Unlike tow straps where you would let all the slack out before pulling, recovery straps contain much more "give" allowing the driver to get a running start. This is much more effective in a recovery situation for a couple of reasons. The first is that the vehicle doing the pulling can get momentum as well as traction.

The big difference between the two scenarios above is that while you should never tow a vehicle with a kinetic recovery rope, you can sometimes get a vehicle unstuck with a weavable tow strap – just don't try for a running start and you should be ok trying at least.

If you need hardware to secure the strap, anchor shackles are great for recovery vehicles. As the first vehicle begins to move forward, the strap stretches and pulls the stuck vehicle free. Recovery straps are safer for this type of usage than chain.

It depends on the type of strap. Some can hold up to 7,500 pounds, while others can only manage 3,000 pounds. Again, this will depend on the weight capacity of the strap, as it needs to be three times the weight of your car. What is the difference between a tow strap and a recovery strap?