Equalizer straps distribute the load evenly on your vehicle during a recovery. Used in conjunction with a snatch strap or winch strap, you connect the ends to two rated recovery points on the vehicle.
This strap is a minimum of 65mm wide, 3m long, and rated at 8000kg. It is made from hi-tenacity polyester webbing to ensure minimum stretch, and has fully protected sewn eyes at both ends for ease of connecting, plus a wear sleeve.
Australian 4WD encourages the use of a Equalizer Strap, if the vehicle is fitted with two rated recovery hooks bolted to the chassis of the vehicle. This distributes the load evenly of two points.
I have seen Tree Trunk Protector (TTP) with a wear protective sleeve, to protect the strap. The differences are that a TTP is a single strap rated at a minimum of 8000kgs. A true equalizing bridle has two straps stitched together to strengthen the strap, particularly where the forces of the snatch strap is attached to the equalizing strap.
Trainers at Australian 4WD are finding it difficult to find these straps. We did have a true equalizing bridle, however, someone decided that they needed it more than us. Originally we purchased this equalizing strap from Opposite Lock, however noticed that they are selling TTP (single strap) as equalizing straps.
However, that said, the TTP is still going to be protected from the bulk of any shock load by the stretch in the snatch strap, just so long as the Total Pull Required has been calculated and compared to the most weakest part of the recovery equipment.
Australian 4WD recommends that the use of a TRUE equalizing bridle (EB) (doubled strap stitched together) is the safest option rather than a Tree Trunk Protector (TTP) or chains!
The strap portion is simply a cover for a multi fibre bundled central core that has only a little stretch and is very resistant to wear or individual fibre breakage. This style of EB has been developed from the Lifting & Rigging, and it is the strongest and safest type of load equaliser you can use.
To use a Equalizer Bridle, securing the eye's of the strap one side of the vehicle’s rated recovery hook and pass the other end of the EB through the eye on the end of the Snatch Strap before hooking the second end to the other side rated recovery point.
Then centre the eye of the snatch strap on the bridle, or line it up with the direction of the pull. If you use a normal TTP, the recovery is going to put some stress on the TTP as the Snatch Strap slides across the fibres of the TTP and exactly centres the pull, wearing the fibre and fairly quickly degrading the TTP beyond safe use.
REMEMBER – the “Total Pull Required” should be calculated prior to any attempt to recover a vehicle, and no attempt should be made to recover a vehicle that is assessed at stage 3.
A detailed preparation (shovel, tunnel and unload) should be carried out to ensure that the recovery is conducted at its safest
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