A Self-Stowing Strap
By Eric Dykstra
It’s almost guaranteed that I’ll get my car stuck this winter. I have a knack for it. Usually I end up calling my brother and he begrudgingly comes and yanks me out, because I’m too lame to carry a tow strap. I’ve owned tow straps in the past, but I usually lose them or they get damaged. Smartstrap’s retractable tow strap offers a solution that automatically keeps its strap neatly wrapped and ready to go — a solution that’ll probably even work for a lamer like me.
The Smartstrap is a 14′ nylon strap with a 10,000 pound breaking and a 3,333 pound safe working capacity. The strap is spring-loaded to pay out symmetrically as you apply tension to it. This tension prevents jerking and keeps it out of the dirt — dirt that causes excessive wear on these kinds of woven materials. It winds itself into the central hub, preventing tangles as well as making it very easy to store.
It retails for about $25.
Smartstraps.com [Official Site ]
Street Price [Google Products]
November 19th, 2007 at 10:38 am
After having to get my truck pulled out of the sand (go go broken 4×4) and watching the chain being used snap, I’m going to not use my strap for anything much more then gentle pulls and tie downs. I’m going to have to get a chain for anything that will actually put stress on the tow cable of choice..
November 19th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
Make sure you use a Recovery Strap and not a Tow Strap when pulling a vehicle out with another vehicle. The difference is that a recovery strap has some spring to it and will stretch out a little when given a yank vs the tow strap just being super rigid having no give. Chains or steel cable is not recommended either unless used with a winch. Always put a blanket over the cable/chain/strap about half way between to keep it from flying into anyone/thing if it breaks.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
[...] A Self-Stowing Strap [Toolmonger] [...]
November 19th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Super Straps are awesome recovery straps. No hooks needed. Just google Super Strap & check em out.
November 20th, 2007 at 3:48 am
I agree with Aaron there
I have a small collection of straps now for recovery and towing
I would way rather use a strap than chain or cable
you don’t need a blanket on a strap or a chain
they should both fall when broken but cable and ropes can be deadly
also never use a trailer ball to pull with or on I have seen 2 snap off now on of which went through the cab of the stuck truck like a small cannon ball
straps when used properly are the safest way to recover a vehicle with out a winch don’t for get the shackles
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:14 am
[...] Spotted this on Toolmonger via BBG, and I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. Last winter, I got a ride in an SUV using a tow rope in conjunction with a winch to get up some steep and slippery inclines. We wrapped the tow rope around an oak at the top of a hill and towed ourselves up, staying clear of the sides of the Forerunner in case the car decided to jump into a ditch, squishing anyone. A center-mounted windup case is great for organization, but a tow rope strong enough for towing stuck cars plus people is going to be bigger than this, and too beefy to fit in a case. Second, if you’re doubling up the rope for strength, the center-mounted plastic case is going to get crunched on a tree, or whatever else you’re pulling from. Maybe this is something an SUV poseur can stow to keep his trunk tidy for shopping bags. Maybe I’m wrong. [Toolmonger via BBG] [...]
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:00 am
[...] Spotted this on Toolmonger via BBG, and I’m not trusty it’s much a beatific idea. Last winter, I got a mate in an SUV using a haul fastening in union with a windlass to intend up some precipitous and nonstick inclines. We enwrapped the haul fastening around an tree at the crowning of a construction and towed ourselves up, staying country of the sides of the Forerunner in housing the automobile definite to move into a ditch, squishing anyone. A center-mounted windup housing is enthusiastic for organization, but a haul fastening brawny sufficiency for towing cragfast cars nonnegative grouping is feat to be large than this, and likewise husky to sound in a case. Second, if you’re raise up the fastening for strength, the center-mounted impressible housing is feat to intend crunched on a tree, or some added you’re actuation from. Maybe this is something an SUV exhibitionist crapper stow to ready his luggage order for shopping bags. Maybe I’m wrong. [Toolmonger via BBG] [...]
November 23rd, 2007 at 4:28 pm
[...] Spotted this on Toolmonger via BBG, and I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. Last winter, I got a ride in an SUV using a tow rope in conjunction with a winch to get up some steep and slippery inclines. We wrapped the tow rope around an oak at the top of a hill and towed ourselves up, staying clear of the sides of the Forerunner in case the car decided to jump into a ditch, squishing anyone. A center-mounted windup case is great for organization, but a tow rope strong enough for towing stuck cars plus people is going to be bigger than this, and too beefy to fit in a case. Second, if you’re doubling up the rope for strength, the center-mounted plastic case is going to get crunched on a tree, or whatever else you’re pulling from. Maybe this is something an SUV poseur can stow to keep his trunk tidy for shopping bags. Maybe I’m wrong. [Toolmonger via BBG] [...]
November 23rd, 2007 at 4:28 pm
[...] Spotted this on Toolmonger via BBG, and I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. Last winter, I got a ride in an SUV using a tow rope in conjunction with a winch to get up some steep and slippery inclines. We wrapped the tow rope around an oak at the top of a hill and towed ourselves up, staying clear of the sides of the Forerunner in case the car decided to jump into a ditch, squishing anyone. A center-mounted windup case is great for organization, but a tow rope strong enough for towing stuck cars plus people is going to be bigger than this, and too beefy to fit in a case. Second, if you’re doubling up the rope for strength, the center-mounted plastic case is going to get crunched on a tree, or whatever else you’re pulling from. Maybe this is something an SUV poseur can stow to keep his trunk tidy for shopping bags. Maybe I’m wrong. [Toolmonger via BBG] [...]
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
[...] Spotted this on Toolmonger via BBG, and I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. Last winter, I got a ride in an SUV using a tow rope in conjunction with a winch to get up some steep and slippery inclines. We wrapped the tow rope around an oak at the top of a hill and towed ourselves up, staying clear of the sides of the Forerunner in case the car decided to jump into a ditch, squishing anyone. A center-mounted windup case is great for organization, but a tow rope strong enough for towing stuck cars plus people is going to be bigger than this, and too beefy to fit in a case. Second, if you’re doubling up the rope for strength, the center-mounted plastic case is going to get crunched on a tree, or whatever else you’re pulling from. Maybe this is something an SUV poseur can stow to keep his trunk tidy for shopping bags. Maybe I’m wrong. [Toolmonger via BBG] [...]
November 24th, 2007 at 6:51 am
[...] Spotted this on Toolmonger via BBG, and I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. Last winter, I got a ride in an SUV using a tow rope in conjunction with a winch to get up some steep and slippery inclines. We wrapped the tow rope around an oak at the top of a hill and towed ourselves up, staying clear of the sides of the Forerunner in case the car decided to jump into a ditch, squishing anyone. A center-mounted windup case is great for organization, but a tow rope strong enough for towing stuck cars plus people is going to be bigger than this, and too beefy to fit in a case. Second, if you’re doubling up the rope for strength, the center-mounted plastic case is going to get crunched on a tree, or whatever else you’re pulling from. Maybe this is something an SUV poseur can stow to keep his trunk tidy for shopping bags. Maybe I’m wrong. [Toolmonger via BBG] [...]