So we tied it into a square knot. Hundreds of extractions, abrasions, dirt, rocks, driven over, walked on, launched, tethered, and abused. That strap is still with me. Just keep it clean.

 

[nvrstuk]

LOVE your story James!

I havw a Warn tow strap from the same decade that is tied with a square knot that I use as a tree saver.

Gonna read it again...

Have a great 4th everyone!

 

[ntsqd]

I carry two straps after having learned my lesson. One strap is the "sacrificial lamb" and the other is a quality strap. The lamb is the strap in the .30 cal ammo can on the rear of the FSB where it's super quick and easy to get out and get rigged. If it's an iffy yank on a vehicle I don't know it gets the less expensive strap. Yanking a 1400 truck with a broken front spindle out of the way of a gaggle of Class 1's and Trophy Trucks that could not and would not see him (or me) until almost too late partially cut an expensive strap. My co-pliot attached it in a spot that should have been safe, but when the truck didn't move with a gentle yank and simultaneously the 1's & TT's were heard nearing the scene hammer down in first got it moving, but shifted the strap to where it got cut.

When poly winch line first came out I read up on the 12 strand used to make it. At the time Samson Rope had some good ref articles on their page. I wanted to learn how to do the splices because I'd never done anything like that before. Figured a good way was to make tow rope (as opposed to a dynamic recovery rope or strap). Bought 30' of 5/8" Amsteel and a couple eyelet thimbles from the local heavy duty marine/off-shore supply house (picture a smallish McMaster warehouse that you can walk down ANY isle!). I carry it in the CTD, but I seem to use it the most when moving machinery.

 

[nvrstuk]

Jealous of you giys with real stores nearby that have cool stuff... my $18.99 bolt story I told the other day where I've only got 1 place I town that carries any bolts of 9/16" dia +.

 

[ntsqd]

On the map they're not terribly far away, but any of the possible routes there and back is at least a 1.5 hours drive from here.

 

[nvrstuk]

1.5 hrs gets me to a Costco & a Home Depot round trip!

Not whining about rural America (ever) but w/o Amazon we'd be doing that trip every week like we used to. Heck, for SBC valve cover gaskets I used to have to go there if I wanted them that day cause nobody was open on a Sunday back then... we made a LOT of those 1.5hr trips back in the day.

 

[DirtDonk]

I gotta' say, I didn't think his comment in the video, about using a pressure washer to rinse the Simple Green out of the webbing, was sounding too great to me.
Seems like the high pressure would deteriorate the material. Maybe not, but that's what I feel like.
Definitely letting it dry naturally in the sun (or my preferred shade) rather than force drying it, seems like good advice. Just that the pressure washing part seemed a bit off the cuff.

Paul

 

[Steve83]

...using a pressure washer to rinse the Simple Green out of the webbing...
Seems like the high pressure would deteriorate the material. Maybe not, but that's what I feel like.

The yield strength of nylon is >5Ksi. A typical 5hp gas residential pressure washer makes ~3Ksi at the spray tip (if you press it against the surface) but that drops off rapidly if there's any distance between the nozzle & the surface. So even if you pressed it hard into the strap for several minutes, the water pressure wouldn't damage the fibers. If you use an electric machine (corded or battery), it's usually about half the pressure of gasoline.