The 5 Best Snatch Blocks for Winching of 2024
Snatch blocks are pulleys encased in durable metal that can dramatically increase the weight limit of a winch and are used to change the angle at which something is being lifted or anchored.
We love snatch blocks! On this page, we’re reviewing the best ones on the market this year. Let’s get into it!
Our Top List
# | Preview | Product | Our Rating | Link |
1 | TGL Tow Strap with Shackles & Snatch Block | |||
2 | Rhino USA - Snatch Block for Winch Recovery | |||
3 | Smittybilt 2744 Universal Snatch Block | |||
4 | KFI Products ATV-SB Snatch Block | |||
5 | Orcish 10T Snatch Block for Recovery Winch |
1. TGL Tow Strap with Shackles & Snatch Block
The TGL snatch block is a heavy duty piece of equipment which comes with several parts that can be used in a variety of situations, including 2 rust-resistant D rings for maximum stability. The block nearly doubles a winch’s weight capacity and can be used for weights as high as 10 tons. The D rings have a weight limit of a little under 5 tons.
The block set also comes with a winch strap that has a 30,000 lbs weight limit and is 8’ long, 3” wide.
The snatch block has a couple of special features that make it a useful tool, such as an attached grease zerk that makes the cable operate more smoothly and last longer. It’s also quite spacious, providing enough room to fit a 9mm cable that can be very easily removed or fastened.
Pros
- Can handle a lot of weight
- Rust-resistant
- Comes with a greasing mechanism
- Good for pulling vehicles or large logs
- Good value
Cons
- None that we could find
2. Rhino USA – Snatch Block for Winch Recovery
Coming with a lifetime warranty, this snatch block is a compact, 2-piece device that can handle weights up to 13.5 tons. It’s compatible with cables as thick as ⅜ of an inch, either made of synthetic rope or steel cabling.
The overall design is quite sturdy, consisting of self-lubricating polymers and forged steel. It also has pressed plates that when placed under pressure create a significant hold over the attached cable, leading to a good deal of control.
The entire contraption weighs less than 6 lbs.
Pros
- Self-lubricating
- Has Pressure Plates
- Lightweight
- 2-piece block
Cons
- Inside roller is made of plastic
3. Smittybilt 2744 Universal Snatch Block for Winching
With a weight limit of up to 8.8 tons, this snatch block is specially designed to assist in pulling objects at difficult angles. It has a black powder coating that helps in maintaining long-term durability and reducing the presence of rust.
Inserting a cable into the device is relatively easy, which can fit cables ranging from 7/32 to 3/8 inches in size, and there’s a greasing mechanism attached that reduces the strain on any accompanying cable. The snatch weighs about 6 lbs. and dramatically improves the weight capacity of any winch device.
Pros
- Comes with a greasing mechanism
- Can be used with a broad range of cable sizes
- Can handle a huge amount of weight
- Has an exceptional range of motion
Cons
- Doesn’t come pre-lubricated
4. KFI Products ATV-SB Snatch Block
This extremely lightweight (2 lbs.) snatch block consists of 2 thin sections of 3/16” thick steel pieces. The entire thing is coated in dark grey coating to prevent rusting or similar damage to the device.
It can significantly boost the weight limit of everyday winches. It’s able to turn 8000 lbs. of pulling power into 16,000; a two-fold increase in lifting capacity.
Its smaller size makes it a more appropriate option to use with smaller vehicles, such as ATVs, rather than larger ones like trucks. It comes with a 1 ½” center hole for hook insertion and is compatible with a variety of cable widths, including ¼” and ⅜”.
Pros
- Small and compact
- Usable with many different kinds of cables
- Good value
- Simple use
- Cables are easy to attach and detach
Cons
- Has a limited weight capacity compared to other snatch blocks
5. Orcish 10T Snatch Block for Recovery Winch
This snatch block maxes out towing capabilities, with the ability to increase a winch’s towing capacity to 22,000 lbs. It’s coated in black powder coated carbon steel for maximum longevity and strength.
Consisting of two attached pieces, this snatch block is compatible with both smaller and larger vehicles. It’s roughly 8mm thick, comes with a grease fitting mechanism, and can easily be connected to either a metal cable or synthetic rope.
In terms of cable diameters that are usable with it, the snatch block is compatible with lines ranging from 5/16” to ½” thick.
Pros
- Strong and durable
- Increases winch weight capacity dramatically
- Can be used with both ATVs and trucks
- Comes with a greasing mechanism
Cons
- Doesn’t have plates that converge when under pressure
Verdict & Review
Any good snatch block is going to have a couple of key features. These include a strong and durable frame, a high weight limit, a high degree of flexibility, good safety features, and coming in multiple pieces. Some additional, but not necessary, positive characteristics include the presence of a greasing mechanism and side plating.
There were a couple real contenders, but in the end we decided to go with the TGL Snatch Block as our top pick.
The reasons were simple. Firstly, it offers a great deal of value; not just in terms of the amount of stuff you receive with your purchase, but also due to how durable it is. You’re guaranteed to get a great many uses out of your snatch block. It’s also quite stable due to it consisting of two interlocking parts and has a very high weight limit of 10 tons.
Additionally, the range of cable widths compatible with the device is much larger than other snatch blocks and it’s very good at hauling a variety of heavy objects, such as debris, trees, and vehicles.
The only real potential downsides with the TGL is that it might have some compatibility issues with an attached winch cable. The built-in greasing zerk could be a little bit better since it’s not as great at lubricating winch cables as some other products.
Overall though, the TGL is a really good deal that will likely last you a long time due to the many features that make it flexible in numerous situations and solid design that discourage wear and tear or outright breakage.
Buying Guide
Winches come in many different forms and primarily consist of rope or metal, usually in the form of chain or cabling. Due to their multipurpose nature, winches can be designed to operate under different conditions and exist in many different shapes.
Typically, winches are attached to large vehicles, such as trucks or jeeps, and are used to haul large objects, usually other vehicles, out of places where they’re stuck, such as bogs or bodies of water. There are also multiple modes of action that winches can use to operate, these include:
- Hand Winch: This is the most basic kind of winch and involves using a hand crank to successfully create cable tension between one object and another. It’s generally easier to maneuver than other winches, but requires a tremendous degree of physical effort.
- Electric Winch: Deriving its power from an attached battery pack, this type of winch uses an electric motor to successfully operate. It’s quite versatile and requires limited physical effort, but the attached battery must be dry to use and it doesn’t last very long.
- Hydraulic Winch: This type of winch attaches itself to a vehicle’s power steering pump, essentially using the engine as a source of power. It’s great for operating in most conditions, but it’s not very versatile when compared to other winches.
Snatch Blocks
Snatch blocks can be standalone tools that are rigged to objects to get them moved, although it’s incredibly common, and preferred, to use them in conjunction with a winch. Snatch blocks reinforce the strength of pulling cables, which tend to snap or become damaged under pressure, and allow winches to operate from multiple angles that would otherwise be impossible.
In terms of which snatch block would be the best option to go with, there are a couple things to keep in mind first.
Using One Safely
Winches can be precarious on their own, but snatch blocks add an additional layer of physics that needs to be taken into account before they can be safely used.
While they do allow for increased pressure to be placed on a winch cable, snatch blocks aren’t invincible. Especially if they’re placed at awkward angles, the pressure could be too great and cause the block to snap, leading to a slingshot effect that damages anything the runaway cable hits.
Make sure everything is properly secured before you start applying pressure and that whatever you plan on hauling is under a realistic weight limit.
What to Look For
There are a couple of features you should look for when searching for a solid snach block:
- Safety Measures: When dealing with anything related to heavy equipment, safety should be a top priority. Any snatch block device that lacks features designed to minimize the chance of an accident happening should be avoided entirely. It’s best to go with a block that has rounded safety edges, which reduces strain on the winch cable, and also side plating that comes together when a cable is pulling an object.
- Overall Size: It’s good to know beforehand what you plan on using your snatch block for. Smaller blocks tend to be used for lighter loads and bigger blocks for larger jobs. If a block is too small, it might break, but if it’s too large it might not fit correctly with the winch cable size, leading to functionality issues.
- Cable Compatibility: Make sure that a snatch block is compatible with your desired cable width and material. If everything doesn’t go together reasonably well, you could end up with a useless block or one that has extremely poor pulling capacity.
- Type of Material Used: What a snatch block is composed of will determine a lot about the durability and utility of the device. Polymer coating near the edge of the block will prevent long-term damage to the winch cable and carbon steel is typically considered a solid material. Plastic parts tend to be an inferior material.
- Number of Pieces: Blocks almost always come in one or two pieces. The more pieces a snatch block consists of, the greater stress it can handle, making multi-sectioned blocks a better choice in most cases.
- Weight Load Limit: Snatch blocks can increase a winch cable’s ability to move heavy objects, but they’re not made of magic. There’s still a limit to the amount of weight that can be placed on a snath block before it bends, cracks, or snaps. Depending on what it’s being used for, a snatch block might be appropriate for a particular job or it might underperform. In the latter case, it might not just be inconvenient, it can also be dangerous.