Factor 55 Extreme Duty Soft Shackle | 3/8" x 10" | HMPE | Up to 8,500 lb GVW

Is This for You?

• You're running a Jeep, mid-size truck, full-size truck, CUV, SUV, or UTV/XTV with a GVW up to 8,500 lbs and need a soft shackle rated to match — 43,500 lb MBS, 8,700 lb WLL, 3/8" HMPE Plasma rope construction, engineered and tested in the USA.
• You're replacing steel screw pin shackles with a lightweight HMPE alternative that eliminates the projectile hazard of a steel shackle failure under load — at 6.5 oz, this shackle weighs a fraction of its steel equivalent while delivering 25–30% higher breaking strength than standard soft shackles on the market.
• You're running Closed System Winching® or want the option — this shackle is compatible with Factor 55's closed-link rigging technique, which eliminates open hooks and unsecured connections throughout the recovery system.

The Result

• 43,500 lb MBS / 8,700 lb WLL — a 5:1 safety factor, rated for vehicles up to 8,500 lbs GVW across Jeeps, mid-size and full-size trucks, CUVs, SUVs, and UTVs/XTVs.
• 25–30% higher verified breaking strength than standard soft shackles — lab- and field-tested to consistent, repeatable MBS values with WLL and MBS clearly marked on the shackle.
• HMPE Plasma rope core with woven polyester jacket, Fiber Lock coating, and whipped ends — abrasion and UV protection extended as close to the knot as possible.

High-Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) Plasma rope has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than steel wire rope of equivalent diameter, does not corrode, and does not store kinetic energy under tension the way steel cable does. When a steel shackle fails under load, the stored elastic energy releases as a high-velocity projectile. An HMPE soft shackle falls to the ground on failure — a critical safety distinction in any recovery scenario where personnel are near the rigging. At 6.5 oz, this shackle is a fraction of the weight of a steel screw pin shackle of comparable load rating, which reduces the mass of rigging hardware in the system and lowers the energy of any hardware movement during a recovery. The woven polyester jacket is whipped and coated with Fiber Lock resin, which bonds the jacket fibers and prevents fraying. The jacket is attached as close to the knot as possible — the knot is the highest-stress point in a soft shackle under load and the point most exposed to abrasion from contact with shackle pins, fairlead edges, and recovery hardware. Standard soft shackles leave the knot area unprotected; this design extends jacket coverage to that zone. The 25–30% breaking strength advantage over standard market soft shackles is a function of both the HMPE Plasma rope specification and the knot geometry — Factor 55 lab- and field-tests to consistent, repeatable MBS values and marks both WLL and MBS directly on the shackle for field reference.

Audit Table

Compatibility

✔ Jeeps — all generations
✔ Mid-size and full-size trucks — up to 8,500 lb GVW
✔ CUVs, SUVs, UTVs, and XTVs — up to 8,500 lb GVW
✔ Factor 55 Closed System Winching® rigging configurations
✔ Direct replacement for steel screw pin shackles in light-duty recovery rigging

✘ Not designed for: Vehicles exceeding 8,500 lbs GVW — see Factor 55 larger-diameter soft shackles for heavy truck, mining, agricultural, and military applications
✘ Not a substitute for: Static tow connections — soft shackles are recovery rigging hardware, not flat-tow connectors

Usage Notes

• Inspect shackle before each use. Do not use a soft shackle with visible cuts, abrasion damage through the jacket to the core, or knot deformation.
• Do not exceed the published WLL of 8,700 lbs under any load condition.
• WLL and MBS are marked directly on the shackle — verify ratings in the field before use.
• Keep shackle away from sharp edges under load — the jacket provides abrasion resistance but direct contact with sharp metal edges under tension will damage the core.
• Compatible with Closed System Winching® — verify all other rigging components in the system are also closed-link hardware before executing a closed system recovery.
• Store out of direct UV exposure when not in use.

Engineering Question: What is your vehicle's GVW, and are you replacing steel screw pin shackles in a Jeep, truck, SUV, or UTV recovery configuration? This shackle is rated for vehicles up to 8,500 lbs GVW — confirm your vehicle weight class before ordering. If your GVW exceeds 8,500 lbs, see Factor 55's larger-diameter Extreme Duty Soft Shackle lineup.