Depends ... in some situations either can be better than the other.

So what the situations that one works better than the other?

Some people prefer ropes.

Some people prefer strops.

If you just want a general recovery system, then a rope is good.

Personally I mostly use ropes for recoveries and strops for 'holding', say round a tree or an anchor point. A lot depends on the actual recovery situation. A normal rope shouldn't be used as a snatch rope as, whilst it has some give in it, the forces involved can be immense, especially at points of contact and most ropes will snap. Ropes are generally used to maintain a steady even pull without snatching.

Ropes generally have a lot more give to them than strops so are kinder to both vehicles.

A snatch recovery needs a specific KERR rope/strop, but this puts a lot of strain on vehicles and can go badly wrong if not thought through and implemented properly.

Strops can be used in a similar manner, but again, not good for snatch recoveries as they have very little give and impart immense shock loads .. if you want to rip someone's axle off, or your own, use a normal strop as a Kerr strop .. but get a video camera set up first ..

I also have chains as well as the rope and strops, used also for holding or hand (Hi-lift) winching and good for building a land anchor if no other anchors are available.

To be honest, most people just use what's available and a lot of the time this is OK.. but check Youtube out for failed recoveries. Just a little thought taken to work out a proper recovery procedure can stop a lot of hurt and expense ..

.... as I say, the answer to the original question is, it depends ..

If you don't know the answer then I will assume you have had very little experience in using a rope and strop ans because of that you could do alot worse than a 24mm rope. Not kinetic normal poly 24mm rope say 8 meters is a good start as it can be doubled up at 4 meters and used. Strops are very very cheap and for winching great, some semi kinetic ones are ok for towing but good old tried and tested rope is always good as it haves some give and this can work to your advantage. Keep strops for the winch!

you see alot of idiots snatching even gently with a strop at p and plays ripping rated recovery points off frequently and destroying the strops tieing knots in them and using them again.

Thanks Paul....
As you say it depends... and that is what I thought reading throw posts.
And I think it comes down to personal preference. Some people say straps are good. Others say strops are the DEVILS work and only rope will do.

I have am going to stay way from KERR.... as it just looks a bit dodgy. Seen to may snaps on youtube.

As I am just getting bits for the first time. I am trying to keep cost down. And straps win out on cost.
I have ordered some Jate rings (forged), to that I was going to put a strap as a Bridle.
So its ready to use and out of the way on the bonnet.
Then have a long rope or long strop.

May be I'm thinking about this to much???

jai_landrover said:

If you don't know the answer then I will assume you have had very little experience in using a rope and strop ans because of that you could do alot worse than a 24mm rope.

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I am new and that's way I'm asking....
I was thinking of a 24mm rope if i did get a rope. But have only found 4meter.
12 Tonne Nylon Tow Rope

I was thinking of getting some bits from here.
Offroad 4x4 Straps - Buy Online Recovery Straps,Lifting Slings,Ratchet Straps and offroad 4x4 accessories
As I can keep cost down.


I have seen in a few vid's people snapping ropes or strops snatching them.
With other mates landys in the background. Would it make more sense if you can't pull out with one landy. Then get two landys linked together and pull out, with a good steady pull?
Than one dangerously snatching away.

yea mate not a dig above, er best bet is a rope. Somtimes you cant get 2 cars somtimes you have no grip somtimes you need to use you momentum to shift a mota not a real propper 'snatch' recovery but one with a bit of weight to it that cannot be done with a strop Because you Will damage recovery points and you back. Strops for winching, ropes for vehicle to vehicle recovery. I got a good deal on ebay, 8m or 6m cant remember which one and 2 rated shackels for about 30 quid. I have about 8 ropes 3 at 8m and 2 at 6 meters, and a couple of short bridles and a loop. All well used and kept out the sun will last decades. Jai

I use strops for winching and towing. my weakest is 2.5 ton and my strongest is 15 ton. They also range from 6 feet to 75 feet in length. They take up less room, are easier to store, come with certificates (most ropes don't) and you can leave them attached to the rear recovery point of your vehicle and close the boot on the strap so it stays nice and dry in your boot but is still ready for immediate use.

It's all down to personal choice. I prefer straps to ropes.

Well as a neebi, I have no preference. So may be I will get a good mix and see how I get on.

I use damar webbing straps. The are cheap, british made, and i prefer these to ropes. They do a huge range and they all roll up relatively small. Esier to keep tangle free than a rope, in my opinion.

Mike_B said:

I use damar webbing straps. The are cheap, british made, and i prefer these to ropes. They do a huge range and they all roll up relatively small. Esier to keep tangle free than a rope, in my opinion.

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I have been looking at Damar.
Do you use the use the lifting staps or the straps from the offroad section?
Just they give the SWL (7.1) in the lifting section. But only give a figure ie. 5 tones, in the offroad section. With no info if this is the SWL.

I remember being a young lad at a national trial comp some bloke got stuck put on his strap for all the marshalls to laugh at him when he argued that it was rated and ok they just laughed and ripped into him I think he left the strop at the side of the course to go buy a good old rope. Not sure if strops are even permitted now? M abe they are now days, but back then no way.

So where is the best place for ropes? and is 24mm the reccomended size?

Thanks

Try Ebay, put in 4x4 rope into ebay check out RopeyBuoys stuff email asking for rated shackels instead of the ones they supply. There are 2 shackels and an 8 meter 3 strand 24mm nylon rope min 12tonne breaking strength for £25.50 plus £8.50 postage. Looked after this will last ages.
I got my first rope from Paddocks way back when, the best rope I own was from a 100m reel that the local group got all together and clubbed in and my dad cut and spliced up ropes for everyone. That was circa 1989/1990 and its been used for comps and many many recoveries inc some use with trucks, being my dads its always been looked after and washed after every comp or use but 20 odd years it aint bad me thinks.

Personally, if anybody came near my rig with a rope, I'd tell them to bugger off and hit-up someone else for help no matter how long necessary...always carry 2 days supplies and let someone know before turning a key, so no issed. Down here, it's snatch-straps n shackles only....ropes kill or seriously injure if you don't know what you're doing.

I was a lazy n complacent bastard who went out solo heaps n never got bogged, but after the other nights episode, I invested in an 10,000kg snatch-strap, equaliser strap, 2x 3.2tonne shackles, and a carry bag for the lot...this is the bare minimum 'playful types' should have. For the lot I paid $60 on special, but is fantastic piece of mind just to have.

My rope is a 12 tonne jobbie and has been used in anger many times more recently to recover 2 fire engines myself and GibboPhil towed each fire tender up in the snow these are heavy and needed some encouragement. 2 landys 2 ropes and alot of commonsense. Being watched by lots of members of the public.

Advantage of rope is it absorbs alot of the strain before going taught and the weight of the vehicle can be used to aid the recovery (not as harsh as a snatch recovery) whereas a normal strop goes taught And absorbs nothing transmitting all that energy to the recovery points and moints and occupants so you cannot use the vehicles weIght as an advantage and relies upon good traction from the towing vheicle which somtimes is not going to happen. Thats the reason strops are used for winching no stretch ropes for towing.

You can kill yourself with a rubber band! So I don't see ropes being dangerous used wrong as an argument as any tool used wrong can cause an injury.

Learn what to use, when to use what and Keep it all in good condition.

Remember idiots will often offer to recover your mota. Be very careful who "helps" because recoverys that go wrong are not a nice place to be.

Communication and knowing the person has done and will do the towing/Helping safley is key especially if you have children or partners out with you.

Take control, make sure one person somone that Knows their stuff is coordinating. That person will:
tell each driver what to do and when, make sure the rope is attached safley to both vehicles. Be in control of everything if he shouts you stop.

Typical senario,
Stuck disco driver, (in charge)
Tow person new never towed before.
Disco driver attaches rope to both motas,
Disco driver gets all kids people away from the area well back,
Disco driver tells tow man what he wants him to do and explains the commands he will use.
Commands what they mean: two bibs of the horn for me and our little group means its all good im ready GO!. If the horn stays on long single horn means STOP do not move stay still somthing is wrong. Quite a common way of doing things but it must be explained.

Never say GO or NO they are often mis heared. STOP or READY used in their place.

Nothing worse than 10 people shouting suggestions confusing things.
Sounds Complicated but its natural to do and done right Saves alot of time, motors and back injuries/flying shackels.

mbikeboy said:

Personally, if anybody came near my rig with a rope, I'd tell them to bugger off and hit-up someone else for help no matter how long necessary...always carry 2 days supplies and let someone know before turning a key, so no issed. Down here, it's snatch-straps n shackles only....ropes kill or seriously injure if you don't know what you're doing.

I was a lazy n complacent bastard who went out solo heaps n never got bogged, but after the other nights episode, I invested in an 10,000kg snatch-strap, equaliser strap, 2x 3.2tonne shackles, and a carry bag for the lot...this is the bare minimum 'playful types' should have. For the lot I paid $60 on special, but is fantastic piece of mind just to have.

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hey where did u get this from? was it online?

Should be mandatory to do training and hold certificate before being eligable to purchase or use Snatch Straps. In the wrong hands they can be a lethal weapon.