Snatch blocks are one of the most useful, versatile winching accessories out there letting you get the most out of your winch. While Factor 55 already offers the Rope Retention Pulley, we just introduced a new product: the Snatch Block Pro. This product can be used with synthetic or steel rope and is truly premium. Unfamiliar with snatch blocks? Let’s change that.
What is a Snatch Block?
A snatch block (sometimes called a pulley block) does a couple of things. First, it lets you take your winch’s rope and change its direction. Next, it can increase the winch’s mechanical advantage letting you pull heavier loads, albeit slower and with more rope. Snatch blocks are quintessential, efficient winching accessories every winch user should carry.
A Snatch Block’s Function: Winch Line Redirects and Multi-Line Pulls
For a winch line redirect, you anchor the snatch block, run the winch rope through the pulley, and attach the rope’s end to another point. This is useful when a straight-line pull isn’t possible. (FYI, this is still considered a single-line pull.)
A snatch block can also be used to increase a winch’s mechanical advantage. The common double-line pull is when you take the winch rope, run it to a snatch block at the load, then back to an anchor point on the vehicle or another anchor point. This shares the load between two lines and lets you move heavier objects compared to a single-line pull. It will, however, require twice the line and will operate at half the speed.
Additional snatch blocks can be added to create complex multi-line pulls, further increasing the mechanical advantage. But remember, you’re further reducing the speed each time, and it requires more winch rope (and more ways to rig up each snatch block, too).
Needless to say, a snatch block is a super important, versatile tool in your recovery arsenal.
The Snatch Block Pro: Compact, Lightweight, Premium, and Made in the USA
What makes this such a unique product? For starters, the Factor 55 Snatch Block Pro is engineered to be one of the most compact, lightweight, and efficient units on the market. It combines ultimate performance with lightweight portability to create, well, the ultimate snatch block. In fact, it’s one of the lightest weight and most efficient snatch block sold on the vehicle recovery market today.
The product is, of course, made in the USA. It’s built from precision-machined high-strength, US-sourced 6061-T6 aluminum and 304 stainless steel. All of the block’s aluminum parts wear a MIL-A-8625 Type III anodized fi nish, helping protect the unit from corrosion.
The snatch block’s wheel rides on two heavy-duty sealed and grease-packed roller bearings. Being sealed bearings, they keep dirt, debris, and water out, extending the product’s life and increasing reliability. It also increases the block’s efficiency.
Snatch Block Pro can also be easily disassembled using snap ring pliers and can be serviced and rebuilt when and if that time comes.
Can Be Used With Soft Shackles or Hard Shackles
Another thing that makes the Snatch Block Pro unique is its dual-purpose eyelet. With its rounded edges, it allows for the use of both soft shackles up to 9/16” and hard shackles. (Hard shackles: 5/8” (bow only), 3/4” (pin & bow), 7/8” (pin only). No matter what kind of rigging you have with you, you can still use the Snatch Block Pro, making it easy to use.
Use With Steel or Synthetic Rope
You can use the Snatch Block Pro with either steel or synthetic rope up to 7/16” (11mm). However, like any other snatch block, if you use it with steel rope, do not use it with synthetic, as steel rope can cause nicks in the wheel which can then compromise synthetic.
Snatch Block Pro Capacities
The Snatch Block pro has a 24,000 lb. (10886 kg) WLL with a 2:1 safety factor. It has a 12,000 lb. (5443 kg) WLL with a 4:1 safety factor. Its minimum breaking strength is 51,000 lbs. or 23133 kg. The minimum breaking strength (MBS) is 51,000 lbs. or 23133 kg. Additionally, the Snatch Block Pro is both CE and UKCA compliant. The product features laser-etched pro-level guidance. It shows working load limits (WLL) and force multiplier effect for quick, easy assessment in the fi eld.
A Step Above
Factor 55 really has leveled up the snatch block game with this product. With precision manufacturing, top-notch build quality, and premium components, the Snatch Block Pro really is a step above other products on the market.