Where the rope broke.

[dmonn]

I had an odd application for a piece of cheap double braid nylon rope, 3/8 inch stuff from a hardware store. I spliced a long eye in it a while ago and have used it for tie downs. A few days ago I had to pull some small metal (round) posts out of the frozen ground. I put a 6 wrap prussik on the post using the spliced eye, and a double wrap around my trailer hitch (ball) secured with two half hitches. It didn't pull out with static pull (tires started to spin), so I gave it a pretty good dynamic yank. That loosened things up around the post, but the rope broke. Not at the splice, but at the two half hitches. Knots ARE weaker than a splice! Yes I knew that, but it was an interesting observation on a practical application. It did not break at the 6 wrap prussik. That held just fine.

 

[southsoundtree]

If you have a spare car tire/ round of wood you can redirect the rope over the tire for an upward pull.

 

[dmonn]

Good suggestion, but I didn't have either one handy. I just went with what I had with me at the time.

 

[flushcut]

I use a 2x4 and a loop of some old ratty 3 strand nylon.

 

[dmonn]

I use a 2x4 and a loop of some old ratty 3 strand nylon.

Hmm. I'll have to try that next time!

 

[flushcut]

It’s a little more predictable and less flying rigging.

 

[dmonn]

It’s a little more predictable and less flying rigging.

The potential for a metal post snapping back at my car did concern me, and I was glad it didn't happen.

 

[southsoundtree]

People often overlook the fact that you can have a rope opposing the pull of the winch for when the winched object pops loose.