Winch
Tree saver
Tow strap
Recovery strap
Hi-lift jack
Each of the above will have their rated working load printed/stamped on them, or should have. And now you need to attach a couple of these pieces of equipment together in order to have a working recovery effort.
Enter the SHACKLE.
When the tree saver is put around a stout tree, you use a shackle to join the two ends together. If you just use a recovery strap to your truck you use a shackle. You’ll use a shackle in just about any recovery effort.
What size SHACKLE do you need? The safe work load ratings are not normally marked/stamped on them, only their size in inches. So, what shackle is safe for your truck, and what is safe if your truck is stuck in mud/sand/rocks/or on level ground? If it’s a straight level pull, it’s basically your truck weight and if the tires are flat, that apparent weight increases. If you’re stuck in mud up to your axles, the weight can be two times your vehicle’s weight. If it’s over your axles, think of at least three times your trucks weight. Being pulled up and over rocks will be about double the trucks weight. Increase your weight estimation if you are pulling up a slope/grade in the recovery effort.
So, your truck weight is 4,500 pounds. You’re stuck in the mud to your axles, now it seems to weight 9,000 pounds, as your winch sees it. What shackle(s) do you need? Below are two pages out of the “Rigging Handbook” showing how shackles are rated. A shackle is rated by the size of the bow. A ½ inch shackle is rated at 4,000 pounds safe work load. What does you truck weigh? The ¾ inch shackle is rated at 9,500 pounds safe work load. That’s just about a minimum size if you ever play in mud or rocks.
Make sure your truck has good tow points front and rear. Get shackles that are rated at a safe work load at least double, or better yet, triple your trucks weight.
Jerry Dixon
