Soft Shackle On A Winch Line?

[yarmo]

I stuck a Warn soft shackle on the end of my winch, and I’ve been running it this way for over a year with no issues. I think it looks nice and was a hell of a lot cheaper than a flatlink or upgraded hook.

I also think it’s safer to do this. If you’ve got a strap wrapped around a tree connected to a hook or flatlink and that strap fails… well you’ve got a nice 5lb bullet headed your way! Using a soft shackle greatly reduces that risk (at least in my mind).

Wondering if anyone else runs a soft shackle at the end of their winch instead of a hook or flatlink? Is this a bad idea?

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[J0E]

I stuck a Warn soft shackle on the end of my winch, and I’ve been running it this way for over a year with no issues. I think it looks nice and was a hell of a lot cheaper than a flatlink or upgraded hook.

I also think it’s safer to do this. If you’ve got a strap wrapped around a tree connected to a hook or flatlink and that strap fails… well you’ve got a nice 5lb bullet headed your way! Using a soft shackle greatly reduces that risk (at least in my mind).

Wondering if anyone else runs a soft shackle at the end of their winch instead of a hook or flatlink? Is this a bad idea?

That's what I'm planning on doing, safer and cheaper, you can't often say that. Maybe someone will explain why it's a bad idea.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have a flatline on the end of my synthetic and been considering other options. Thinking also that understanding the weak link(s) and which way the projectile will go for the likeliest failure is important.

 

[J0E]

I have a flatline on the end of my synthetic and been considering other options. Thinking also that understanding the weak link(s) and which way the projectile will go for the likeliest failure is important.

My SS have 56,000 LBS Breaking Strength* & Working load limit (WLL): 17,000 lbs

*: later it says 43K lbs.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've invested in two soft shackles and tried one out 'for fun'. Was impressed with how they work. Can't say I'm liking the idea of it being exposed to the elements so for now they sit in my recovery kit inside the Jeep.

 

[J0E]

I've invested in two soft shackles and tried one out 'for fun'. Was impressed with how they work. Can't say I'm liking the idea of it being exposed to the elements so for now they sit in my recovery kit inside the Jeep.

per advert:
Soft shackles are made of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber (UHMWPE) with 43,000 lbs breaking strength.

Good point, UV's break down UHMWPE. I think I'll keep them in the Jeep.

 

[Zandcwhite]

https://bleepinjeep.com/product/freedomline/
This is the 1st one I had seen, but there are now others on the market. Instead of an eye on the end, the winch line is literally terminated in a soft shackle. Interesting idea for sure. I'm not too concerned as the line itself sees way more abuse being mounted on the jeep than the tree saver and everyone I've ever broken myself or seen break happens in that first few feet that gets all the exposure. Beyond that the winch thimble isn't all that heavy and I do everything I can to make sure the pull isn't directly in line with the driver if they need to be in the vehicle and use a winch blanket/floor mat/sweatshirt/ whatever to insure the thing doesn't projectile too far.

 

[yarmo]

That makes sense about the UV issue. Only thing I’d say to that is the only heavily exposed part is the knot itself since my winch is enclosed in my bumper. But I could still see some light getting in.

I have seen this fairlead from Dirt Lifestyle that’s built to hold your winch line end by itself. Looks cool but I felt the soft shackle by itself was just as efficient.

 

[rcadden]

Isn't the whole point of a synthetic line vs metal line is that it doesn't collect/store tension, so if it breaks, it pretty much just drops to the ground, as opposed to whipping back?

(No sarcasm intended, I'm just getting into recovery gear, so it's an honest question)

 

[yarmo]

Isn't the whole point of a synthetic line vs metal line is that it doesn't collect/store tension, so if it breaks, it pretty much just drops to the ground, as opposed to whipping back?

(No sarcasm intended, I'm just getting into recovery gear, so it's an honest question)

A snapped synthetic line can hurt someone; a snapped steel line can kill someone.

 

[yarmo]

 

[roaniecowpony]

I stuck a Warn soft shackle on the end of my winch, and I’ve been running it this way for over a year with no issues. I think it looks nice and was a hell of a lot cheaper than a flatlink or upgraded hook.

I also think it’s safer to do this. If you’ve got a strap wrapped around a tree connected to a hook or flatlink and that strap fails… well you’ve got a nice 5lb bullet headed your way! Using a soft shackle greatly reduces that risk (at least in my mind).

Wondering if anyone else runs a soft shackle at the end of their winch instead of a hook or flatlink? Is this a bad idea?

I was planning on tossing my flatlink. Flatlinks are just a way for a CNC mill owner to make the payments on it. It's also an attractive nuisance for the scummy types that would cut your winch line to take a pretty colored machined part they know not how to use.

I'm planning on keeping a steel thimble on the end of the winch rope, so the bend radius on the end doesn't go below the minimum. I watched some testing and it seems that it matters a bunch if the radius is too small. So you still have a metal object on the end of the winch rope which could become a projectile. Any kind of line damper or a snag line should mitigate the relatively low energy hazard.



I also have some raw Samson Amsteel to make up some soft shackles and make a 100ft winch extension with, adding to the few storebought soft shackles I already have (can't have too many). I'm sitting here looking at the rope and thimbles now, wondering if I should do it today.

But yeah, good idea to lose the flatlink, IMO.

 

[yarmo]

I was planning on tossing my flatlink. Flatlinks are just a way for a CNC mill owner to make the payments on it. It's also an attractive nuisance for the scummy types that would cut your winch line to take a pretty colored machined part they know not how to use.

I'm planning on keeping a steel thimble on the end of the winch rope, so the bend radius on the end doesn't go below the minimum. I watched some testing and it seems that it matters a bunch if the radius is too small. So you still have a metal object on the end of the winch rope which could become a projectile. Any kind of line damper or a snag line should mitigate the relatively low energy hazard.



I also have some raw Samson Amsteel to make up some soft shackles and make a 100ft winch extension with, adding to the few storebought soft shackles I already have (can't have too many). I'm sitting here looking at the rope and thimbles now, wondering if I should do it today.

But yeah, good idea to lose the flatlink, IMO.

Really the thimble makes that big of a difference? I’ve been running without one… Wouldn’t that be an issue using soft shackles at any time then since they don’t have thimbles? How is that different?

 

[entropy]

per advert:
Soft shackles are made of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber (UHMWPE) with 43,000 lbs breaking strength.

Good point, UV's break down UHMWPE. I think I'll keep them in the Jeep.

I wouldnt worry about UV. Worry about dirt.

 

[jaymz]

That was definitely a “use a snatch block scenario”.

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