TOTAL RECOIL MASSIVE SNATCH STRAP COMPARO. We deliver the facts on snatch straps, without stretching the truth FEATURE

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1 MASSIVE TOTAL RECOIL We deliver the facts on snatch straps, without stretching the truth WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATHAN CAMPBELL-COWIE Snatch Strap Comparo 033

2 034 A snatch strap is best described as a giant slingshot. Because of their simplicity, they are usually the first recovery aid we reach for when our 4WD becomes stuck. For most of us, these straps get the job done with ease and without incident. However, the reality is that a snatch strap that s misused or damaged can cause serious vehicle damage, personal injury and even death. The huge amount of energy generated within a snatch strap that makes vehicle recovery seemingly easy, also makes it exceptionally dangerous. With this in mind, coupled with several recent tragic events involving the use of snatch straps, it was high time we put a heap of them through their paces again. Way back in issue #57, we determined that the majority of snatch straps available were far from acceptable. We also proved that a wet snatch strap noticeably reduced its strength by up to 15 percent. A few years later, we ran the test again in issue #82 to see if the snatch strap industry had learnt from its mistakes. While some snatch straps still struggled to meet the recommended breaking loads, the results were very much improved overall and showed that manufacturers had lifted their game. Fast forward to issue #128, and our current snatch strap comparo was always going to be the most in-depth snatch strap test ever done. Obviously, we had to test each strap to verify the manufacturer s recommended breaking strain for all we knew they might have gone back to their old ways. However, that s where the similarities end. So, we headed interstate to the biggest NATA testing facility in Australia. Why? Well, unlike previous testing where each snatch strap was cut in half, this time we tested each strap over its full length. That s right, any reservations you ve had in the past about testing only half a strap can be laid to rest. But that s not all. Additional straps were subjected to the different scenarios you may encounter in the bush and even the 4WD Action staff handed over their old snatch straps in varying conditions for research purposes. But wait, there s more! We fully uncover the myths of coloured versus plain snatch straps, and measure the stretch differences under varying loads. And because our test bed doesn t ideally reflect real-world conditions, We also headed bush with some testing gear to find out how much load really is applied during the average snatch strap recovery. Knowing how safe your recovery gear really is or isn t can be the difference between life and death. This article really is the ultimate snatch strap survival guide you d be mad to stop reading now And even madder if you go out and buy a new one before you ve read it. SNATCH STRAPS UNCUT With the straps tested over their full length, there can be no argument with the results The reality is that while a few manufacturers batch-test their straps over the full length, most companies design and test their products over a short length. It s reasonable to assume that as long as a suitable stitching and design method of one eyelet is replicated across the entire construction process, the results will be the same. The accessibility to machines capable of testing a snatch strap over its entire length is few and far between. First, you have to find a test bed long enough to fit the strap, with that same machine needing enough ram-travel to allow for at least 2m of stretch before the strap will break. A machine of this nature is sure to be huge by design and expensive to hire. But we didn t let that get in the way of our mega test. There are several benefits to be had when a product is tested over its entire length. These include the elimination of any issues arising from the use of a webbing bollard to hold the cut end of the strap. The main issue with this set-up is that even if the webbing breaks at the bollard end over its designed rating, it gives you no indication if the other eyelet would have failed sooner or later in a real-world environment. Ultimately, it s the eyelets that are designed to take the point load of any force applied and not the mid point of the webbing. As our results show, some straps broke under load due to a stitching failure at one eyelet but no damage to the other, while other straps failed at the webbing with no signs of fatigue in any of the stitching. This clearly shows that the results of testing only half a snatch strap can be dependant on which end you choose to test. Testing snatch straps over their entire length definitely has its benefits when you want to know the whole story and that s exactly what we wanted to do. TESTING FACILITY AND PROCEDURES Our testing took us to the biggest NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) testing facility in the country, and proved to be the only place that was confident of getting the job done. Of course, when you have a 1000t test bed that s 40m long in your yard there isn t much you can t fit or break. The test bed we used had a 1000t ram with 900mm of travel at one end and a 150t ram at the other with 1800mm of ram travel. Because the largest snatch strap to be tested was rated at 16t, all straps were tested using an 17t shackle with a 42mm diameter pin. This size pin still allowed the eyelet angle to be under the industry standard of 20, which keeps the stitched surface of the eyelet join as flat as possible. The maximum load was recorded on the load cell as a measurement in kilonewtons or kn. After each strap was broken, an overall measurement was taken between both shackle pins to determine the overall stretch of each strap. THE RESULTS The listed breaking strength of a it s said to be rated at, it should be snatch strap is usually the optimum no ifs, no buts. On this note, the strength achieved under controlled results will show that some straps laboratory conditions, where the performed well above the strap is pulled at a controlled speed manufacturer s claim, while others in a straight line. These testing clearly missed the mark. conditions don t allow for the We list each strap s price, but our different types of forces and other scoring system excludes price from contributing factors, which can the equation because user safety cause a strap to fail much sooner. takes precedent over saving a few We believe that if the manufacturer is prepared to market a awarded to those straps that dollars. A score of 10/10 has been product with a specific rating, that exceeded their manufacturer s claim product should at least meet that by at least 10 percent. This indicates rating. From a consumer s point of to us that the appropriate testing and view, we accept that if that s what design have been done to ensure the This shackle never looked like it was under any strain throughout testing THE CONTENDERS We contacted companies that manufactured their own snatch straps, and asked if they were interested in supplying their products for testing. We intentionally gave them short notice to ensure they had to send the very product sitting on the shelf that the average 4WDer would buy. Each company was asked to supply two of each snatch strap, in as many sizes as they pleased. The reason for two of each was simple because we weren t going to cut them, we needed spares for other tests we had in mind. Before long, our office was jam-packed with 36 snatch straps ranging from 6000kg to 16,000kg and all the colours of a rainbow. straps easily exceed the manufacturer s rating. With this in mind, they would be highly recommended. Those straps that met or exceeded the manufacturer s claim by less than 10 percent scored a 9/10. It s basically full marks, but we felt the need to recognise those that did exceptionally well a score of 9/10 is still a damn good strap. The straps that failed by less than 10 percent of the manufacturer s claim get a 6/10. As shock loading can reduce the effectiveness of a snatch strap, our testing gave each strap every opportunity to perform its best, as there was no shock loading involved. If they can t meet their rating here, they will struggle in the real world. While some straps in this category failed by the smallest of margins, the fact remains that they still failed to meet their recommended limits on the day. Snatch straps that failed by more than 10 percent of their marked limit get a 3/10. Clearly, the strap has been overrated for its application. We would rather see a strap easily exceed a lesser capacity than have someone risk injury with overrated claims. 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3 THE RESULTS ARB PRICE: $72 ARB PRICE: $134 ARB PRICE: $98 11,000kg (minimum breaking strength) 85mm x 9m 15,000kg 110mm x 9m kg % +/ % TOTAL STRETCH: 2.7m OUR 10/10 The stitching broke completely at one eyelet, while the stitching at the other eyelet had peeled back about halfway. This strap performed well past its rating. 12,232kg % +/ % TOTAL STRETCH: 2.4m OUR 10/10 This strap broke at the webbing after the stitching had peeled back about halfway. The stitching on the other eyelet had started to peel back about 15mm otherwise it appeared to be visually sound. 18,144kg % +/- 20.9% TOTAL STRETCH: 2.7m OUR 10/10 Even though the stitching could be just heard straining around the 6t mark, this strap held on for all its worth, breaking a massive 3144kg over its recommended minimum breaking load. The heavy-duty nature of this strap meant that it only had 1.7m of stretch in the first 7500kg of load. This is an excellent strap, though, and definitely suited to only the largest 4WDs or those heavily laden and towing a camper. BUSH RANGER 50mm x 9m PRICE: $64.90 PRICE: $99 PRICE: $58 BUSH RANGER 11,000kg 4x4 EQUIP kg % +/- +0.7% TOTAL STRETCH: 1.9m OUR 9/10 The webbing broke cleanly at the base of the stitching of one eyelet, while the other end showed no signs of stitching fatigue or webbing damage. 11,926kg % +/- +8.4% TOTAL STRETCH: 2.1m OUR 9/10 This strap broke at the webbing as the stitching started to peel away. The other end showed obvious signs of stitching failure and the webbing had started to shred. 7747kg % +/- -3.1% TOTAL STRETCH: 2.4m OUR 6/10 The webbing snapped one metre from the eyelet, with no obvious signs of stitching damage to either eyelet join. That 7747kg is still a huge amount of force, but it does fall short of what the manufacture recommends, even if it is only 253kg. PRICE: $90 BLACK RAT 9000kg kg % +/- -1.5% TOTAL STRETCH: 2.1m OUR 6/10 The stitching at one eyelet had started to peel back about 120mm before the webbing broke at that point. About 100mm of stitching had peeled back and the webbing had started to fray in the same location. PRICE: $78 EQUIP 4X4 10,000kg 80mm x 9m 11,009kg % +/- 10% TOTAL STRETCH: 2m OUR 10/10 This strap failed in the same place as its little brother, but it performed much better under test. Breaking at 1009kg more than its manufacturer recommends, this strap performed solidly. A.NOBLE & SON RECOVERY - MATE (minimum breaking load) / 4000kg (safe working load) PRICE: $ kg % +/- +5.7% TOTAL STRETCH: 2.2m OUR 9/10 This strap was the only one to not have the eyelets folded and stitched through the loop ends. While this is said to offer superior strength, the design of this strap loop proved differently during testing. It clearly broke after its minimum breaking strain, yet broke in the webbing without any major damage to the stitching or eyelets. JUST STRAPS Standard Snatch Strap 8100kg (minimum breaking strength) / 5400kg (recovery load limit) PRICE: $ kg % +/ % TOTAL STRETCH: 2.5m OUR 10/10 The webbing broke cleanly at the base of the stitching, yet both eyelets showed minimal signs of stitching slippage. Breaking at 1176kg over its manufacturer s minimum breaking load, this strap did exceptionally well PRICE: T-MAX (minimum breaking strength) POA kg % +/ % TOTAL STRETCH: 2.4m OUR 10/10 Another strong performer in the field, this strap finally snapped at the webbing one metre from the eyelet. There was no obvious damage to the stitching at either join. JUST STRAPS Premium Snatch Strap 8550kg (minimum breaking strength) / 5700kg (recovery load limit) 65mm x 10m PRICE: $ kg % +/ % TOTAL STRETCH: 2.9m OUR 10/10 The undoing of this strap was the complete stitching failure at one eyelet. The other eyelet showed the stitching has started to peel back 70mm.

4 THE RESULTS PRICE: $65 PRICE: $110 OPPOSITE LOCK (load conditions not stated) 60mm x 8m OPPOSITE LOCK MEAN GREEN 10,000kg (loading conditions not stated) 80mm x 10m STAUN 6000kg ((maximum load limit) 45mm x 11.5m PRICE: $149 BONUS POINT This strap gets our award for innovative design. We like the fact that it does away with the need for a shackle, making recoveries safer and easier. Because of this feature, this strap earnt an extra point out of ten, taking it from 6/10 to 7/ kg % +/- +3.2% TOTAL STRETCH: 2.2m OUR 9/10 The strap broke through the webbing about one metre off its centre. The stitching in both eyelets showed no sign of fatigue. This was the shortest strap in the test, but still proved a solid performer. 10,397kg % +/- +3.9% TOTAL STRETCH: 3.7m OUR 9/10 The stitching at one eyelet finally gave way, while the other eyelet had only minor stitching fatigue. This strap had a huge amount of stretch compared to the others. 5708kg % +/- -4.9% TOTAL STRETCH: 2.8m OUR 7/10 This strap relies on each end to be woven through a series of eyelets woven into the length of the webbing. Using the manufacturer s recommendation of eight weaves for maximum strength gave this strap a finished length of exactly 9m. This strap is well suited for medium-size 4WDs and SUVs, and its simple design does away with the need for shackles a potential danger in any recovery. It can also be looped through both recovery hooks for better load distribution or shortened to suit tight access terrain. TERRAIN TAMER (minimum breaking strength) PRICE: $ kg % +/ % TOTAL STRETCH: 1.5m OUR 10/10 Breaking well over its minimum breaking strain, this strap finally snapped in the webbing at the base of the stitching. The other end showed only faint signs of stitching fatigue. TERRAIN TAMER 11,000kg (minimum breaking strength) 70mm x 9m PRICE: $ kg % +/ % TOTAL STRETCH: 1.9m OUR 3/10 While the strap was a great performer, the 11,000kg didn t fare so well. While the load it broke at is more than most snatch straps will ever see, it was noticeably less than the manufacturer s recommendations. It finally broke after the stitching at one end completely peeled away. The stitching at the other end had peeled back about 30mm TERRAIN TAMER 16,000kg (minimum breaking strength) 100mm x 9m PRICE: $ ,596kg % +/- -2.5% TOTAL STRETCH: 2.1m OUR 6/10 This strap only just failed by 404kg. With 15,569kg in reserve, it s still a damn tough snatch strap. It failed in the same location as the 11,000kg strap, with the only difference being the remaining eyelet had peeled away a little more.

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6 042 REAL-WORLD FACTORS Testing a brand-new snatch strap gives it the best opportunity to perform. The problem is that in the real world, they will only be new once. If your brand-new snatch strap is called into action for a boghole recovery, its first outing will be the beginning of its demise. While nylon is a very flexible product, it s easily affected by moisture and abrasive material. We proved way back in 2005 that water reduces a snatch strap s strength up to 15 percent, and there was no point reproving FACTORY Just Straps 8100kg Wet and muddy 6014kg STRENGTH LOSS: -24.8% what we already knew. What makes this comparo so good is that we tested a range of factors that can affect your snatch strap in the real world. With a random selection of snatch straps in various conditions, we put each one through its paces to see how different states of fatigue can affect a snatch strap. If these results don t have you binning your current old and worn snatch strap for a new one, we don t know what will WET AND MUDDY SNATCH STRAP This strap was about 12 months old, used often and poorly maintained. A recent 4WD trip saw it used extensively to recover several vehicles from a series of bogholes. The owner had put it back in the bag, chucked it in the back of the ute and forgot about it again. As the results show, not only has the moisture affected the strap, the build-up of dirt has worked its way into the webbing. These minute particles act like fine sandpaper, slowly rubbing on the nylon fibres and weakening them. SALT WATER AND SANDY SNATCH STRAP FACTORY 6320kg STRENGTH LOSS: -21% Rarely used in anger before a trip to Fraser Island, it definitely got a workout on the beach. When you only have a few precious days of vacation time, maintaining recovery gear is of little importance. We took ownership of it still ringing wet and covered in sand two weeks later. Previous testing has shown that this strap broke 44 percent over the manufacturer s recommendations that s 11,498kg. Using this figure, the strength loss could be as high as 81.9 percent and that s dangerous. USED SNATCH STRAP FACTORY 6116kg STRENGTH LOSS: -23.5% This strap had been used about 10 times over five years. It was stored in a bag, washed when muddy and always dried. It was recently one of three snatch straps joined together for a recovery. The stuck vehicle required three large 4WDs to collectively snatch it out using considerable momentum. Eliminating the strength loss associated with water, the deterioration of this strap has been via general wear and tear. Tow2go Salt water and sand Just Straps 8100kg Used CUT SNATCH STRAP FACTORY 3364kg STRENGTH LOSS: -57.9% Equip 4x4 Cut This brand-new strap was cut one third of the webbing width. Such a small amount of damage can be easily done to any strap used in the bush. This type of damage is by far the worst and would most likely break during a basic recovery, turning a relaxing trip into a tragedy. KNOTTED SNATCH STRAP FACTORY ARB 4485kg STRENGTH LOSS: -43.9% Knotted When your 4WD is sinking into the mud, you want to get it out ASAP. Considering mud or wet sand can place the most amount of stress on a strap, our results show you d be mad to have a knot in your snatch strap. A knot greatly affects the load distribution along the strap and will eventually cut its way through the webbing. TWISTED SNATCH STRAP FACTORY 7450kg STRENGTH LOSS: -6.8% Bush Ranger Twisted This brand-new strap had 15 twists placed in it before being destruction tested. While the non-twisted strap broke cleanly at the base of the stitching, the twists snapped the webbing in the middle of the strap. This indicates that the twisting has moved the weak point of the strap and the results could be much worse during shock loading. A twisted strap will also have more chance of trapping dirt within the fibres, which we have already proved to reduce the strap s overall strength. OVERSIZE PIN IN EYELET FACTORY 7077kg STRENGTH LOSS: -11.5% Terrain Tamer Oversize pin in eyelet When securing the eyelet of a strap to a fixed point, it has always been advised to ensure the eyelet angle is no greater than 20. To test this theory, we stuck a 140mm-diameter pin through one eyelet, which increased the eyelet angle to 45. The other end retained the smaller shackle we had been using throughout the test. The result was that it reduced the strap s strength by 923kg and we could hear the stitching starting to give way much sooner. The 20 rule has a very valid reason. By keeping the eyelet as flat as possible, the slip angle of the stitching is kept to a minimum to retain maximum strength. Snatch Strap Comparo 043

7 COLOURED Vs PLAIN There has been much discussion about the performance differences of coloured and non-coloured (loom state) webbing, so what s it all about? The truth is that coloured webbing is weaker than the equivalent-sized loom (plain white) state webbing. During the dyeing process, the colour is injected into the material using high heat and pressure. This process changes the chemical structure of the nylon, reducing its strength. A spinoff of the dyeing process is that the nylon webbing also shrinks, and this makes a coloured strap stretch more than the loom state version. However, this extra stretch is only good for a few uses before the fibres return to their original state prior to the dyeing process. Snatch strap manufacturers compensate for this reduction in strength by using a slightly larger webbing for a given load rating. We measured the stretch differences of a coloured and loom state strap to see how much extra stretch there was. As you can see from the results below, the difference between them is obvious, but this ultimately doesn t make one better than the other. Meeting or exceeding the manufacturer s rating claims is what counts. The stretch differences between coloured and loom can also be seen in the main results. Snatch Strap Comparo STRAP RATING START SIZE 2000KG 4000KG 6000KG T-MAX (loom) 1.5m (10.5m) 2.1m (11.1m) 2.2m (11.2m) BUSH RANGER (coloured) 50mm x 9m 1m (10.0m) 1.4m (10.4m) 1.6m (10.6m) KINETIC ENERGY AND SNATCH STRAPS RULES AND REGULATIONS a snatch strap that s misused can cause serious damage Kinetic energy is the energy created by motion. This is essentially the reason why a snatch strap is such an effective piece of recovery equipment. Firstly, let s look at the principles of kinetic energy. As the speed of an object increases, its kinetic energy increases exponentially. This means that if an object doubled its speed from 50km/h to 100km/h, the kinetic energy at 100km/h is four times the amount compared to its original speed. If the object s speed then increases to 200km/h, the kinetic energy would be eight times the amount at 100km/h and so on. Scientific mumbo-jumbo aside, this explains why so much force is applied to a snatch strap during a recovery situation. A snatch strap will create more force than the pulling power of the recovery vehicle alone. A snatch strap can stretch at least 20 percent of its length. As it stretches, more and more kinetic energy is stored in the strap. The rubber band effect of the snatch strap wanting to get back to its original state releases kinetic energy and works harder to get you unstuck. The stretching is why snatch straps are preferred for recoveries rather than drag chains and winch extension straps. This stretching greatly reduces shock loading to both vehicles and recovery points Like many industry standards, some poor bugger has to die before any kind of legislation is brought into being. While it s a step in the right direction, the best the 4WD industry has come up with so far is a Guideline for the Safe Use of Vehicle Recovery Snatch Straps. Compiled by the Australian 4WD Council and the 4WD Industry, it s a two-page document that offers a basic explanation to the consumer about how to choose, use and maintain a snatch strap. At the time of writing, this two-page guideline must be included with each snatch strap sold in Queensland only, but will eventually become compulsory across the country. While a few manufacturers supplied this guideline as a leaflet in their snatch strap packaging, all straps had a recommended safety margin and either a working load limit, minimum breaking strength or maximum load limit included on a tag sewn into the strap. Like many industry standards, some poor bugger has to die before any kind of legislation is brought into being. While it s a step in the right direction, the best the 4WD industry has come up with so far is a Guideline for the Safe Use of Vehicle Recovery Snatch Straps. Compiled by the Australian 4WD Council and the 4WD Industry, it s a two-page document that offers a basic explanation to the consumer about how to choose, use and maintain a snatch strap. At the time of writing, this two-page guideline must be included with each snatch strap sold in Queensland only, but will eventually become compulsory across the country. While a few manufacturers supplied this guideline as a leaflet in their snatch strap packaging, all straps had a recommended safety margin and either a working load limit, minimum breaking strength or maximum load limit included on a tag sewn into the strap. Currently, there are no Australian Standards for the manufacture of synthetic 4WD recovery gear including snatch straps, winch extension straps and tow straps. Other recovery hardware like shackles, drag chains and wire ropes are in most cases manufactured to an Australian or international lifting standard and are simply adapted from lifting to 4WD recovery. The company Just Straps has gone one step further to ensure its straps are used within their limits safely. Along with a minimum breaking strength, it also lists a recovery load limit. This is the recommended load that can be repeatedly applied to the snatch strap without causing any damage to it. The company also includes a chart on its website that is an excellent reference to the possible forces you ll encounter when recovering your 4WD. This will also assist you in choosing the correct size of snatch strap. Just Straps also identifies all its nylon products (snatch straps) with a green material on each eyelet. The winch extension straps (designed not to stretch) have blue material stitched onto the eyelets. This is a great idea when your frantically rummaging to find the right recovery gear as your 4WD sinks below the surface. Another company that s focused on ensuring its products are used correctly is Terrain Tamer. It includes a CD that details the correct use of a snatch strap and also shows the uses for a wide range of recovery gear available. It has some good information for those new to 4WDing and the more experienced driver

8 046 FIELD TESTING Knowing what loads each snatch strap broke at, we wanted to know what sorts of forces were actually exerted in the real world. To find out, we took a portable load cell, four snatch straps and two 4WDs into the field for some real-world testing. The four straps we took had ratings of 6000kg,, 11,000kg and 15,000kg. This allowed us to see which strap rating performed best. One of the most common terrains we ve all driven in is sand. Considering soft sand can see a vehicle bogged to its diffs quick smart, it was the ideal terrain where you could get easily bogged time and again. Having successfully bogged a short-wheelbase GQ Patrol multiple times and then recovering it with a 100 Series Cruiser, the results show just how easy it is to break a snatch strap in really bad conditions. SNATCHED FROM Flat ground, no obstructions: Slight incline, no obstructions: Bogged to rear diff, dry sand: Bogged to both diffs, dry sand: Bogged to rear diff, wet sand: Bogged to both diffs, wet sand: RECOVERY FORCE (kg) 350kg 1430kg 1985kg 2860kg 2273kg 3558kg While these results were well within the limits of all straps tested, bear in mind the vehicle being recovered wasn t overly heavy. Replace that same vehicle with a fully laden Cruiser or Patrol with a camper trailer on the back and the necessary recovery loads would increase substantially. What was also interesting to note was the feel of each strap during different recoveries. The snatch of the 6000kg and straps felt relatively smooth even during the heavier recoveries. The straps could be felt stretching, just before the vehicle popped out. The 11,000kg had a more noticeable harshness to it, while the 15,000kg considerably jolted both vehicles due to less stress in the strap under these loads. CHOOSING YOUR SNATCH STRAP With the cost of living at an all-time high, you d almost be forgiven for trying to cut corners on gear you rarely use. That s not to say all the good gear costs more, it just means there s more at stake than saving a few dollars. The current guidelines recommend choosing a strap with a rating of 2-3 times the weight of your vehicle. This means a loaded Suzuki Sierra weighing 1300kg needs a strap with a minimum breaking strain of 2600kg to 3900kg. For these vehicles, a 6000kg strap is ample. Heavier vehicles like a 3000kg Patrol need a strap rated between 6000kg and 9000kg. Throw a two-tonne camper trailer on the back and the strap size needed is 10,000kg to 15,000kg. Another thing to bear in mind is how much force is being placed on both vehicles when you push the limits of these bigger straps. Putting 10,000kg through any chassis will most likely cause some kind of structural damage. The best recovery is the easiest one. By doing as much as possible to track conditions like packing wheels or digging away obstructions, the recovery forces needed are greatly reduced. If you ve never seen a snatch strap break, take our word for it that you don t want to be anywhere near it they will smash through anything in their way, especially people. And that takes us back to choosing the right strap. If you know for a fact that your snatch strap has a reliable safety margin, there ll be a better chance of an incident-free recovery if you do push its limits and that s a fact. Load cell device in action This is the business end of testing. Rated at 1000t, this ram snapped all the straps with ease PARTING THOUGHTS If a manufacturer is prepared to market a product with a specific rating, that product should consistently meet or exceed that rating, especially where safety is involved. We contacted those manufacturers whose straps failed below the marked ratings to get answers. Those manufacturers have testing certificates of their own showing that their testing has seen examples of their product pass other tests. In some cases, this included breaking only one in 500 straps, and in some cases the traps were tested in half sections, not full lengths. This shows that manufacturers have tested some of their products to make sure they meet the stated load limits. But because of the manufacturing process, no two straps will break at exactly the same load. We went to every length and cost to make sure our testing was accurate, and we even flew interstate to test the straps on a test rig that would allow them to be tested over their full length, not only half the strap s length as some other tests do. We stand by our results, as the testing was NATA approved and we have certificates to back it up. While some straps broke below their marked load limits, another similar strap from the same batch may break above the marked limits due to slight unavoidable differences in the manufacturing and stitching process. While our other field testing illustrates that in real-world recoveries, not many snatch straps will ever need to endure loads above 6000kg, you or I could have bought one of those straps that failed under its stated limit. A recovery product has a load rating for a reason your safety. All such products should exceed that limit and include a reasonable factor of safety, or safety margin. This means that while a snatch strap with a minimum breaking strain of should, worst case, actually fail at least 10 percent over, and at best more than percent over that. While the current crop of straps available has improved over recent years, there is still some room for improvement by increasing safety margins in some straps. That said, if we as consumers choose the right snatch strap for our needs a strap with a minimum breaking strength of two to three times the gross vehicle mass of your 4WD none of the straps tested should pose any safety risk when new. CHECK OUT THE ACTION STAND WELL CLEAR Head on over to the official 4WD Action website to see a video from the extensive tests we performed on snatch straps: snatch-strap-comparison/ Snatch Strap Comparo 047