Outdoor Adventure USA

I couldn't take the digging and searching in gear bags and under equipment for my recovery strap any more. Off Road Trail Tools just came out with a holder for straps and as it turned out, one of 'em had my name on it, see http://www.offroadtrailtools.com/shop/i ... tail&p=500.

Devilishly simple, lightweight, affordable and easy to mount. No more digging!

Very cool.
Do you need to completely remove that wing-nut to access the strap? If so I would advise a redesign. They should slot the front panel and add a hinged bolt so you only have to loosen the nut and move the bolt aside for access. That wing-nut will disappear far too often IMO. Still, neat item thanks.

Hey Scott:

Yes, the wing nut must be removed to access the strap. Interesting comment, though. I suppose that by putting the nut on the stud when the strap is removed, it will lessen or eliminate the risk of losing it. The prospect of losing the wing nut, however, is far, far less objectionable than the ritual of digging for the strap. Maybe the parts drawer will have to carry a few extra wing nuts.

Interesting holder - I can see where it would be useful for some.

For me, however, it has a couple of issues. Scott's suggestion is excellent - redesigning the fastener would definitely help in quickly retrieving the strap without losing the wing nut in haste.

More important to me is that you'd have to spend a lot of time refolding the strap to reinstall it into the mount. If the strap is dirty, muddy, or wet, I wouldn't want to hang it out open in the vehicle. I have a Pelican box where I keep my straps and rescue equipment. This allows me to throw the stuff back in the box until I can take the time to clean it and re-roll it up properly - all without messing up the interior or anything else near the straps. Plus, I keep multiple straps in the vehicle - difficult to mount them all individually.

So, the mount looks good, and I think it will be useful to some, but I think having a enclosed box to throw the straps after using them, for me, is easier and neater.

I just stretched a short bungee across the grocery bag hooks in the back of the FJ and put my straps there!

cruiserlarry wrote:Interesting holder - I can see where it would be useful for some.

For me, however, it has a couple of issues. Scott's suggestion is excellent - redesigning the fastener would definitely help in quickly retrieving the strap without losing the wing nut in haste.

More important to me is that you'd have to spend a lot of time refolding the strap to reinstall it into the mount. If the strap is dirty, muddy, or wet, I wouldn't want to hang it out open in the vehicle. I have a Pelican box where I keep my straps and rescue equipment. This allows me to throw the stuff back in the box until I can take the time to clean it and re-roll it up properly - all without messing up the interior or anything else near the straps. Plus, I keep multiple straps in the vehicle - difficult to mount them all individually.

So, the mount looks good, and I think it will be useful to some, but I think having a enclosed box to throw the straps after using them, for me, is easier and neater.

One of the things that you should have noticed in doing vehicle inspections is that many wheelers carry straps but they are buried in a maze of other equipment, are difficult to get to or in some cases, hidden so well that the drivers forgot where they were stashed. Having a strap securely located and easily accessible in a very visible location will be a benefit for most wheelers, not just "some".

Having another box, especially a Pelican, is just another large item to have to contend with when traveling. Experienced travelers do everything possible to simplify things and eliminate unnecessary stuff. Having the strap immediately available was the major purpose of this device and having to dig your strap out of a secured pelican case (hopefully you have it secured) defeats the benefit of having the strap mounted for easy access.

Dirty or muddy straps are a concern and the solutions are simple. A) mount the strap holder(s) on the outside of the vehicle on a tire carrier or rack or B) stuff it in a grocery bag or trash bag until you stop and clean it up. Throwing your wet and muddy strap into your recovery box just gets everything else wet and muddy.

DaveK wrote: One of the things that you should have noticed in doing vehicle inspections is that many wheelers carry straps but they are buried in a maze of other equipment, are difficult to get to or in some cases, hidden so well that the drivers forgot where they were stashed. Having a strap securely located and easily accessible in a very visible location will be a benefit for most wheelers, not just "some".

Having another box, especially a Pelican, is just another large item to have to contend with when traveling. Experienced travelers do everything possible to simplify things and eliminate unnecessary stuff. Having the strap immediately available was the major purpose of this device and having to dig your strap out of a secured pelican case (hopefully you have it secured) defeats the benefit of having the strap mounted for easy access.

Dirty or muddy straps are a concern and the solutions are simple. A) mount the strap holder(s) on the outside of the vehicle on a tire carrier or rack or B) stuff it in a grocery bag or trash bag until you stop and clean it up. Throwing your wet and muddy strap into your recovery box just gets everything else wet and muddy.

Well, most wheelers I go out with are well organized, and have equipment ready when needed. The mount does make it convenient for one strap - assuming you mount the one you are likely to need. It doesn't lock, so theft is a problem if mounted externally. And I am an experienced traveler, which is why I use the Pelican cases to organize my gear. I have it color-coded, can load exactly which equipment I'll need for the particular outing, and can unload quickly when I'm home and tired. So, we differ in our idea of organized. As I previously stated, this mount should be very useful for some folks - but versatile enough not for me.

I'll check your's out next trip...

cruiserlarry wrote:

DaveK wrote: One of the things that you should have noticed in doing vehicle inspections is that many wheelers carry straps but they are buried in a maze of other equipment, are difficult to get to or in some cases, hidden so well that the drivers forgot where they were stashed. Having a strap securely located and easily accessible in a very visible location will be a benefit for most wheelers, not just "some".

Having another box, especially a Pelican, is just another large item to have to contend with when traveling. Experienced travelers do everything possible to simplify things and eliminate unnecessary stuff. Having the strap immediately available was the major purpose of this device and having to dig your strap out of a secured pelican case (hopefully you have it secured) defeats the benefit of having the strap mounted for easy access.

Dirty or muddy straps are a concern and the solutions are simple. A) mount the strap holder(s) on the outside of the vehicle on a tire carrier or rack or B) stuff it in a grocery bag or trash bag until you stop and clean it up. Throwing your wet and muddy strap into your recovery box just gets everything else wet and muddy.

Well, most wheelers I go out with are well organized, and have equipment ready when needed. The mount does make it convenient for one strap - assuming you mount the one you are likely to need. It doesn't lock, so theft is a problem if mounted externally. And I am an experienced traveler, which is why I use the Pelican cases to organize my gear. I have it color-coded, can load exactly which equipment I'll need for the particular outing, and can unload quickly when I'm home and tired. So, we differ in our idea of organized. As I previously stated, this mount should be very useful for some folks - but versatile enough not for me.

I'll check your's out next trip...

The strap holder is made to accept a padlock. Mounting it externally is therefore an option.

We may not differ on the idea of organized. In fact, it is commendable that you are well organized. The point however is not organization, but convenience and accessibility.

You guys crack me up, are you sure your not brothers?

As always, we aim to please.

Actually we're twins, like Schwarzenegger and Devito. I'm Schwarzenegger.