Posted by Chris Case [108.247.159.48] on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 16:13:04 :
In Reply to: Re: Yes less stretch means less whip if it breaks posted by Paul(in NY) [12.64.140.121] on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 15:04:42 :
Nylon is very stretchy. Keeps the tow vehicle for jolting the towed one. Works great instead of a chain, especially for off road. Lets a light vehicle hit the slack and store energy in the tow strap, then the stuck vehicle gets eased out of the obstacle.
Otherwise, with boats, the weight of the chain used to sag down a hundred feet, and that sag was the 'shock absorber'. The barges I've seen out at sea were a half mile behind the tow boat.