tow strap or chain?

[Bird]

Gary, sounds like the ones I sold last Fall. I had 3/8" chain in 4' and 10' lengths with hooks on both ends that I bought new. But I also had three 20' lengths, one which a brother-in-law found on the road and two I inherited from my dad, so have no idea how old they were or what grade they were. But I never broke one.

 

[sendero]

gotcha on the work gloves /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Last time I was at my place, we got a little rain so I decided to burn one of my brush piles. It was about burned down and I picked up my 10' "poker log" to push everything to the middle. I barely got the thing off the ground before I felt a sting like I hadn't felt since I was a kid who touched a Hackberry asp /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif That sting was still hurting pretty good hours later at bedtime.

That **** scorpion was still there 10 minutes later, sitting there on the log like nothing happened.

The point of this pointless story?

When I ran inside and informed my loving wife, she said "I told you to wear gloves when you are messing with that brush!" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Of course, she was right. And I WILL be wearing my work gloves a lot more from now on.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have broken log chains and stretched chains,ever seen one stretched?

 

[Bird]

I've seen some pretty small chains stretched, but not any of the larger ones.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have 2- 30,00lb straps that when connected give ne 70' of length. I like that for getting cars/trucks unstuck. You need the length to insure that you can get the tower onto better ground then the towee. The 70' would be very heavy in chain and the chains are gentler on the components of the stuck vehicle. One you pull them taught the sort of rubber band the stuck vehicle out with very little effort. I keep the bed toolbox lid open in case it snaps and keep the windows up just to give a little extra protection.

For pulling brush the chains are safer and your not worried about damaging what you connect them to(brush). They also don't fray, pick up brambles, get wet etc.

The chains would be great for the brush and keep the strap for pulling you tractor out if/when it gets stuck.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I've seen smaller ones stretched, too, but, like Bird, never a larger one. Anything I get that even looks like it might have a problem (stretched, bent, twisted, chipped, cut or damaged links) either becomes one or two shorter chains or is passed on down the line to someone who wants to use it just to secure something from theft.

I've got one monster chain that was my Dad's that I hate to even get out because the thing is so ungodly heavy. It has a clevis on one end and a slip hook on the other and must be 15'-20' long. It would stop my little 4200 in it's tracks if I hooked onto something solid. It'll be the one I get out to pull stumps if I ever get a dozer out there. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Egon]

I'd go for a 3/8 in. transport grade chain with a grab hook and a slip hook.

Usless trivial information: Up here on construction sites you can't use chains for lifting. The yield point of the chain material can be exceeded without streching the links. Visual inspection will not see anything.

Egon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have a big log chain that belonged to my father,I rolled a stump/dirtball off of a bank on to the edge of the road,I thought no problem dragging it down a small grade on black top with my 4400...wrong...my neighbor came out with his Massey Ferguson 54(?) hp 4wd drive and hooked on it and sat there and spun,well we had my JD 4400 and his Massey hooked up in tandem and barely moved the thing,we ended up hooking his Ford F-150 4 wd onto my JD 4400 and I was hooked up to his Massey Ferguson tires squeeling going down a grade on black top,and moved the stump about 50' and managed to get the stump rolled over in the ravine and darn near took my tractor with it,when the stump started rolling with the chain hooked to the stump and under my blade on my tractor.The stump and dirt ball was not really that big,but the weight of dirt can be deceiving. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
The other time I broke a chain and stretched another log chain, I had my JD 4400 about to slide over a hill and a guy I know brought his 4wd John Deere backhoe over to help me out. He positions his hoe and reaches out as far as he can with his bucket to reach me and we hooked 2 chains together,1 chain hooked to the "finger" on the bucket and the end of the other chain to my tractor and he pulled my tractor up over the bank and back on the road (after I had unhooked my JD 45 blade and had to roll it over the hill to get it out of the way) The back hoe operator sat there and wiped the sweat off of his head in a sigh of relief after the tractor was back on the road.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

<font color="blue"> a 3/8 in. transport grade chain with a grab hook and a slip hook </font>

And here it is in the light but strong grade 70 from AWDirect. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[manganos]

One thing to keep in mind is only to use either a strap OR a chain. Never use a chain and a strap. I guy down the road hooked a chain around a tree and attatched a strap to the chain. He pulled and the strap gave a little. The chain broke free and came back at him. The chain hit the tractor and almost put a hole through the rear seat. He was alright but lesson learned /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif