This weekend i went wheelin and i got this heavy duty stainless steal chain to bring with me muddin. well it turns out i got stuck. we hooked up the chain but the problem was my friend has 500 hp in his f 100 so when he hooked up to pull me out he compleetly snapped the chain! it flung back at me and smacked the windsheild and hood luckly there was no dammage. just wanna say no matter how strong you think your chain is dont use it, get a tow strap or a winch [URL="https://www.f150online.com/galleries/albumview.cfm?num=12915[/url]"]

 

That's why straps are made. If a chain must be used, place a blanket or something similar over it so if it breaks the weight of the blanket will drop it to the ground.

 

Exactly the reason why people who do not know what they are doing, should not use chains. Chains can be perfectly safe IF you know how to use them. Everyone else should stick to straps. Even winches are dangerous if you don't know what youre doing. Probably even more dangerous than chains. Ive seen winch cables snap from retards not knowing what they are doing and literally cut smaller trees in half from the sheer force of the things. WHEN IN DOUBT, USE STRAPS.

 

I use chains almost exclusively, and I've never broken one. But I don't use SS - it's MUCH weaker than common carbon steel, as you just discovered. The 500HP had nothing to do with it.

If you're going to use chain for recovery, use RECOVERY CHAIN - not SS; not dog-leash; not decorative...

 

And you want to avoid snapping actions. Just constant pressure.

 

Just the fact that you said it hit the windshield and didnt break it tells me that you were using way too light duty chain. A good chain for that would weigh about 50 lbs. What do use to hold your light in your dining room now that you broke it?

If you want the best for snatching out of a mud hole, find a marine supply store and get some stuff called "Samson" line. I use 1 1/8". It is used to moor large boats/ships to docks, and is dynamic, which means that it stretches, allowing a small vehicle to pull out a larger one easily. The 1-1/8" line has a working load of almost 100,000 lbs.

 

Holy****!

I was wondering how that chain hit your hood and window and did no damage as well.

Seriously get that marine line he's talking about or a ****** strap.

 

x2

NEVER jerk somebody with a chain. I only use chains and have never once had a problem. I just don't like tow straps because it seems like I break at least one every time I go out. They always manage to get knots in them or get wet and then rot. Chains are much easier IMO. Just be smart while using them or it could turn dangerous very fast.

 

Never heard of samson line and can't find any thicker than 5/8"...5/8" have a working load limit of 8200lbs and nowhere does it say it stretches. How much stretching are we talking here. Just curious (read this in monotone, not being rude).

 

It's not really that much, maybe 3% or so? But it is enough to allow a "******"... at least more so than straps. 5/8's might be enough, I just used the bigger stuff because it was free (lots of commercial fishing here). I have used all three (chains, straps, and samson line), and for pulling out a pickup with another pickup, I think it is the best.


This is the stuff I use: http://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?...ope=152&inst=1 I have the 1-1/8, but they dont carry it anymore, (at least it doesn't say on their website) You can get other types, and smaller. This particular line that I got was used to moor a 285 foot buoy tender.

 

I agree with all that has been said. I don't know how it didn't damage the truck but it sounds like a bunch of rules for recovery were broken.

You're lucky you didn't get hurt or worse.

 

I dont use chains at all. I use a recovery strap with a 33% stretch. After my buddys explorer lost a back window to a chain I no longer use them.

 

Straps man, I've seen chains used, and heard millions of stories just like yours. I have a 30,000 lb looped strap with 3 1/4 in. shackels. My strap won't snap unless two tanks hook back to back. But there are saftey blankets that you can get to rest over the strap or chain, whichever you decide to use next time. That will prevent what happened with you. Also I mentioned looped end and shackles cuz, hooks don't always hold. They can slip, and knots don't come undone. Shackles keep both vehicles permanetly connected without risk of hooks flying.

 

...it rots from mildew or sunlight? It abrades internally from sand?

Any strap can be broken. Any chain can be broken. Either can be used safely, or not.

 

and these are the reasons i love my winch
plus you dont have to have another vehicle with you but it does help

my winch paid itself off in a couple weekends down at our beaches pullin people out
theyre more than happy to pay a hundred or less cause if you call a wrecker it can be anywhere from $500 to over $1k