Don’t just throw the tow rope around the ball

[Rockwood]

I've completely converted to soft shackles and synthetic winch rope for this reason.  That chit is SCARY when it lets go, lots of physics involved.

1. Always use a recovery shackle attached to a sufficiently strong recovery point.  
2. Always wrap a towel or something heavy and made of fabric or similar material to the middle of the recovery strap or winch rope.
3. Always use a recovery rope or strap, with ropes being much safer and easier on parts.  Tie downs are NOT for recovery.  I never use anything with metal hooks on the end.  If I need to connect more than one, I use a soft shackle, not a D ring (which makes a good projectile if the rope breaks). 
4. Always assume the recovery devices will fail and move people clear.  This includes your buddy trying to "guide" the winch rope onto the drum to keep it neat.  Unwind the rope and wind neatly when you're not trying to move a 5 ton vehicle.
5. Always pay attention to working load ratings on your recovery equipment.  Yanking out a buddy's diesel pusher and stacker with your 10,000lb rated D rings?  Expect fireworks.

I'm sure there are other lessons and rules, but this is what I like to adhere to at a minimum.  

What is best for your average truck, a shackle where you normally hook the safety chains? I would predict the safety chain area to have less overall metal and would be weaker than the tow hitch? Unless it was a cheaper quality hitch? I saw the story and how there was a baby seat in the back. Messed up for sure. Ive towed out a couple handful of people over the years and always used the tow hitch. I keep a tow strap in the bed of my truck for 25 years and not even using it correct. I also never loaded it up very much because i dont have a truck and trans worthy of railing on it being the older style strap. Its not a stretchy nacho libre strap. 

Did a quick search and see shackles for tow straps. Also seeing shackles attached to a hitch? Maybe its light duty applications. Will look more later at the ratings. Ive heard people say they like harbor freight for cheap hand tools, but they would never buy something like a tow hitch there. Could this be a sad sad example of an underrated hitch? I remember bohica made the post about hitch pins being of different quality. Oh wait....was that Randy? I think Bohica had a ball break. Someone else had a pin shear? Both ended well luckily with zero injuries i think. 

A recovery shackle mount in the hitch should be fine.  Safety chain mounts would likely result in tears.

Either way, make sure to put something heavy on the strap/rope to keep it from becoming a rocket.  

 

[Family of 4]

I've completely converted to soft shackles and synthetic winch rope for this reason.  That chit is SCARY when it lets go, lots of physics involved.

1. Always use a recovery shackle attached to a sufficiently strong recovery point.  
2. Always wrap a towel or something heavy and made of fabric or similar material to the middle of the recovery strap or winch rope.
3. Always use a recovery rope or strap, with ropes being much safer and easier on parts.  Tie downs are NOT for recovery.  I never use anything with metal hooks on the end.  If I need to connect more than one, I use a soft shackle, not a D ring (which makes a good projectile if the rope breaks). 
4. Always assume the recovery devices will fail and move people clear.  This includes your buddy trying to "guide" the winch rope onto the drum to keep it neat.  Unwind the rope and wind neatly when you're not trying to move a 5 ton vehicle.
5. Always pay attention to working load ratings on your recovery equipment.  Yanking out a buddy's diesel pusher and stacker with your 10,000lb rated D rings?  Expect fireworks.

I'm sure there are other lessons and rules, but this is what I like to adhere to at a minimum.  

A recovery shackle mount in the hitch should be fine.  Safety chain mounts would likely result in tears.

Either way, make sure to put something heavy on the strap/rope to keep it from becoming a rocket.  

This is the first time I’ve heard about soft shackles. Are the equally as robust as the typical shackles we use? I like the idea of it if it can be strong enough to help pull out a guy with a truck and a trailer together.This is the first time I’ve heard about soft shackles. Are the equally as robust as the typical shackles we use? I like the idea of it if it can be strong enough to help pull out a guy with a truck and a trailer together.

 

[Kraut_n_Rice]

This is the first time I’ve heard about soft shackles. Are the equally as robust as the typical shackles we use? I like the idea of it if it can be strong enough to help pull out a guy with a truck and a trailer together.This is the first time I’ve heard about soft shackles. Are the equally as robust as the typical shackles we use? I like the idea of it if it can be strong enough to help pull out a guy with a truck and a trailer together.

Soft shackles are made partially of magic.  They also come in a variety of sizes/ratings.

I'm a tow strap, not a recovery rope.

 

[Bobalos]

This is kind of interesting. 

 

[Rockwood]

This is the first time I’ve heard about soft shackles. Are the equally as robust as the typical shackles we use? I like the idea of it if it can be strong enough to help pull out a guy with a truck and a trailer together.This is the first time I’ve heard about soft shackles. Are the equally as robust as the typical shackles we use? I like the idea of it if it can be strong enough to help pull out a guy with a truck and a trailer together.

I’ve abused mine, no issues so far. If they break, no big deal since they’re rope, not cable.

I put a zip tie over the loop end with the end pointed straight out so you can easily feed it through an existing 3/4” D ring mount. 

 

[Family of 4]

I’ve abused mine, no issues so far. If they break, no big deal since they’re rope, not cable.

I put a zip tie over the loop end with the end pointed straight out so you can easily feed it through an existing 3/4” D ring mount. 

Good to know. I will order a set and kinetic rope from rhino