Component lists for the following SX Kits/Packs:
- SX Winch Line (WL)
- SX Winch Line Extension (WLE)
- SX Tree Saver (TS)
- SX Kinetic Energy Recovery Rope (KERR)
- SX Soft Shackle (SS)
- SX Safety Lanyard
- SX Pulley Block
- SX X-Lock
- SX Recovery Equipment Bag
SAFE-XTRACT WINCH LINES AND WINCH LINE EXTENSIONS:
The design details of the Safe-Xtract Winch Line (WL) and Winch Line Extension (WLE) are the result of a constant focus on attention to detail. They are made in the US from incredibly strong HMPE synthetic line, which is itself composed of US fibers that are UV resistant. The HMPE is then specially coated with a protective polyurethane coating. Many other manufacturers op to cut production costs by using either a water-based coating that washes out/wears off, or a solution dye process that reduces the overall strength of the rope by up to 10%. The Safe-Xtract polyurethane coating is applied in an alternating orange and black color scheme on the body, a highly visible pattern that serves to clearly highlight the speed of rope movement during winching operations. The WL also has a red “safety” section that goes onto the drum. When winching out, red line coming off the winch drum tells the operator to stop in order to ensure that sufficient line remains on the drum. Most other manufacturers do not include such a functional color scheme on their WL/WLE due to the labor-intensive process associated with coating application.
Safe-Xtract WL and WLE eyes are all spliced using the superior-strength Brummel Lock Eye Splice for hollow braid rope – this splice is locked, thus distributing the load evenly. This splice does not creep and retains maximum rope strength, offering a significant safety advantage over other eye types. Some manufacturers use the cheaper and simpler Bury Splice that tends to creep even when stitched, thus rendering the WL or WLE weaker. The eyes of the Safe-Xtract WL and WLE are also double dipped in a proprietary rubber compound to form an incredibly durable attachment point. Other manufacturers may include a metal thimble in their eyes, which adds a risk component – simply stated, flying metal is far more dangerous than flying synthetic line, and so whenever the functionality of metal is unnecessary, Safe-Xtract has done without it. Metal thimbles can also trap dirt between them and the winch line, accelerating wear on the rope. Some manufacturers instead put a protective sleeve over the eye, however this can also serve as a collection point for dirt that can cause premature wear to the eye, and sleeves also prevent visual inspection of the eye. Some manufacturers put a heavy hook on the end of their WL, and as stated previously flying metal is more dangerous than flying synthetic line – hooks also come with a weight disadvantage and use of most hook designs yields a more dangerous “open system”.
Other manufacturers offer their WL/WLE with a braided guard on the outside, however braided guards can trap abrasive particulates in the center of the line, where it can degrade the internal fibers over time. Without a guard, the coated 12-strand line can be easily flexed during cleaning for the purposes of inspection and ejecting surface debris after use. Ropes with braided guards are also not compatible with the versatile Safe-Xtract X-Lock.
The Safe-Xtract vehicle recovery system is engineered such that the Minimum Tensile Strength of the WL and WLE is approximately double winch capacity.
SAFE-XTRACT SOFT SHACKLES: Not all Soft Shackles are created equal. There are five common soft shackle designs, each having a different strength capacity. The weakest and cheapest of these is the spliced loop single leg made with a diamond knot, which offers about 104% of the single line Minimum Tensile Strength (MTS). The spliced loop single leg design is favored by many manufacturers because it is the easiest to tie and uses the least amount of rope, making it cheaper to manufacture. In contrast, Safe-Xtract uses the strongest design, the button knot double leg. This design uses more rope and it takes much longer to tie the button knot – however, this design offers 225% of the single line MTS. Safe-Xtract has verified this with exhaustive testing in accordance with Cordage Institute testing standards. Spliced loop single leg soft shackles made out of the same material may look similar to the untrained eye, but are less than half the strength of a Safe-Xtract soft shackle. Like we said, not all soft shackles are created equal! With respect to design, Safe-Xtract Soft Shackles are incredibly strong and durable, made in the USA of the highest strength 12-Strand High Molecular Weight Poly-Ethylene (HMPE) rope available. This HMPE is stronger than standard steel cable of the same diameter, yet is more than 6 times lighter – so light it floats! Safe-Xtract Soft Shackles feature a protective high-visibility Neon Orange polyurethane coating and are marked with green loading lines that make safe use intuitive. SX Vehicle Recovery Kits and Packs are engineered such that Safe-Xtract Soft Shackles have a minimum rating of approximately four times winch capacity. The info sheet for a Safe-Xtract Soft Shackle – in this case the 7/16″ x 10″ version designed for inclusion with the SX-20000 Kit – is provided below.