Winch-Out Versus Kinetic Rope?

By Randall C. Resch   

Speed and convenience shouldn’t be the deciding factor in attacking any recovery. When speed goes up, safety goes down! For recoveries that are accessible, I choose conventional winching techniques for total control and mitigating risk. 

I watched two tow operators, three intoxicated males and a 4x4 owner laughingly attempt to extract a Ram pickup from an infamous bog on San Diego’s Fiesta Island. Where the 4x4 was situated, a pile of recovery chain, J-hooks, a kinetic rope, farm jack, two lengths of 4x4 lumber, and another busted looped-end strap lay coated with the island’s brackish mud.  

Aside from all participants scratching their heads, it was apparent no one knew what they were doing. Like a group of circus performers, the more they worked to un-stick the stuck truck, the more stuck it became.  

If you know anything about monkeys and footballs, this rescue attempt was about to become deadly until my police car (and I) happened onto the scene, only to interrupt and stop their actions. Making no progress, they decided a looped strap around the truck’s trailer ball was the next step to an already comical recovery. Nope, not on my watch! 

Are You Kidding Me? 

As this reckless act was about to unfold, all participants, including both operators, were untrained in recovery procedures and lacked the essential safety mindset. Additionally, there was a clear absence of common sense and adherence to proper industry techniques. 

The internet is full of fatality examples where off-road enthusiasts get severely injured or killed when attempting to extract vehicles by not using the proper (and safe) attachment techniques. Let this mini narrative serve as a reminder and safety warning that using a snatch rope or kinetic strap in this manner is a deadly practice. 

Mechanical integrity refers to the trailer ball's 'shaft,' which is attached to a frame-mounted hitch. Over time, this shaft can corrode or weaken due to the use of low-quality pot metals in the manufacturing of threaded shafts, which deteriorate with age. 

Because some towers (by nature) are lazy or don’t want to get wet or muddy, they oftentimes bypass safety for simplicity. Unfortunately, simplicity relates to deadly consequences, especially when operators loop kinetic ropes or straps around trailer balls. So, towers, when a trailer ball’s shaft snaps under an extreme jerk, where do ya’ think that projectible is headed? 

Who’s the Boss 

In all recoveries large and small, there should be only one recovery boss. When too many cooks fill the kitchen, you know what happens. Typically, the most experienced person should direct difficult recoveries, but sometimes that individual lacks experience. This is true to towers having too much ego, or military rank, if said recovery occurs in a military environment. 

Rumor says that international recovery teams from the world famous “Camel Cup Races” would discuss recovery strategy over a cup of tea before race car recovery began. This recommended practice was passed amongst participants, as a means of tossing recovery ideas around, so to arrive at a solid plan. Because wading into challenging recoveries without solid planning could likely get someone injured or killed, proper planning was paramount. 

And as a reminder to “off-road experts,” so-called “internet influencers,” and tow operators hurrying to extract vehicles, if you’re too lazy to do things right, there’s a likelihood you could injure yourself or others when extreme pull begins. Recovery safety isn’t about likes and followers! 

Minimizing Risk

The best recovery plans include using equipment and accessories that minimize recovery risk that’s associated with critical pull. Recovery is only as safe as the operator behind what knowledge they’re working, to avoid inflicting extreme forces against the equipment’s safe working load limits (SWLL).  

Although using kinetic rope is a “go to” item of preferred equipment, attaching looped ends to soft shackles in association with draped line brakes, tossing a blanket over kinetic ropes or winch lines help prevent unintended recoil. Don’t trust equipment integrity should the recovery item snap, rip, pull through, or detach from attached locations.  

When extracting mired or rolled vehicles, I prefer winching versus “janking” casualties via brute force of acceleration and kinetic energy. As a civilian recovery specialist for the Navy, we practice a solid safety mindset that using proper winch techniques as intended allows recovery operators to enlist their senses. It’s smart to hear, see and feel processes and progress realized through calculated recovery. 

Successful and safe recoveries are controlled! It’s my recommendation that using kinetic straps only initiates when access to casualty vehicles is limited, the only accessory available, or, in the military sense, for conducting “Hasty Tow” used in hostile territory. 

The off-road community and tow (recovery) industry have accepted looped-end straps as an alternative to winching. Ultimately, it’s up to operators and enthusiasts to choose what techniques and equipment provide safety value specific to recovery scenes. What rings true to recovery is the old ditty “Slow and steady wins the race.”        _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ 

Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired, veteran, California police officer, former tow business owner and industry advocate. As consultant and trainer, he authored and teaches tow truck operator safety courses approved by the California Highway Patrol. For 55-years, he has been involved in the towing and recovery industry. In 28-years, he has contributed more than 760-safety focused articles for American Towman Magazine, TowIndustryWeek.com and is a frequent seminar presenter and beauty pageant judge at tow shows. In 2014, he was inducted to the International Towing and Recovery Industry Hall of Fame, was the 3rd recipient of the industry's "Dave Jones Leadership Award," and is a member of American Towman’s Safety Committee. Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.