Burns said:
that chain simply broke i have thought of y it would have broke and im really not sure i found the weak link in that chain.
That's exactly what you did. How do you know what force that chain is rated for? How do you know what kind of force was generated by your vehicle? A 3/4" alloy chain is good for 30,000 lbs, but 30 feet of 3/4 alloy chain is waaay too much to carry around in the bed of a truck (unless, of course, you're using it for traction in the snow). An equivalent-rated 30-ft snatch strap (Keeper makes a decent one) is rated to be able to absorb the shock forces. Chain is not, plain and simple.
Who's talking about shock loading a chain? Of course you can't just yank on a chain without taking the slack out.
You seriously expect me to believe that you never jerk the chain? You've NEVER had the chain go slack when pulling someone out, even for an instant, then had it snap taut again? I find that a little hard to believe. It only takes one time to permanently weaken a chain. Straps (and wire rope) are designed to give when the load is dynamic. They, too, still require periodic inspection for wear, but are far, FAR more forgiving in use.
As for the whole chain/rope/leather/kite string argument, sure, that's the history. However, technology has progressed in the last hundred years or so. Just because it was adequate in the 30s doesn't mean it's the best tool for the job now. I've got a screwdriver in my tool box from one of my journeyman dated 1942. I keep it just as a show-piece, but it's not the right tool for any screw nowadays. It's that 'Lemming mentality,' as I call it, that gets people into trouble. The guy I referenced earlier that lost his eye has been lifting and rigging dies longer than I've been alive. It doesn't mean that he should have done what he did the way he did it. Sure, modern steel chains are better than they ever have been. But, if they were still the best choice, why aren't we seeing leather straps being used on modern tow equipment? (OK, horse teams pulling plows at Greenfield Village notwithstanding...) Yes, while they may be adequate, they're not the best tool for the job given teh modern-day choices at our disposal.
I freely admit that chain has its uses as a recovery tool. However, as a direct link from a stuck vehicle to one being pulled out, it is a poor choice at best, given the numerous modern alternatives that are much less prone to failure. I mean, seriously....
Rope, unless it's seriously over-sized, is highly over-rated. It way more fragile than a properly engineered tow strap, and it method of connection to a stuck/tow vehicle is questionable at best. Rope is best left to tying boats to docks. (Although, it's technically called a 'line' then... there are no ropes on a boat)