Date:         Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:21:36 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Decent grab loop?
Comments: To: mcneely4@cox.net
In-Reply-To:  <20110718134235.P65WC.1112619.imail@eastrmwml35>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

On Mon, 2011-07-18 at 12:42 -0500, mcneely4@cox.net wrote:
> ---- Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > I should-a saved the strap so I could photo it.
> >
> > It simply pulled apart on both sides of the hole, where the strap is at
> > its thinnest. From the day I put it up and tugged on it I thought that
> > it felt too stretchy to last for long. Lacking the cotton cordage core,
> > it's just rubber. Got it from Airhead, as Jim Thompson pointed to.
> >
> > I presently weigh 175 lbs and the thing should not have parted the way
> > it did. Before it parted, my son (165 lbs) used it and commented that he
> > didn't feel it was trustworthy, the way it stretched.
> >
> > If this is the only available replacement, I'm not impressed.
>
> Hmmmmm....... .  I use the original strap, and it is seemingly quite
>  strong.

Yeah, the original strap was quite strong. By virtue of its cotton
cordage core, it stretched almost not at all. But eventually it picked
up some stretchage, causing the rubber to pull away from the mounting
point, exposing the core. It started to look frayed so I got these
zero-core rubber band ones, and they stretch a lot.

> But I have never applied much weight to such assists.
>  Rather, I use this and other straps or grabs more for balance.  My
>  wife, who only weighs about 100 lbs, does apply a little weight when
>  stepping into the van cabin area, but not much.  We have actually
>  discussed this and both felt like balance was the main purpose of the
>  things.

Yeah, balance, mainly. But sometimes -- what with the die-cast zinc knee
and the fused ankle -- I need a bit of support.

>
> Now, regarding the quality of an assist strap:  Perhaps one could make
>  one himself, from webbing similar to the original, or the sort of
>  stuff used for tie downs or towing.

Yeah, I guess that's the option!

>
> mcneely;  sent from Edmond, Oklahoma where temperatures have been
>  running around 105-113 for afternoon highs for weeks now.  On track to
>  surpass 1980 as the hottest summer ever.

Send a bit of that sunshine and warmth over to Bend, Ore. -- it's gloomy
and overcast today.

-- RJS

Sent from my die-cast zinc knee.