Basic recovery gear question

[Mad Mac]

Here is what I mean about the dowels.
An old shovel handle or an elm sapling
can provide a number of free dowels.
Make four or five.

To join two kinetic ropes
pass one loop through another
and insert the dowel.

A dowel can also be used
to connect tow straps to kinetic tow ropes.

When done, pull out the dowel and the knot falls apart.
Stuff everything in an old cargo bag.
The Poor Boy recovery kit.

It's the 80/20 rule.
20 percent of the cost
gets 80 percent of the results.

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[smlobx]

OP congrats for reaching out and deciding to get a recovery set up. As you probably know there is a difference between a kinetic rope and a tow strap. If money is a big concern than a decent tow strap is a good place to start like this…

https://www.amazon.com/Rhino-USA-Re...=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

Then get a couple of soft shackles like this…
https://www.amazon.com/ALL-TOP-Synt...c1a776d5d&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1


and for less than $100 you’re in the game. When buying recovery gear try and NOT buy any metal pieces as these could kill you if they break. If you want to get a kinetic rope here’s one to consider…

https://www.amazon.com/AutoDunk-Kin...fos.17d9e15d-4e43-4581-b373-0e5c1a776d5d&th=1

This one above already includes 2 soft shackles so you could get that and the tow strap for just about $110. Hard to beat that price.

Good luck and don’t forget a shovel and some communication device besides your cell phone if you really get out into the boonies!

 

[Bjeepz]

Traction boards come in handy sometimes

To argue my own suggestion.... They don't fall under your price range, but when alone can offer great value. I've had my Maxtrax brand for a few yrs and only used them a handful of times. I used them recently and they didn't get the job done, I was alone and very thankful to have a winch.

There was a suggestion of a come along, good ones are worth it for sure! At one point I had an old very high quality 16000lbs come along that was used with heavy equip related work, that thing worked when cheap winches didn't have enough juice! On the flip side I've seen more than one inexpensive come along fail.

That goes back to the other comment about not going cheap on recovery gear.

Keep a shovel in your truck also, depending on the situation a shovel has been a huge help. A saw also, trees cut can be helpful when options are running low.

 

[Bjeepz]

Here is what I mean about the dowels.
An old shovel handle or an elm sapling
can provide a number of free dowels.
Make four or five.

To join two kinetic ropes
pass one loop through another
and insert the dowel.

A dowel can also be used
to connect tow straps to kinetic tow ropes.

When done, pull out the dowel and the knot falls apart.
Stuff everything in an old cargo bag.
The Poor Boy recovery kit.

It's the 80/20 rule.
20 percent of the cost
gets 80 percent of the results.

Pieces of old wood? Sounds like a problem waiting to happen. Pretty sure my old wooden shovel handles aren't meach for that kind of force.

 

[cranbiz]

Pieces of old wood? Sounds like a problem waiting to happen. Pretty sure my old wooden shovel handles aren't meach for that kind of force.

Actually works quite well. I have done it with a tree branch in a pinch.

 

[chaosjake]

Pieces of old wood? Sounds like a problem waiting to happen. Pretty sure my old wooden shovel handles aren't meach for that kind of force.

I wouldn't build my recovery kit around dowels, but I have used a framing hammer and this technique to link a couple of snatch straps together with my old K5.

I would say to start by making sure your vehicle has solid, frame-tied recovery points at both ends, then get a decent snatch strap or kinetic rope and whatever shackles you need to attach it to your recovery points and the other vehicle. Build up from there.

 

[Bjeepz]

I wouldn't build my recovery kit around dowels, but I have used a framing hammer and this technique to link a couple of snatch straps together with my old K5.

I would say to start by making sure your vehicle has solid, frame-tied recovery points at both ends, then get a decent snatch strap or kinetic rope and whatever shackles you need to attach it to your recovery points and the other vehicle. Build up from there.

I wouldn't use a single piece of kit that is not rated for at least double the weight of my rig. It only takes one incident to end or change life forever because somebody is being cheap. I've seen idiots use chains with no idea of their rating, and other geniuses used random d-rings not knowing their weight rating snap. When I see this kind off crap I walk away and tell ppl I will have no part of their potential disaster.

The worst I've seen is an unknown d-ring joining 2 unknown chains, the d-ring snapped and ended up in the cab of the regular cab pickup above the drivers head. This was a close friend of mine, he later told me he couldn't believe how close he came to dying by being cheap, he was pretty upset with himself. It was a disturbing near miss.

I find it hard to comprehend that anybody who can afford a gladiator is going to try to pinch pennies on recovery gear/safety.

 

[Sw00per]

Thanks for all the replies. As I research recovery gear and techniques I came across the hierarchy of recovery. Here is a link to the video mentioned. To me it seems like common sense to look at it from this perspective. Does this jive with folks experience?

Recovery video

So far my kit has recovery boards and a shovel. I will be adding a compressor so I can air down for additional traction likely on Black Friday.

Next items to add to my basic kit would be a hitch recovery point a couple shackles and a kinetic rope. I am strongly looking at Yankum for these items.

 

[Mad Mac]

As tempting as it is,
do not use a hitch ball for recovery.
They have been known to snap off,
penetrating windshields or back windows.
I read of one passenger who was killed.

A rope dampener is a good idea.
Tame the recoil
of a broken tow rope, strap or winch line.
Commercially made ones are available.
I'm a believer and I bought one.
Damper
But a floor mat, heavy coat or jacket
and the like can be used in a pinch.
Drape it across the middle of the tow strap.

 

[Bjeepz]

Hey OP, does your username happen to come from skydiving fun time?!?! I was never a swooper but a wingsuiter. Haven't flown in just over 2yrs now. Have a new Pilot 7 137 in the bag begging to fly, can def get some small swoop action from Pilot 7's!

 

[Sw00per]

Hey OP, does your username happen to come from skydiving fun time?!?! I was never a swooper but a wingsuiter. Haven't flown in just over 2yrs now. Have a new Pilot 7 137 in the bag begging to fly, can def get some small swoop action from Pilot 7's!

No it was a nick name I picked up in the Army... inside joke.

 

[smlobx]

Thanks for all the replies.….
Next items to add to my basic kit would be a hitch recovery point a couple shackles and a kinetic rope. I am strongly looking at Yankum for these items.

You Mojave already has recovery points, front and rear…

 

[Sw00per]

You Mojave already has recovery points, front and rear…

Are you referring to the hooks?

 

[smlobx]

Are you referring to the hooks?

Yes.

 

[Chadp82]

For the OP, this started with you asking about snow and recovery gear. There has been some good info on general gear, but are you looking at snow specific?

if so, good tires are #1.

I do carry a shovel, a set of tire chains, and a tow strap as the basics in the winter in both mine and my wife’s vehicles.

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