Everyone knows the feeling of having to spend way too much time undoing existing D shackles. They are prone to rusting tight, especially around saltwater conditions, and potentially need multigrips to remove.
Being made from 304 stainless, Snap-D shackles will last in ocean and coastal environments, only requiring a freshwater rinse or hose after use to stop any discolouration.
Ranging in size from 8mm up to 19mm, they are the perfect choice for tradies who regularly need to quickly and easily disconnect the trailer.
Snap-D shackles have some impressive load ratings.
The big boy 19mm bow shackle carries a maximum load rating of 4500kg (MTM/ATM), perfect for pulling vehicles out of ditches or when bogged on 4WD trips.
OTHER TOUGH TESTS:
At the other end of the range, the 8mm D shackle is ideal for small dinghies and jet skis, and is about the size of a small keyring.
Specs:
- Made from 304 stainless steel
- Captive pin
- Quick release
- Half-turn release
- Heavy duty to handle any job
- Ideal for towing and vehicle recovery
TEST #1: SPEED AND MOTHER NATURE
Matt Davies, builder and big-wave tow foiler, and his tow partner, Mike Clyne, push the limits of both themselves and their equipment towing their foil boards into huge waves with their jet ski.
The pressure on metal shackles towing in big waves, along with the action of the salt water, means traditional shackles tend to lock up, bend, and often need tools to undo after short periods of use.
Traditional shackles also need frequent replacement.
“The ocean is pretty hard on all our gear, including the jet skis, trailer and shackles,” said Matt, with a big wave. “What I love about these Snap-D shackles is the heavy-duty build, strength and quick-release functionality.
“When towing a surfer in the ocean with traditional shackles, the only way you can quick release is by cutting the tow rope.
That takes time to open the hatch of the ski, find the knife, then cut the rope. It could take anywhere from 30 seconds to 60 seconds. By comparison, I can release the Snap-D and tow rope in a few seconds.”
TEST #2: EASE OF USE
Heath Thompson from Impact Pools and Landscapes deals with multiple excavators, loaders, and other trailerable items that are moved from site to site every three of four days. That means trailers which are often being unhitched and parked.
“The speed of the quick release with the simple half turn is a great feature,” offered Heath.
“With my previous D shackles, to remove in winter on cold mornings onsite at 7.00am, they would often stick and generally be difficult to undo.
The Snap-D’s range of sizes also means they can cover all of our machinery from our smallest loader to our biggest excavator.
“On weekends I often go away with the boys riding dirtbikes, and the Snap-D shackles make swapping from work trailers and equipment to weekend adventures extremely quick and easy!”
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
The only ugly involved in this tough test was the state of some of the standard shackles we saw in use. Some were twisted, bent and rusted.
The range of Snap-D D shackles and bow shackles means you can safely match the right Snap-D to the right equipment.
As a rough guide, the 10mm Snap-D will suit single-axle trailers.
Tandem-axle trailers will require 2x12mm or 2x13mm Snap-Ds.
Caravans, floats and small/medium boats will require a single 12mm or 13mm shackle, and larger boats will also require 2x12mm or 2x13mm Snap-Ds.
Contact Snap-D for confirmation on matching the right shackle to your situation.