Homemade Recovery Chains

1

168981

New member
What are your thoughts on making your own recovery chains instead of buying whatever is on the market? I feel like if you can find pretty strong chains for cheap, hook up d-rings on both ends and bam, DIY recovery chains.

I am of the belief that if I can make it myself, then why not?
1) It might be cheaper(usually it is)
2) You can design it however you want (margin of safety as well)
3) If it breaks, you'd know how to fix it
4) It's a good lesson/experience
5) Bragging rights:cool:

Thoughts? Criticisms?
 
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Chains :nono:

Chains break. When chains break under pressure, chains become missiles.

I've seen chains snap and go through a back window and luckily miss the driver. Scary stuff. They even had a dampner in the middle but it still did that and it was a "strong" chain.

Stick with a strap. They're much safer.

Just my 2 cents.
 
If you know what you're doing, chains have advantages over straps. But you need to know what you're doing, because when crap goes wrong with chain it can be much worse than straps.

What exactly did you have in mind, OP? Do you know how much 50 feet of 1/2" grade 70 chain weighs?
 
I was thinking chains because instead of going for a winch (and having to replace my front coils and get a bumper), I got the Hi Lift X-treme Lift and the Hi Lift winching kit. I'll have 30' of recovery straps too, but just thought the winching process would work better with chains.
 
You're talking about something like the HiLift ORK then. Yah, short lengths of chain can definitely help, but research the load limits on what you're buying, make sure everything is stronger than the fail pin on your hilift. I recommend a strap on the long side anyway, carrying that much chain is a drag.

Get it? A drag? Chains? ... oh, no? Ok then, I'll just wander off. :pout:
 
168981 said:
I was thinking chains because instead of going for a winch (and having to replace my front coils and get a bumper), I got the Hi Lift X-treme Lift and the Hi Lift winching kit. I'll have 30' of recovery straps too, but just thought the winching process would work better with chains.
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I have used the Xtream and I do carry it. Winching with it sucks because it takes so long! I have done with it chains too. It is nice for a quick fix or something easy but I'm telling you the winch is SO NICE!!!!

When you are really in a bind the Hilift is not always the answer you need.

Blue
 
Ol'Blue said:
I have used the Xtream and I do carry it. Winching with it sucks because it takes so long! I have done with it chains too. It is nice for a quick fix or something easy but I'm telling you the winch is SO NICE!!!!

When you are really in a bind the Hilift is not always the answer you need.

Blue
Click to expand...

Well I can only "afford" the Hi-Lift winch. I just don't want to sink all that money into new coilovers/front bumper. Maybe somewhere down the line, I'll make my own bumper and then get a winch. But until then, its the old fashion way.
 
168981 said:
Well I can only "afford" the Hi-Lift winch. I just don't want to sink all that money into new coilovers/front bumper. Maybe somewhere down the line, I'll make my own bumper and then get a winch. But until then, its the old fashion way.
Click to expand...

I under stand man. That is how I started out also.

Blue
 
Don't underestimate or forget that the hi-lift also "lifts"... So don't think you always need to winch forward or back to get unstuck. A lot of times you are just high centered or dug a tire deep in sand where just lifting it up and stuffing something under it will do the trick.

I carry some chain sometimes usually for the first trails of the season when I don't know what damage the winter has caused. And it's crazy heavy. The idea is that sometimes if a tree has fallen over in the trail, I would wrap the chain around the tree to winch it out of the way instead of ruining a nice tree saver strap. Then the chain gets hooked to my winch hook. I've never actually had to use it... Usually a little bit of chainsaw and then a few guys roll the log away.
 
off-road runner said:
I made this and it's usually what I carry. It has its' pros & cons. Got ~ 30'.
Click to expand...

Cool idea. That looks like old 11mm static climbing rope, but I can't tell for sure. Just FYI, when it's braided like that you probably don't get 3x the strength of a single strand because bends like knots and braids decrease strength. But it probably increases shock absorption/stretch and makes it neater to pack up. Note that "static" climbing rope still stretches a significant amount, just not at much as dynamic climbing rope.
 
You need to know what you're doing with chain period. There's nothing wrong with making your own stuff as long as it is certified to be stronger than your pulling force. Trucks can put serious stress on chains. I prefer straps with civilian vehicles because its harder to control the danger zone. Its also why synthetic winch line is better than steel.

People can be killed by diy unless you know wtf you're doing. Please be careful.
 
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