Peter Boyer
Afraid Knot Ropes are high quality, reasonably priced and made in Canada.
Words and photos by Peter Boyer
Any avid wheeler knows that a good kinetic recovery rope is the first tool to reach for in efforts to get out of a tough situation on a rural road or trail. Unlike a tow strap or a tow chain, which simply bears the weight of a static load, the elasticity and reliability of a kinetic rope assists in the extraction of a vehicle by yanking it out of its stuck position. It does this by stretching, absorbing the kinetic energy, and then recovering that energy when it reaches the limit of its stretch capability.
Sound like a simple scientific process? It generally is and many manufacturers offer a variety of recovery ropes to better help wheelers get unstuck, unwedged, and free from all of the potential trail trauma. Canadian-based Afraid Knot Ropes explains it a little simpler. “With up to 30 percent stretch. kinetic energy ropes are designed to take the initial hit, dissipating and converting the shock energy into torque,” thus pulling a vehicle free.
Some recovery ropes are excellent while others are of questionable quality. A poor choice may end up being more expensive in the long run when it doesn’t do the job it’s supposed to do.
Afraid Knot Ropes is the brainchild of Ian McKague, who we met recently at an off-road event in the Greater Toronto Area. These are high-quality ropes, double braided and made of nylon, a material that balances ‘stretch with strength.’ The ropes are available in a range of sizes to accommodate the weight of a variety of vehicles being recovered. However, most Jeep and truck pickup applications will use a rope from 2 cm (.75 in) to 2.5 cm (1 in) in diametre.
Peter Boyer
The ropes come in a range of sizes for wheeling and a variety of other motorsport applications.
A good rule of thumb in choosing the right diameter for your recovery application is determining a breaking strength that is approximately three times the loaded gross vehicle weight (GVW) of your vehicle (or the vehicle being pulled). For example, a lightly-loaded 2-door Jeep JK weighing 4,000 lb would need a rope with a breaking strength of 12,000 lb (ie. 3 x 4,000 lb).
All ropes need protection from chafing over sharp rocks and those left muddy or dirty after recovery may wear prematurely. According to the company, all Afraid Knot Ropes Kinetic lines are coated using ICO Wax 75, which bonds the nylon fibres to resist snagging as well as minimize damage from dirt, debris, and UV rays. It also makes the rope 33 percent more resistant to abrasion compared to non-coated ropes. Added strength is provided by heavy-duty wear pads made of polyester braids on the loops.
In addition to quality, Afraid Knot Ropes are reasonably priced for Canadian wheelers without the added expenses of duty, exchange rates and often-high shipping costs when shopping south of the border. The company also manufacturers winch lines, soft shackles, stingers, winch extensions, as well as gaskets for Can-Am Gen 2 Renegades and Outlanders - 100 percent made in Canada.
A kinetic recovery rope is a tool you hope you’ll never need, like a high-lift jack, or a winch. Yet, peace of mind comes with knowing it will do the job when called upon in an emergency on rural roads or challenging trails.