What Are Snatch Blocks?
Last Updated May 28, 2024 | Andrew BoyleIf you run in off-roading circles, then you may have heard about a snatch block. It’s a simple tool that can make a big difference for you and your off-roading rig by providing additional mechanical advantage to off-road recovery systems.
A snatch block is a specialized pulley designed to help you get your truck or SUV out of a sticky situation. It multiplies the force of your vehicle’s winch using simple mechanics and offers more versatility than a winch by itself.
Off-road recovery is very important. Even if you don’t go off-roading for fun, you can still get your vehicle stuck. If you ever run into tricky terrain, having a snatch block handy can help get your vehicle unstuck more effectively.
What Is a Snatch Block?
A snatch block is a pulley block attached to a ring that provides mechanical advantage to a rope or cable system. There are many different kinds of snatch blocks, and plenty of them are designed for non-automotive purposes like lifting heavy cargo or housing the rigging on a boat.
In the automotive context, however, snatch blocks are intended to work hand in tandem with winches. The line running through the snatch block’s pulley is connected to the vehicle’s winch. This allows for more flexibility in the way the winch is used and opens up several more avenues for both self and partnered recovery of off-road vehicles. Additionally, a snatch block can seriously boost your winch’s pulling capacity. If you need more force to pull your vehicle out of a rut or you need to pull a vehicle larger than yours, then a snatch block is the tool for you.
How Does a Snatch Block Work?
In most situations, a single pulley doesn’t reduce the force needed to pull or lift anything, it only changes the direction. So how can a snatch block double your winch’s pulling power? A normal single line recovery doesn’t increase the winch’s effectiveness at all; all of the power improvements come from performing a double line winch recovery. A double line recovery is when the winch line is wrapped around the snatch block then attached back to a mounting point on the recovering vehicle.
This means that instead of pulling against the tree, anchor, or other mounting point, the winch tugs on the pulley. This lessens the pull distance, but adds mechanical advantage for improved pulling power. The reduced pull distance is also mostly negligible for the purposes of vehicle recovery, since a slow and steady pace is ideal.
How to Use a Snatch Block
There aren’t too many steps to using a snatch block that aren’t a part of a standard winch recovery. For the most part, the snatch block simply provides a different way for the winch line to be mounted and rigged. That being said, there are some important things to remember when using a snatch block to ensure that both you and your vehicle are safely recovered.
The way a lot of off-road recovery snatch blocks work is that they are composed of two rotating sides. To position the winch line properly inside the snatch block, rotate the top section, fully exposing the interior pulley. After positioning the pulley, rotate the top part of the loop over the other half. Now, attach the non-pulley part of the snatch block to the mounting point with a D-ring.
If you are recovering your own vehicle, you could attach the winch cable back onto the front of your vehicle and perform a double line pull. This is essentially the same process as a standard winch recovery, the only real difference being the setup. Be sure that you are properly mounting the winch line on the front of the vehicle to a suitable tow spot. You can easily put yourself and your vehicle into more trouble if you accidentally rip off parts of your vehicle while trying to recover.
How to Help Someone Else Recover with a Snatch Block
In the case that you are using a snatch block to help someone else recover, a bit more care is needed. First off, it’s likely that you are using the snatch block in this situation not for added strength, but rather to compensate for an odd angle. In this case, it’s important to have the winching vehicle directly facing the anchor point. If the line being fed into the winch is not coming in perpendicularly, it will start to bunch up on one side. This can cause plenty of problems later, including damaging your winch.
Keep in mind that snatch blocks, like winches and cable, have a maximum weight capacity. You’ll want to make sure that both your winch line and snatch block can handle the force you are throwing at it. Many times owners won’t equip their winch with line rated above its pulling capacity. That means doubling the force exerted on the winch line could be potentially dangerous. While you should never winch without using a line dampener, a broken line or snatch block is still a recipe for a bad time that could injure you or your rig.
Upgrade Your Off-Road Rig with a Snatch Block
Snatch blocks are an important part of your off-road vehicle’s recovery kit. If you have a winch on your truck or SUV, then a snatch block is a must-buy. It can help you stay safe on the trail and even bail out fellow off-road enthusiasts by adding power and versatility to your winch’s capabilities.