What basic recovery gear to have when off-roading:
We get asked all the time what someone should carry for recovery gear when going off-roading. Well, that is going to depend upon where you are wheeling but there are a few "minimum" things that should pretty much always be in your kit. Let's start with those.
1. You Need A Good Shovel.
When wheeling in snow, mud, or sand, this is a must-have item. I don't think I really need to explain. More often than not, a few minutes of shovel work will make any other recovery efforts easier or unnecessary.
2. A Good Snatch (recovery) Strap or Kinetic Rope.
First, No hooks! If it has hooks it is a tow-strap, not a snatch strap. Second, it should be rated at a minimum of 20,000lbs. The straps I carry are all 30,000lbs. I prefer 30ft straps but 20ft is OK. Shorter than that will severely limit their usability, IMHO. If the strap has hooks, a Minimum Breaking Strength less than 20,000 pounds or is shorter than 20 feet, it is probably a "Tow-Strap" and is NOT designed for snatch-recoveries and are a safety issue. We don't use chain for snatch-recovery either.
2a. Kinetic Rope.
If you wheel in mud, snow, or sand, consider a kinetic rope. If you can only afford one or the other, get a snatch strap. There are simply times a 38% stretch of 30ft rope can cause issues. For more info on how kinetic ropes can make some recoveries much better, see my write-up called "super yanked". Of course, a couple properly rated Bow-Shackles or Soft-Shackles are required too.
3. A Quality Air-down tool.
Yeah, yeah...you can reduce air with the tip of a pen, in a pinch, but good equipment will make things easier and faster and that will make you more likely to air down properly.
4. A Quality Reinflation Tool (Air up)
if you air down (and you probably should) you need be able to air back up to pavement-safe tire pressures. This can be a good compressor or a CO2 tank, but have something of quality. Note: If you buy the cheapest compressor you can find, you will end up with a CHEAP compressor. Add in a good "low-pressure" capable air-gauge too. (Your old stick gauge won't do.)
5. A Spare Tire.
Just having a patch kit will not do. Flats when off-roading is all too commonly a sidewall tear and your kit won't do much for that. Not that having a patch kit is bad...I would consider one of those too. But the spare is just not optional for off-roading safely. It should be within 2" of the size of the other tires. Of course, throw in a jack and tire lug wrench in with the spare.
6. A Fire Extinguisher.
While not necessarily a vehicle recover item...if you do not have a fire extinguisher, you are wrong.
7. A Buddy.
For the most part...don't wheel alone. A wheeling fired is probably the most important safety item in this list.
Those are the absolute minimum items you should have for an off-roading trip, IMHO. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of what you should have. If I listed what I and most of my wheeling buddies carry, this list would be A LOT LONGER. Winch, Hi-lift Jack, snatch block, Tree Saver, winch extension, mechanics tools, recovery bumpers, first aid kit, ax/chainsaw (in wooded areas), some emergency rations....the list goes on and on.
Wheel Safe!!
Opinion by: Richard Hiltz
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