Which Straps Should I use?

Discover the difference between a tow strap and a recovery strap. Ensure you are always using the right strap in your load restraint applications.

Tow Straps

Cookes tow straps are manufactured from high tenacity polyester webbing.
Designed to have less elongation than a nylon strap while still providing sufficient elasticity to help absorb the impact of any sudden loading.
While many tow straps on the market today have fitted hooks, Cookes recommends against this practice. Hooks can become deadly missiles should a strap break under load.

What Size Tow Strap should I Use?

Cookes recommend that a 1.5:1 factor is applied when choosing a tow strap. While this may be more than some believe to be necessary, it takes into account unintentional shock loading. On this basis, to tow a 6,000Kg vehicle choose a 9,000Kg breaking load tow strap. It is much better to be safe than sorry!

Recovery Straps

Cookes recovery straps are manufactured from high tenacity nylon webbing to provide both strength and high elongation.
The elongation aids recovery of bogged vehicles through the build-up of stored energy in the strap. As the strap elongates, it transfers the stored energy to the stranded vehicle, aiding its recovery.
Recovery straps do not have fitted hooks. Straps with fitted hooks should never be used for vehicle recovery.

What Size Recovery Strap Should I Choose?

Cookes recommend that a 2:1 factor be applied when choosing a recovery strap to take into account any unintentional shock loading. So to recover a vehicle weighting 9,000Kg choose a recovery strap with a minimum breaking load of 18,000Kg.