Are 4x4 Winch Hooks Redundant?

[@kadmow]

- at least a bow-shackle can be thrown on a soft shackle (to support a snatchblock at the tree anchor - Or recovery ring if preferred... - same as all recovery points - anchored metal is no problem - flying metal is bad.... (some hardware option is a good thing.. (Rope Thimble, hard shackle, Recovery Ring, Soft shackle - recovery point inserts.....) I remember old Roothy - back in the magazine days - use the 4WD AUS mag (under the seat) to stop the straps from binding...

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Used to be pretty decent at recovery back in the day!

[@Ed-wy2di]

Soft shackles are the future. Much safer than all the other options. Use a soft shackle to join the extension rope to the winch line.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

If you have soft ends on both, you can join without even using a soft shackle!

[@officialWWM]

I don’t have any metal parts on my winch line anymore. I have a spliced loop on my winch line and use soft shackles exclusively. It’s much safer.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Agreed, me either now.

[@fritzintroopy]

Love this mate... you've totally convinced me to ditch the hook. Cheers

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Fantastic! :)

[@buckstarchaser2376]

I've had nothing but trouble with the hooks that are included with my stuff. I usually drive my ATV around with various things stuck to it that I can use to keep my hooks hooked to stuff. The bow shackles In my size range are only about $5, so I may as well save myself the aggravation and get a few.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Simplest, cheapest, safest and the best!

[@darrylm3627]

Great Tips Good Stuff Very Clear Understanding 👍 Thanks!

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Cheers! Glad you liked it mate.

[@irishcherokee8884]

Great instruction

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Thanks!

[@SuperTmman]

Isn't the winch line creating too small of a radius for the soft shackle?

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

No, seems to work fine.

[@kadmow]

old thread - Just because it works and is accepted in the bush doesn't make it ideal... But it is used, and seems to work (just don't use the same rules of thumb in life critical lifts) lol..... -yes the line (IS) too small for the soft shackle - without a thimble (or rigging ring), and the soft shackle for the line (vice versa), even a 3.5 or 4.5 "tonne" - WLL, shackle pin is technically too small (19 or 22mm NB. WLL - not MBS)... , But we aren't really taking things to the limit generally (and don't necessarily expect 100% of line strength - we don't get it anyhow) - ie. a any line should be used with a "pin" - bend radius for fittings 4x the diameter of the line (if there isn't a thimble) - so any rope to rope connection without at least one thimble in the system - one of the ropes is getting bent too much (hard to do 8x diameter for both - ie. a 9mm winch line "needs" a 72mm diameter "pin" (that was the original use of "rigging rings" - now called "recovery rings" on sailing boats, the 12mm line needs 96mm hard to get that with rope to rope connections.... I only had reinforced to me the other day, that a lifting / winch extension strap / flat sling, shouldn't be "folded" at all to fit on the shacklepin 9if folded - it needs a biggger shackle, regardless of the rating) - if a flat eye - makes sense as it stresses the edges of the strap... Who knew... and who ever packed their Recovery hooks to stop them sliding on the pin of a shackle (proper rigging practice to avoid corner loading a shackle on a hook....

[@lewy1]

I have a shackle at the end of my winch as well.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

It's the simplest, and the best in my opinion.

[@lewy1]

Lock your Hubs 4WDing yes and much cheaper than the factor 55 hook.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

I've never understood the need for a hook on a recreational 4WD. It's not like you're going to do 50+ recoveries a day! (Well you would hope not....)

[@gqwarrior6694]

Always used just a bow shackle myself. Never liked hooks & didn't take me long to turn the Runva thimble into an anchor for my kayak. "Thumbs down twice". I reckon I'd be rather annoyed at a certain creator pinching that. Keep up the good work 👍👍

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Not sure who, but there is nothing new in this world, and imitation is the finest form of flattery!

[@muzzaball]

@@LockyourHubs4WDing you know what they say - there is nothing new under the sun!

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

110% But I'm working at it, every day!

[@MiniLuv-1984]

The stuck zook...had me wondering, then I found it in another of your winching video in August last year...Tell us about the zook sometime.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

It's the better 3/4 shopping basket! Pretty basic, Dobinsons 40mm lift, ARB bullbar, VRS winch, Icom CB, triple battery system and a ESC cutout that kills the RHF wheel speed sensor at the flick of a switch :) helps out with sand driving.

[@CamperKev]

I thought your video was so good, that I gave it the thumbs UP twice. 😁 (Only joking)...........

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Haha!

[@brian3.2]

I was thinking about buying the warn sidewinder. Would that eliminate the d ring/bow shackle?

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

It would, however if you retain the thimble, you would still not be able to join to a soft eyed extension without using some soft of joiner, like the sidewinder, leaving you with a peice of metal (that's a potential projectile) in the middle of your rigging.

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

KISS is always the best idea... :) another great video.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

110%, this isn't overhead rigging, with mandatory periodic testing by qualified riggers, the more metallic components we can remove from the equation, the better.

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

@@LockyourHubs4WDing fewer trips to the doctor or hospital while out 4WDing, and more fun times..

[@CamperKev]

"I was made for loving you" 😊

[@martialllaw]

do you store the winch rope against the fairlead with the bowshackle?

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Yes, just snug the eye of the bow shackle gently against the fairlead.

[@phillipjohnryan7074]

Where did you get the snatch strap connector

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

It's Roadsafe branded, though not sure if it's a stock item or not as it was given to me.

[@gregtoth7534]

Gold Cobba! Love it!

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@heftymerv]

shackles or soft shackles are the only option we use.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Same as me!

[@EmeraldEnchantments]

New tech is cool but i will stick with my properly sized bow shackles. A bow shackle used properly will last forever and can take more abuse. Accidents happen when you overload things. Don't do that and you won't have problems.

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

I think in order for something new to be widely adopted, firstly it's gotta be better than what it's replacing, not just with a better marketing team.

[@spencermorrow2899]

Just buy factor 55

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

That's the whole point of the video, factor 55 and most of their competitors products, while nice looking, are functionally redundant.

[@ClaytonCookpanda]

I have a factor 55 Ultrahook and most of my mates hate it when using the winch. It's handy and looks good, but a big standard hook is quicker and easier.

[@vicc6744]

So you like NOT having a hook at all at the end of the winch rope? Because right now that's what I'm thinking

[@LockyourHubs4WDing]

Correct!

[@vicc6744]

@@LockyourHubs4WDing FINALLY someone who gave me a straight answer- Thanks Mate- lol.