Being Prepared: A Starter Guide to Recovery Gear

Being Prepared: A Starter Guide to Recovery Gear

Story and photos by Spencer Whitney

We’ve all seen it happen on the trails – someone gets stuck, and a member from the audience offers to help. Too often though, these volunteers will have little-to-no useful winching or recovery skills. They might have seen YouTube videos, or learned a thing or two from their dad when they first started wheeling. But old habits die hard, and trails can be an environment of one-upmanship and drivers too proud to admit that they’re wrong about what they’ve been doing for years.

This is why I was surprised to see a picture-perfect recovery a few weeks ago, and on a public road, no less. A pickup truck had veered into a deep ditch and was all but rolled over, and had been rigged up to a passer-by’s Jeep. The winching vehicle was set up with a 2:1 pull off the front bumper, and the operator was wearing gloves and had a proper line dampener draped over the cable. For added safety and stability, he had attached a chain between his rear bumper and another full-size pickup truck. My surprise came from the fact that I’ve seen many recoveries over the years that were poorly executed. Many of them could be considered barely safe, and I’m always sure to stay far away from quick-and-dirty operations like that on the trails.

Witnessing this one made me realize that being well-educated in vehicle recovery isn’t just useful knowledge for professional tow truck drivers. Anyone on (and off) the trail – even those without a winch – should know how to use basic gear and practice appropriate techniques. This kind of wisdom is helpful in preventing damage to your vehicle, or injury to yourself or bystanders. Even if someone is recovering your rig, you’ll appreciate knowing the basic do’s-and-don’ts of safe vehicle recovery.

This article is not intended to be a lesson in recovery. For that you should seek professional help from the organizations and resources listed at the end of the article. There are numerous clubs and businesses throughout the country that are certified, experienced and capable of showing you the “right” way of doing things. Since there are more off-road enthusiasts out there than ever, it’s critical that anyone who feels the need for an introduction seeks out basic education. Even seasoned off-roaders who need a tune up should give it a try – there’s nothing wrong with discussing techniques and trading knowledge with peers.

The best kind of recovery gear is the gear you’ll never actually have to use. That’s not to say that an expensive investment like a winch is totally unnecessary, but if you ever really need it you’ll appreciate having spent the money. Along with all of the following gear, you should keep in your rig a dedicated bag equipped with heavy gloves (leather or welding style are great) and basic tools like a crescent wrench, serrated rope knife and multi-tool.

 

WINCHES

Winches come in all shapes and sizes, and in all manner of prices to suit almost any budget. There was a time when two or three domestic brands dominated the market. It was as easy as selecting an appropriate capacity – generally 150 percent of your gross vehicle weight (GVW – that’s the curb weight stamped inside your driver door, plus everything you could possibly add to it) – and wiring it up properly. Today there are multiple types of winches to choose from, and brands out there that really aren’t manufacturers – just clever marketing for generic Chinese-made copies.

You should not rely on a questionable winch – you can’t assume that it’s going to perform at the critical moment it’s needed, so consider avoiding the absolute cheapest winches out there. When asked about the difference between overseas-made budget winches and the high-end U.S.-made models available, WARN had this advice to pass along: “Not everyone can spend the money for a ZEON Platinum, so we offer our VR winches in North America. While the VR is made overseas, it is our own design, engineering, and testing that goes into these winches, with the same limited lifetime warranty for mechanical components, and the same seven-year electrical warranty as all of our winches leaving our Oregon facility.”

However, before you buy a winch and certainly before you hit the trails, get yourself a recovery strap of some kind. There are two basic types – static and kinetic. These are an indispensable part of the recovery ecosystem and have dozens of uses. I have seen straps used to support makeshift shelters in the rain, patch together a vehicle that broke a track rod, and even as a temporary rope swing next to a lake. Most of all they will allow almost anyone to assist with getting you un-stuck

 

STRAPS

Static straps (also known as tow straps) are built like a very strong ratchet strap, but often with heavy-duty doubled-up webbing and a loop at each end. They should have a working load limit (WLL) of about double your vehicle’s GVW due to the shock loading that can happen compared to a winch. As long as it fits in with all of your accessories – shackles, winch hook, etc – a larger strap than necessary is not a bad thing. They can be wrapped around axles, linked to winches as an extension, or even wrapped around a tree (if designed for that purpose) without worry. Various lengths are available, but getting one longer than necessary in case you need to loop it in half around a vehicle’s axle or tow point is a good call.

Kinetic straps (such as a snatch strap) are specifically for “tugging” a vehicle out of an obstacle. Hundreds of stretchable fibres inside the strap’s loose webbing take up the energy of the vehicle pulling on it. This is critical for reducing shock load when pulling someone out with engine power alone, as it will avoid damaging both vehicles. The stretch also allows a running start in order for a vehicle to gain traction and momentum. The down side to kinetic straps is that they are generally only useful for that kind of recovery, and shouldn’t be used to extend a winch line, or be wrapped around a tree. They also are more prone to damage and should be retired sooner than a static strap. Again, purchase one with more capacity than you might need.

 

SHACKLES AND ACCESSORIES

Shackles are necessary for almost every recovery technique. As with winches, you will want to avoid any that are of a questionable manufacturing origin. Purchasing good quality shackles is relatively inexpensive and if used correctly, they will last a lifetime. Soft shackles are a newer appearance on the trails, and come in various sizes just like cast metal ones. These must be inspected regularly for wear and could require replacement after just a few uses. The main advantage to a soft shackle is safety – they are light and will not become projectiles if a rope or strap gives way. If you can afford the extra cost of soft shackles, equip yourself with them.

Tree savers are short static straps that are reinforced for abrasion resistance. If you live in a region with lots of trees you would want to carry at least two – these can be strung together to go around very large trees. If you are traveling in areas with few trees, or skinny ones, consider a device like the Deadman recovery device. It’s designed to be buried in sand or snow, or draped around a rock, to provide a recovery point. It can also be used as a tree saver.

There are lots of other accessories on the market. Some of them are simply flashy items that enhance the looks of your rig. If you can afford to spend the money on them, they are usually of high quality but have features that may or may not be necessary. Ultimately, it’s up to you how much you’d like to spend to be prepared, but the basic kit outlined here is what most people would consider the bare minimum to recover or be recovered.

As with anything on your vehicle, recovery gear will require regular maintenance. It’s easy to just stuff your straps and shackles back in the bag when you’re done, so don’t forget to take that stuff out when you get home and give it a good cleaning (per manufacturer recommendations.) Your winch also requires attention on a regular basis. An annual once-over with periodic visual checks will ensure years of trouble-free operation. These practices will build familiarity with the equipment, and the casual environment of not being in a recovery situation will help you detect any problems. The condition of your recovery gear might mean the difference between a stressful trip and a fun adventure; if you’re ever in doubt of anything in your kit, take it as an opportunity to check in with friends and professionals to talk about what’s new and good in recovery gear.

 

Training Links:

Warn Industries

www.warn.com/product-literature
Product information and how-to guides

Four-Wheel-Drive Association of British Columbia

www.4wdabc.ca

Members can participate in regular training sessions, trail runs, and meet-ups

Overlanding BC

www.overlandingbc.com
One-on-one training for recreational or professional recovery techniques and off-road driving

Bill Burke’s 4-Wheeling America

www.bb4wa.com
U.S.-based trainer specializing in off-road driving and recovery

Categories: Features, Off-Road Plus