How long have you had your winch bar?

I carry 2 one that I cut that goofy looking safety end off and use it for my snap binders and winchs . Another one I found laying in the road at home I keep for a spare.

 

I hope you don’t lose your teef

 

I have 1 with a ratchet end instead of the box end on it. Had that for about 12-13 years now. Have a other standard one with the box end. Probably 8-10 years on that one and a 2ft piece of 1" pipe for the rare occasion I have to use a snap binder.

I normally would use the box end for a snap binder but almost every time I use them it's because the space is already too small for a ratchet binder so usually don't have room for trying to get the box end over the handle.

Snaps are a last resort tiedown for me. I only carry 4 and they are buried at the back of my box. The plan is to never use them unless I just can't figure out any other type of tiedown.

 

I pretty much only haul large things without tires. I still won't use them.

Guy who I swap trailers with has completely banned the use by his drivers. If he finds a snap binder in any truck or trailer the driver is fired. The chance of an injury is so much higher than a ratchet that it's just not worth it.

Personally I agree with him and that's why I also just don't use them. What ever seconds you might save using them isn't worth the chance of crushing a hand or getting slammed by the bar.

Like I said I do carry 4 but barely use them once a year. If that.

 

Snap binders are only dangerous if you’re a moron.

 

Cam-over style is way nicer than the standard ones, personally i just dont find them convienient on my j hooks, so avoid if possible.

Also the funky end for snap binders, 14 years ago i had one winch bar that fit them nicely, next 2 bars i had it was frequently a fight to use the end and the price for an extra 4 peices of metal welded on the end is ludicrous, gave up, regular winch bar with the rubber popped outta the end works just bloody fine, why carry 2 tools when one IS the same tool as the second? (Granted i dont do 1/2"+ binders, 5/16-3/8 for me, so that end might not work for some of you)

 

I’ll admit, I had a snap binder give me an upper cut with my bar, but it was my fault that I was using a bent end and mushroom looking bar.. I couldn’t slide the bar out so I kept wiggling it and finally let go along with the bar. It was an upper cut I will never forget. Bruise my chest, neck and lower jaw. I started spitting out blood but NO TEETH to be found on the ground. But like I mentioned, my fault for defective breaker bar.
After that, I said no mas snaps, I bought 8 ratchet binders, they were heavier to handle and it you didn’t get the slack off right, you have to start over. Long story short, I sold 4 ratchets and kept the other 4 buried. Snaps work for me. Along with my 4 foot breaker bar. No more defective bar for me. Ever since that incident about 4 years ago, I’ve never had one after. Lessoned learned.

 

Same here.