EYRE PENINSULA 4WD CLUB INC.

•   New mandatory safety standard for snatch straps

The Queensland government has introduced a mandatory safety standard for the supply of motor vehicle recovery (snatch) straps effective from 1 April 2008. The prescribed safety standard specifies key product and safety information that must be supplied with every Snatch Strap.
More info Click here

 

•   Articles on dangers of snatch straps

The following coroners report should act as a warning to those four wheel drivers who are ever involved in a snatch strap recovery. The report is about a fatality in Tasmania involving the use of a snatch strap. To read the article Click here

 

•   Winching

Improvisation and lateral thinking often comes into play when recovering yourself or another vehicle with the winch. Seldom are two 4WD recovery situations the same.

        

Eureka 4WD Training have a number of illustrations to show different types of rigging. Please note that for clarity the “Air Break” (Blanket) which should be placed over the winch cables has not been shown in these illustrations. They show rigging using an electric winch however the same principles apply to hand winches. When using a hand winch, where practicable, I try to set the rigging up so that I’m near the vehicle with the winch rather than at the other end of the cable.

 

Remember an electric winch is only designed to pull you forward and maybe a little to one side. The hand winch will pull you in any direction with the correct rigging. Most people are fine with a straight 1:1 pull but get a bit mixed up when a snatch block needs to be used. I always try to use a snatch block when I can as it’s less strain and gives you more control as it’s slower. A recovery is always going to have a potentially dangerous element attached to it. Keep all bystanders well clear.

 

The Diagrams of Winching  Click here

 

•   Beach driving

There has been a very good article written by 4WD Action on beach driving. To read the article Click here