Recovery gear deep dive: shackles, straps and kinetic ropes, what to buy!

[Snacktime]

I like some of the go Rhino stuff, do they sell gimmicky stuff like most places?

I put plastic traction boards in the gimmicky stuff just like frame straps.

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[stampede1]

I went with this kit to get my collection started: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV19GMWJ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

So did I until I read, and verified, that despite their name, the products, although designed in the USA, are actually made in China. I will be replacing that gear with something made here.

 

[CalvinT]

I've found that US Cargo Control is competitive. They sell Van Beest Green Pin hard shackles for a good price and their shipping seems reasonable. They say all their synthetic products are made in the US of US sourced materials. They give both working load limits and breaking strength. They don't have kinetic straps nor soft shackles.

https://www.uscargocontrol.com/

I found them while searching for a round rigging strap to use as a bridle.

 

[swamp2]

So did I until I read, and verified, that despite their name, the products, although designed in the USA, are actually made in China. I will be replacing that gear with something made here.

Made in China absolutely is not a guarantee of crap quality. Where is your PC, your Mac and your iPhone made (along with a plethoro of other stuff in your home)? Both good and bad are made in both the US and in China. Made in Taiwan is often considered made in China and some great quality products from family businesses come out of Taiwan. In particular a lot of high quality bicycle parts come from Taiwan.

Back to Rhino. I like Rhino, a small (local-ish), family run, California business. Their recovery gear all has both WLL and MBS ratings and are lab tested in the US. They also have a lifetime warranty. These things, along with a very good bang for the buck has led me to purchase a few recovery items from them. I also have gear from Factor 55 and MHI as well.

I too like to support US businesses, but I'm not rigid about it. If it will really make you sleep better at night, throw out or sell your Rhino gear for a huge loss. If it were me, I'd simply "run what ya brung" perhaps informed by the above details.

 

[adcam]

Rhino has good reviews with over 1K people rating it over 4.5/5 stars in AMZ. For me, that is good enough.

 

[popo_patty]

Rhino has good reviews with over 1K people rating it over 4.5/5 stars in AMZ. For me, that is good enough.

How many of those reviews were someone receiving the product. Saying, “yup, looks nice” and then leaving a 5 star review? while the product remains stashed in a bag somewhere for the next year.
In all honesty though, their product seems good enough. More along the lines of the advertising Wes does for them that rubs people wrong. I happen to know Wes, he is a good dude. But he is a salesman too and the recovery guy brought up good points.

 

[CalvinT]

It seems that Rhino USA doesn't give good recovery advice. But the RhinoUSA kinetic recovery rope did OK in Project Farm testing.

I think all this proves that one should do their own research instead of just going with marketing hype.

 

[desibull]

@Snacktime ... Not sure if you will pick up my post on this thread, but I have a Gear America shackle rated at 68,000lbs. Is this too much for what the modular bumper is rated for, which is 40K lbs?

 

[CalvinT]

Probably good that it's rated for more than the bumper.

 

[Snacktime]

Probably good that it's rated for more than the bumper.

You want the failure to be something soft.

@Snacktime ... Not sure if you will pick up my post on this thread, but I have a Gear America shackle rated at 68,000lbs. Is this too much for what the modular bumper is rated for, which is 40K lbs?

The fear would be the mount which is bolted down with 4 bolts coming off and flying. The flip side is using the shackle on receiving end. You never really know how strong what your tieing to is either.

 

[CalvinT]

If you exceed either the modular bumper or the shackle rating, you're doing something wrong. Too many people try to "brute force" a recovery. That can lead to damaged equipment and personal injuries.

Learn to estimate loading.

 

[desibull]

I am getting a Rhino kinetic rope and soft shackle rated at 28,600lbs. So those would fail before the hard shackle gives way. Am I doing it right? TBH, I got the Gear America shackle just for it looks very early on with the intent of changing it out to something else when the need really arises.

 

[CalvinT]

A quality hard shackle such as the Green Pin (Van Beest), Crosby or CM (Columbus McKinnon) will have a 6:1 safety factor. They're used in industry and have to pass industry standards and testing. A 3/4 inch hard shackle has a working load limit of 4.5 tons (4.75 ton Green Pin). A hard shackle by one of these companies would probably be the last link to fail if properly used. I woudn't trust any imported hard shackle other than Green Pin (Netherlands). The three brands I mentioned seem to be industry standards.

The attachment point is more likely to fail than a quality hard shackle.

When you're dealing with safety, you want a product that's made to a defined standard, not to a price point. Looks should be least important. You're buying something to use, not something to look at (unless you're a mall crawler).

Seems to me you want your rope or anything soft to fail first. Less weight flying around and it's softer.

Look at the following links for information about proper use of hard shackles.
https://www.thecrosbygroup.com/crosby-shackles/
https://www.vanbeest.com/en/brand-green-pin
https://www.cmco.com/en-us/our-brands/cm/

 

[yamabrp]

I am an old guy getting ready for a long trip (including off road) in my SAS. I don't currently have a winch.
I would rather leave some $ on the table rather than take a chance on Chinese gear (the popo patty event comes to mind).

After mulling it all over I was thinking this would be a good choice (I understand pricey, hoping for maybe a July 4th discount):
Vehicle Recovery Kit, Baja – Factor55
I was also planning on adding a Factor55 hitch link and pin.
I picked a 7/8" vs 3/4" rope taking a possible recovery vehicle into account but I could be talked into a 3/4". I think the initial post mentioned the smaller diameter kinetic rope for a recovery newbie.
Something like this:
SUV Off-Road Recovery Kit – Yankum Ropes
Any recommendations? (the last recovery I did was in the 90's and I used a tow strap)

At some point I do plan to do a winch. I plan on installing the metal tech frame reinforcement (not looking forward to dealing with the intercooler bolt) and I am thinking on the Maximus-3 removeable winch plate.

Thanks!
Ron

 

[CalvinT]

I picked up one of these at Overland Expo last year for $200. They were being closed out for a new model. The Winch in box is good for 8,000 with a snatch block.

I tend to be cautious in my travels. I don't want the extra weight and expense for something most people never use. Most people I've talked to have used their winch to assist others, not for self recovery.

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