Chains Chains or Straps??

MDSteve · Apr 8, 2002

I was wondering what everyone is using to pull stumps and tress around with. Most stumps are are dug up with the fel and just need to be dragged to the burn pile about 700 feet away. They are usually too big for the FEL to handle.
Thanks
Steve

RobS · Apr 8, 2002

If all you are doing is dragging stuff around I'd definitely go with chains. Straps will wear pretty quickly under those conditions /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

rdln · Apr 8, 2002

3/8 chain is indestructable in that application

TonyC · Apr 8, 2002

I guess I have to be the first dissenter on this one. I have used straps for years. If you use a high quality strap with a high load capacity it will perform right up there with chain. I haven't had any problems with wear. I guess you could argue that over time a chain will outlast a strap, but my heaviest strap is now 10 years old and still going. The advantage is that a strap is lighter and easier to carry around. It manuvers around groups of logs better than chain. It tightens better than chain when you start pulling. And perhaps best of all, it is much safer should a breakage occur. There is another thread out there that recently discussed what can happen when a chain breaks under extreme load.

rdln · Apr 8, 2002

straps are made to recover stuck vehicles and do so by stretching and then slingshotting the stuck vehicle free, it is then if something breaks a deadly projectile is born.

TxBilly · Apr 8, 2002

Not all straps are made to recover stuck vehicles. Industry uses many straps to lift items with cranes. You will see more industrial grade straps in manufacturing applications than chains.
I also use straps with my tractor as well as chain. In my opinion, it depends on the use and circumstances

RobS · Apr 8, 2002

it is much safer should a breakage occur

Be very careful out there! Chains, straps and cables are nothing more than big springs when put into tension. The amount of energy stored in each is proportional to the load and the deflection or stretch. For a given load, the strap is designed to stretch the most thus it will store the most potential energy. All that energy has to go somewhere if it breaks /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Bottom line is to be extremely careful when lifting/pulling with anything /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MDSteve · Apr 8, 2002

I have been using a 2 inch strap. It has broken on me a few times and I have been tieing new loops on the end. It has never streched to the point where it pops back at me. I guess I will need to get a larger strap or some chain. What size chain and straps are we talking about?

Thanks for all the help.
Steve

TxBilly · Apr 8, 2002

Steve
You might see if there is a place close to you that makes industrial straps. I have several in different lengths and strength. I had them made and had hooks added to them before they were stiched. They can be of many types and styles. You usually are limited by what you can find in most stores that carry straps.

pennwalk · Apr 8, 2002

Tony,

my heaviest strap is now 10 years old 
Fabric degrades with age. I don't know how long a tow strap lasts but be careful with that 10 year old strap. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Chris

TonyC · Apr 8, 2002

...be careful with that 10 year old strap.

Yeah, I hear you. My heavy work on the property is behind me now. I mostly just use it to pull up briar bushes. If I could just get time to make one of those nifty tree pullers!

Thanks for the word of caution!

frank_f15 · Apr 8, 2002

i use both, depending on the job. the straps i have i got from a heavy equiptment rigging co. they were used to lift things with a crane, so i figure they are ok for my use.

Youare · Apr 8, 2002

I have several 3/8 chains that I pull everything with. Pulling a sump 700 feet will wear anything you use. If you buy hardened chain, big bucks, they will last much longer and I doubt you could break one with a compact tractor.

I had one lifting sling, my son left it some where, but I would not want to pull anything where it might drag in the dirt, especially with something heavy on top of it.

It is easier to shorten up a chain and they never get knots in them you can't get out. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Randy

EdKing · Apr 8, 2002

I use chains, got a couple as a bonus at an auction. Was biding on some old ammo cans, misc contents mostly old pipe fittings, got 10 of them for 2 bucks apiece. 2 of them had nice 3/8 chains in them. Never tried using straps.

Miklos · Apr 9, 2002

I use a 5/8 choker cable. Very easy to hook up around your load, but more importantly, it is very easy to un-hook from your load. Much easier for towing logs around than chain or straps. Maybe them logger are onto something. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Wingnut · Apr 9, 2002

Based on my safety experience in heavy industry ... I'll stick with chain. The problem with slings / straps is that none of us are rich enough to treat them as they're treated in commercial use .... if in doubt - toss 'em out!
Straps and slings are used in lifting applications because of the weight distribution, stretching ability and width .... but they have a pretty short life. Not because they will fail ... but because no one wants to take a chance.
Dragging is a completely different application. Fabric does not take kindly to abrasion. And those tied together straps will do the same kind of damage that a broken chain will when it comes apart!
Lifting ... well, slings - wire rope or fabric are preferred. Dragging - go chain go ...

banjobj · Apr 11, 2002

I use both, but prefer the HD 3/8 chains. I have several of different lengths and connect them as needed. Use caution no matter what you do. Lots of horror stories out there.

wichiwichi · Apr 12, 2002

For what you are doing I would stick with the chain. With a compact tractor you will never be able to break a quality 3/8 chain. I did stretch 1 so bad that you could pick it up like a piece of flatbar but that was using a 4020 JD with good traction.

RobS · Apr 12, 2002

With a compact tractor you will never be able to break a quality 3/8 chain

I was out roaming our property the other day and found "half" of a length of 3/8 chain. I'd like to say it was the result of my tractor but it was from a Case telescoping forklift pulling out a very stuck lumber truck.

I added it to my chain collection none-the-less /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · Apr 16, 2002

I have used both, but only trusted chain when the load was great. I have heard stories of chain recoil when broken, but I have to tell you, I have broken two chains , one 3/8, and one 5/16 when I logged my place , the 3/8 chain I watched break and there was maybe a 1ft. recoil- it snapped and dropped right about in the same place it was, the other I did'nt see and I did'nt hear , the dozer just broke free, the chain was also in about the same position. I don't think there is a great danger with chain unless maybe you were sitting right on it.