I didn't see it mentioned but doesn't everyone know to tie a shirt, towel or rag to the strap or chain when pulling on anything?? I am sure some of theses pros will know what it is actually called but definitely worth doing!
A few points on that subject-
That is a very good practice when using cable for winching. A rag isn't enough, but a jacket or big towel is fine. Whatever is used has to be heavy enough to absorb alot of kinteic energy
That isn't needed if you're using a strap with a proper shackle hooked to something that isn't going to break, as straps don't have enough mass to be deadly in recoil if ut breaks.
Chains should not be used in recovery in dynamic situations period. They are not meant for shock loading and you can intantly exceed its breaking strength.
If a chain us used it should be a straight pull, no yanking and will be fine if is rated for twice the amount of the weight it will see. How many chains truly get used proplerly? How many people can calculate what kind of load a stuck vehicle will take to get out?
The thing about chains- you never know where it will break- a jacket wrapped around the middle will still allow the broken chain, if it breaks near one end, to move almost half it's distance before meeting any resistance and absorbing any velocity at all- by that time it is almost to your head. There needs to be 2 or even better 3 jackets or blankets wrapped around the chain to be effective at stopping that missile.
The last point about chains, and why I'll never agsin use one for recovery- it is super easy to exceed its strength because of its lack of stretch. Take a 7000 lb revovery vehicle and a 7000 lb stuck vehicle for example. Your chain will see 14,000 lbs of force with the slightest bump when it hits the end of the slack, because of the lack of stretch. I didnt know this until I almost had what was a very strong, quality chain go through my head. I dont beleive a towel in the middle of thst chain would have stopped it.
