Safety Lanyards

[mtbjeep]

I was watching this video where a soft shackle broke during a kinetic recovery and one of the commentors mentioned the use of a safety lanyard instead of a winch dampener to mitigate risk. Here is an example of what I believe is being referred to.

The basic premise is a lanyard is attached to each end of a kinetic rope (or the hook end of a winch line) and, should a component fail during the recovery, the lanyard will either arrest the snap-back of the line or, if it breaks, will bleed off considerable energy in the process.

All of the winch dampener videos I have found show that dampeners are effective when 2 are used and they are both weighted down. The lanyard approach seems pretty sound and easy to add into a recovery as you are already making attachments at either end. Is there a particular reason why this is not a recommended practice wherein the use of dampeners seem to be ubiquitous?

Thanks

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[GATORB8]

How do you safely connect mid-line? It looks like a rope with two looped ends.

I guess you could soft shackle it to the kinetic loop and the tow point and create a backup for a single soft shackle. Could accomplish that with a tree strap you already have.

 

[mtbjeep]

I'm envisioning just what you described; it would (whatever product that might be) re-tether the kinetic loop to the recovery point at each end. I imagine a tree saver would work just fine. I'm really questioning why this isn't discussed as a viable option to slow the rope/winch line down when the single dampener seem to be woefully inadequate. Maybe they could all be used together? A lot of setup but it beats getting injured.

 

[GATORB8]

I'm envisioning just what you described; it would (whatever product that might be) re-tether the kinetic loop to the recovery point at each end. I imagine a tree saver would work just fine. I'm really questioning why this isn't discussed as a viable option to slow the rope/winch line down when the single dampener seem to be woefully inadequate. Maybe they could all be used together? A lot of setup but it beats getting injured.

I think the most likely failure point is the thimble/loop of a winch rope, then an abrasion along the length. If the loop fails, there is nothing to anchor a lanyard to.

 

[mtbjeep]

Curious if anyone on the forum uses a lanyard as part of their SOP?

 

[Vinman]

Spot on.
I never liked the idea of kinetic ropes and shudder every time I see one in use, thats a ton of energy just waiting to be released.
Anytime I’m involved in a recovery its a take-your-time procedure, very seldom is recovering a stuck vehicle an urgent situation.
I also advise when using any type of strap to take up the slack then start the pull, if the obstacle refuses to give up the vehicle, out comes the synthetic winch line for a more controlled pull.

 

[GATORB8]

Well this story's definitely going viral, I've seen it on a couple different sources now.

Had a little time to watch some more. Not sure if you guys saw, but @Desert Lab Rat 's concern on recovery points happened here too. In addition to the failure at the soft shackle, the bumper and recovery point on the Bronco substantially failed. If the soft shackle held this could have been a hell of a lot worse with the bow shackle and clevis launching from the Bronco end.

 

[Old Jeeper]

I was watching this video where a soft shackle broke during a kinetic recovery and one of the commentors mentioned the use of a safety lanyard instead of a winch dampener to mitigate risk. Here is an example of what I believe is being referred to.

The basic premise is a lanyard is attached to each end of a kinetic rope (or the hook end of a winch line) and, should a component fail during the recovery, the lanyard will either arrest the snap-back of the line or, if it breaks, will bleed off considerable energy in the process.

All of the winch dampener videos I have found show that dampeners are effective when 2 are used and they are both weighted down. The lanyard approach seems pretty sound and easy to add into a recovery as you are already making attachments at either end. Is there a particular reason why this is not a recommended practice wherein the use of dampeners seem to be ubiquitous?

Thanks

All I see is another gimmick to extract $ from your wallet and in this case a LOT OF IT! About $500 x 2 it seems..

If you run the right rope you don't need all the gimmicks.

I run Masterpull, this is what I have, its rated at 29,000 lbs (mine is first year and is rated at 26,000 lbs). I have had it for nearly 20 years. I don't recommend the 7/16ths, just don't 29k of pull power. Get the 3/8ths rated at 21,700 lbs.

When these 2 ropes break (which I have NEVER seen happen) the rope falls to the ground, and there is no snap back (seen the testing).

My 7/16th started out at 110 ft, today is around 80 or so. Due to extensive pulls in the rocks which will chafe the outer covering. This also protects it from UV.

I send my rope almost every year for inspection and repair. Thats how I got down to about 80 ft. There is no cost, they do it for free and ship back free.

3/8ths comes in 50/85/100. Let your winching determine the length you need. I have done a lot over the years and worked it hard and all of it in the rocks. Go with the 3/8 on time and never need to buy again.

Both the 3/8s & 7/16th look the same.


Price:
$605.00
SKU:
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Weight:
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Rating: 21,700

* Length:

• 50' (Out of stock)
• 85'
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SUPERLINE XD WINCH LINE | 7/16" (11.6MM)


Price:
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Weight:
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[mtbjeep]

Spot on.
I never liked the idea of kinetic ropes and shudder every time I see one in use, thats a ton of energy just waiting to be released.
Anytime I’m involved in a recovery its a take-your-time procedure, very seldom is recovering a stuck vehicle an urgent situation.
I also advise when using any type of strap to take up the slack then start the pull, if the obstacle refuses to give up the vehicle, out comes the synthetic winch line for a more controlled pull.

I think I like this approach the best in terms of escalating the forces involved without getting into the dangers of a kinetic recovery. I still might consider a safety lanyard on the winch hook/steel shackle/snatch block just to increase the safety margin.

 

[Old Jeeper]

This is the best company in the business. Nobody can compare to them. I know the guy personally started the company he came from the oil industry, offshore rigging. He really knows his stuff, and he only sells the absolute best of everything. It’s not a reseller they make it as I stated in my post, I sent my rope back about once a year to have it, inspected and repaired if needed no charge.

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