BEWARE: cheap snatch blocks

[Oh_Jeepers]

Pretty crazy how it fell apart. My recovery gear consists of Factor55 and AEV. Spent a pretty penny on both but with the piece of mind they are quality parts engineered for the recovery task at hand.

I have this snatch block and to date its been solid on the rare occasion I've

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[Oh_Jeepers]

Me I've been a Warn fan ever since it saved mine and my wife's a$$ 35 some years ago. Now fully on board with Factor55 as just got this great bag kit on amazon to start collecting recover gear.

like they say "Warn go Prepared"

 

[Terrymo]

Hey all
I was with @BDinTX when he discovered that the pulley came apart and was shocked to see the snap ring off the pin and separated from pulley. When we connected everything worked as it should have with nothing indicating that snap ring was lose if I had to guess the load that we put in the block caused ether the pin to flex or snap ring to flex off.

Also down in TX not a lot hills around our neighborhoods without traffic to put a load on so the use of the concrete base of the light pole and with me in the jeep with the parking break almost fully applied it had a good load on the line.

The point of all of this is to pass along things we all find to look out for our fellows in the 4X4 community so no one gets hurt.

I'm going to do some looking at the AEV snatch block so thanks for the info.

Appreciated. There’s no shortage of monday morning quarterbacking here…myself included. Or people that don’t read any posts before theirs. Thanks for the reminder to us all.

 

[mgroeger]

Bang for the buck that’s probably a winner. Those Smittybilt things were the first and last recovery items I skimped on.

I like the Factor 55 RRP though, the little rubber nubs really do help keep the rope in place while setting up. I already had 3 plus the two el cheapo’s. I tossed those and ordered another RRP yesterday. I if I can’t get out with 4 pulleys I might need help.

Dang. I've done my share of winching and have yet to use a snatch block let alone 4 of them LOL.

 

[mgroeger]

Bang for the buck that’s probably a winner. Those Smittybilt things were the first and last recovery items I skimped on.

I like the Factor 55 RRP though, the little rubber nubs really do help keep the rope in place while setting up. I already had 3 plus the two el cheapo’s. I tossed those and ordered another RRP yesterday. I if I can’t get out with 4 pulleys I might need help.

BTW... you took the beating in stride and didn't blink. I on the other hand my have been err, umm, err... a wee bit harsh

 

[YBABRAT]

The cheaper block issue is the snap ring. I noticed the AEV snatch block has a robust snap ring. An easy peasy fix on a cheap snatch block is to use a spiraloc on both sides. Tortional stress pop out is eliminated with them. A lot of performance built trannies use them for good reason. They stay in place. Other than that, the cheapie blocks are heavy duty enough for self recovery needs as long as you stay within the load limits.

 

[BDinTX]

The cheaper block issue is the snap ring. I noticed the AEV snatch block has a robust snap ring. An easy peasy fix on a cheap snatch block is to use a spiraloc on both sides. Tortional stress pop out is eliminated with them. A lot of performance built trannies use them for good reason. They stay in place. Other than that, the cheapie blocks are heavy duty enough for self recovery needs as long as you stay within the load limits.

Is this what you're talking about? I had to google it, had never heard of these before.

 

[DarthAWM]

This is why for my money I'd go with the non-edible donut for a recovery kit, no moving parts to break.

 

[YBABRAT]

Is this what you're talking about? I had to google it, had never heard of these before.

Yep that's the ticket! As for some who prefer donut type. Yes there is no moving parts... but the roller on the snatch block lessens the stress by evenly distrubing load along the bend of the rope. Donuts can make more stress at the bend by frictional forces applied by weight of the pull. Having a roller eliminates frictional forces. Also donut design requires a soft shackle. Over time depending on use in recovery jobs, soft shackles don't last as long and are expensive.

The big drawback with cheap plate design is size and weight. The pully is heavier than all the rest of the components. There are smaller designs but they are a bit weighty over donut type.

 

[YBABRAT]

Me I've been a Warn fan ever since it saved mine and my wife's a$$ 35 some years ago. Now fully on board with Factor55 as just got this great bag kit on amazon to start collecting recover gear.

like they say "Warn go Prepared"

It seems to cover the bases... but i prefer the Gear America 4"x10' Tree Saver and custom picking addons. D rings with bolted on pins, roller type snatch block, and some ratcheting tie down straps. If properly used you wont need a winch, just put it in low drive. Don't believe me watch Ice Road Truckers.

 

[Oh_Jeepers]

It seems to cover the bases... but i prefer the Gear America 4"x10' Tree Saver and custom picking addons. D rings with bolted on pins, roller type snatch block, and some ratcheting tie down straps. If properly used you wont need a winch, just put it in low drive. Don't believe me watch Ice Road Truckers.

Yeah, it's a great kit to start with as it has just about everything needed for a good save recovery of different types, I already have some masterpull gear, bridal and an additional recover rope and addition soft shackles but will be adding 2 Warn snatch blocks as I figure the factor55 RRR is a good start but if I'm doing multi-point winching I'll need to reduce as much friction as possible.


I do question using "ratcheting tie downs" in a recovery. To me, the only use they have is securing cargo and could pose a safety risk that, to me, would not be worth the risk. Now I can say I've never seen ice road truckers, so I have nothing to base it on.


I do feel that having the proper gear rated for the recovery you are doing is the best place to start. I attended a training session at a jamboree and the recovery instructor made a great point, starting with the lease risk recovery method first based on the situation at hand, piling rocks or sticks, then recovery boards, tow-rope, recovery rope (no flying starts to un stuck a vehicle), then a winch. All depending on the situation.


The important thing is to be safe when making a recovery, as the life you save could be your own.

 

[Radioman]

Yeah, it's a great kit to start with as it has just about everything needed for a good save recovery of different types, I already have some masterpull gear, bridal and an additional recover rope and addition soft shackles but will be adding 2 Warn snatch blocks as I figure the factor55 RRR is a good start but if I'm doing multi-point winching I'll need to reduce as much friction as possible.


I do question using "ratcheting tie downs" in a recovery. To me, the only use they have is securing cargo and could pose a safety risk that, to me, would not be worth the risk. Now I can say I've never seen ice road truckers, so I have nothing to base it on.


I do feel that having the proper gear rated for the recovery you are doing is the best place to start. I attended a training session at a jamboree and the recovery instructor made a great point, starting with the lease risk recovery method first based on the situation at hand, piling rocks or sticks, then recovery boards, tow-rope, recovery rope (no flying starts to un stuck a vehicle), then a winch. All depending on the situation.


The important thing is to be safe when making a recovery, as the life you save could be your own.

An example of the use of a "ratcheting tie down"

 

[Oh_Jeepers]

An example of the use of a "ratcheting tie down"

Ah as an emergency repair on the trail I completely agree!! But as a recovery I feel not a safe option. I say this as I witnessed a full size truck towing a 4 runner with a 1” ratchet strap just this last week not a good option or a safe one

 

[Radioman]

Ah as an emergency repair on the trail I completely agree!! But as a recovery I feel not a safe option. I say this as I witnessed a full size truck towing a 4 runner with a 1” ratchet strap just this last week not a good option or a safe one

I agree that towing with a racket strap is never a good idea.
The orange vehicle in the picture was being towed by the vehicle in the front. The strap was holding a log to keep the driver's rear off the ground. They had just came out of the Fordyce Trail and was trying to get it to a trailer which was further on the Fordyce Trail Road. Fun times...

 

[THAW]

I attended a training session at a jamboree and the recovery instructor made a great point, starting with the lease risk recovery method first based on the situation at hand, piling rocks or sticks, then recovery boards, tow-rope, recovery rope (no flying starts to un stuck a vehicle), then a winch. All depending on the situation.

Recovery risk pyramid:

credit: Robert Pepper (based on concept from Getabout Training Services)

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