Why do I have to use a shackle with a tree saver? Why not just hook up to the loops?
tree saver shackle (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter timbercruiser
- Start date
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timbercruiser said:
What loops are your referring to?
As long as you feel safe that your winch hook wont fall out of the loops.
Could be nasty.
Could be nasty.
The shackle distributes the weight/pull to the whole strap better. If you run your hook to the loops directly the strap loop will be bunched up inside the hook.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #5
Not that I'm against doing it, just curious. Watching the top truck video in the tank trap, the guys have to spend time screwing the shackle before they hook up the cable.
could always use a shackle that has a pin with a cotter pin instead of threads to secure it
timbercruiser said:
Patience is definitely your friend in safe recovery situations! I'll take the extra 30-seconds to screw a pin in if it helps ensure a safe extraction process. There's a recent thread where someone experienced significant LC body damage ($3,500+) by taking, IMO, a shortcut...thank God for them someone wasn't maimed or worse!
Do yourself and everyone else involved a favor by doing it the best and safest way.
- Thread starter
- #8
Is it unsafe to not use the shackle? I have a clip on my winch hook, so it *SHOULDN'T* slip off.
I will go safety first.
I will go safety first.
As long as the hook is large enough to easily accept tow strap loops/ends without binding the tow strap.
sandcruiser
....back in the saddle again....
if the treesaver is long enough that the angle of the straps is much less than 45 degrees, then using the hook alone might not be unsafe. If the straps form an angle of more than 45 degrees, then the force pulling *outward* on the hook is more than what the hook is designed to hold. Basically, if the angle is more than about 90 degrees, pulling 1,000 lbs on the straps will put around 1000 lbs of pull outward on *each* side of the hook. Not a problem with 1000 lbs, but when you start talking 5000.... not good.
The shackle is stronger in that configuration.
Now, to be clear, it is much better to have the treesaver long enough to form a shallow angle- ie: the saver wraps around the tree and extends away from the tree to the shackle instead of the shackle lying up against the tree.
This would make more sense with drawings. But the essence is that the shape and design of the shackle helps distribute the forces involved better than a hook, and the strength of the shackle is much higher side-side than the hook (that gate you are talking about can't take any weight).
The shackle is stronger in that configuration.
Now, to be clear, it is much better to have the treesaver long enough to form a shallow angle- ie: the saver wraps around the tree and extends away from the tree to the shackle instead of the shackle lying up against the tree.
This would make more sense with drawings. But the essence is that the shape and design of the shackle helps distribute the forces involved better than a hook, and the strength of the shackle is much higher side-side than the hook (that gate you are talking about can't take any weight).