4x4 Recovery Gear

[BrAzZ]

Hi guys,


Had a quick search and couldn't find anything on this topic. Basically post up anything to do with your experience with recovery gear, photo's and stories of any recoveries you have done.

Firstly i need some advice. I'm a basic 4wd'er. I do a lot of tracks, dunes and beach driving so i am looking at getting a recovery kit. Whats the main items i should be looking at for this type of offroading? I very rarely go out by myself and already have a set of TREDS. I was looking on ebay and found this kit. so I am wondering the quality of the kit and if its all i need when out with mates.

the basics i feel i need is a snatch strap, bow shackles and the tow hitch would be handy as i dont have any standard recovery points on the rear of my car.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281037963863?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

thanks in advance guys.

[VEE KA]

that's pretty much it for the usual 4x4'ing that most people do and for what you have posted above. also, if you dont have one already get yourself a good quality compressor as well.

others will add their stories but we've only needed the snatch strap when we've been out. i take with me a snatch strap, shackles, gloves and a compressor ( also some tools but that's because i drive an old zook ).

[BrAzZ]

A compressor was another thing i was looking at. Ive been told to look at twin cylinder compressors that range at about the 150L/min mark. Not to sure on what brands are known to be reliable as few mates went cheap and they shat out after a few trips.

[VEE KA]

A compressor was another thing i was looking at. Ive been told to look at twin cylinder compressors that range at about the 150L/min mark. Not to sure on what brands are known to be reliable as few mates went cheap and they shat out after a few trips.

yeah for a decent sized tyre you need around the 150l to be able to pump the tyres up quick, otherwise it takes a bloody long time, the compressor overheats and craps out!!!

go see the usual suspects like ARB, Ultimate, ORE etc etc and have a chat to them about the compressors, there are some CHEAP ones out there at places like Malz/Supershit so be careful. the one i use is a Projecta ( Narva ) Storm but mines a single cylinder and around 72L so mine takes a bit of time.

[South]

Don't fall for the sales bollocks on compressors, you don't need the ducks nuts. If you been 4WD'ing the whole day, waiting 10mins to pump up your tyres isn't going to be bad. Bushranger make good quality units.

See Perth 4x4, they'll have a recovery kit with all the stuff and compressors to suit, or jump on ebay to save some coin.

If you must have ARB or big brand name, then go to BCF and get their brand of snatch straps and what not, they are the same and half the price.

[KPWISHN]

You need a compressor and a shovel. That's it. All the other stuff is a load of wank.

[Fozzy]

lol at load of wank..

Minimum Recovery Kit

Tyre Deflators
Type Pressure Gauge
Compressor
Shovel
Snatch Strap ( and an equaliser strap if you have a smaller soft roader/weak recovery points)
Good Recovery Points
Shackles

Also if you do Alot of sand driving do yourself a favour and get some max trax I would have considered them wank until I saw how well they worked.. (edit see you have the tredz. But the same still applies)

End of the day the more recovery gear you have to make your life easier the better. I dont care what anyone says I hate being stuck and if I can carry abit of gear to make it easier to get out all the better.

[BrAzZ]

the treds im yet to use so i will have to test them out next time i get stuck. The front of my car has got recovery points from factory on the chassis but the rear i was looking at getting the tow hitch in the first post i linked to ebay!

The treds also act as a shovel according to there pamflet but yet to really use them at all so that should be covered.

So whats the opinion of the ironman kit i posted above. When it comes to it i assume with the strict safety regulations no matter what brand all would have to meet strict guidelines therefore standardizing them abit more if im not mistaken?

[VEE KA]

You need a compressor and a shovel. That's it. All the other stuff is a load of wank.

dont think a shovel and a compressor would have helped me when my 4b shat a fuel pump on a track out the back of the dunes in Lancelin, had to get snatched up a decent dune then across the dunes and out.

[KPWISHN]

Should have started with get and landcruiser and all you need is....

Yeah true. A snatch strap is obviously another good idea. That really is about all you need though. A shovel is the number one must have IMO.

[South]

use your hands as a shovel you lazy prick :)

replace your factory TIE DOWN mounts with real RECOVERY mounts. I won't tow or snatch anyone with factory points as they are only rated to keep the car from moving around in the boat from the factory.

[mr_mike]

the treds im yet to use so i will have to test them out next time i get stuck. The front of my car has got recovery points from factory on the chassis but the rear i was looking at getting the tow hitch in the first post i linked to ebay!

The treds also act as a shovel according to there pamflet but yet to really use them at all so that should be covered.

So whats the opinion of the ironman kit i posted above. When it comes to it i assume with the strict safety regulations no matter what brand all would have to meet strict guidelines therefore standardizing them abit more if im not mistaken?

As South said these are not recovery points they are used for securing the vehicle during transport or towing. If you are stuck chassis deep in mud or sand and try snatch off these points there is a very very good chance they will snap clean off. They are not load rated for the horizontal force of a full snatch.

[Chivalry]

Surprised that nobody has mentioned how handy an axe can be, especially when you run into backpackers.

[Niva]

fuck all that extra weight, wait for the next guy to come along with all the gear

[Fozzy]

What if that next guy tells you to get fucked! I've pulled to many pingpingpingpings out with my strap only one person has ever done something in return. No strap no snatch now its as simple as that.

They cost money to replace and they are a consumable that do break after repeated use

[South]

or $100 a recovery, no cash then get fucked

[Niva]

wish there was more people like you out there

[South]

I pay up when some random recovers me, it's only been once but the amount of stress that persons car went through was worth it.

Trying to pull a 4t Landcruiser, sitting on it's chassis, up a sand dune with a sub 2t Hilux Surf is not ideal, it took 1 hour.

[KPWISHN]

I usually loop the snatchy around the car I'm savings chassis. That way there is no chance of copping a shackle to the head.

[jnr]

Steve at Autopro innaloo has a range of recovery gear at not bad prices

[BrAzZ]

ill pop into autopro on my lunch break actually thanks for that!

[adamenp]

has anyone had much experience with maxtraxx ? Was looking at purchasing at set but for $280 wondering if they are really worth the $$$$

[Fozzy]

Wait till super cheap or rays outdoors have a 20% off sale that's generally the cheapest way to get some.

I honestly thought they were a load of wank until I got stuck in a shitty spot with soft sand.. If it wasn't for the maxtrax and two winches I reckon I would still be there digging. I wasn't going anywhere trying to drive out while being winched as soon as we put the maxtrax under I was able to drive the length of them, then pull them out and repeat. Worth it I reckon

[S85FI]

Rate the Warn Winch I have..... in saying that all I have done with it is pulled out tree stumps, lifted UB Steel and skull dragged outer cars out of bogs.... getting too old for shovels and tread crap.

[adamenp]

Fozzy how much did you get your matrix for ?

[Rich]

keen to take the new truck off road for a bit of camping and entry level 4wd'ing, beach runs, dunes etc nothing too crazy so im in the market for some recovery gear. After a quick look around there appears to be a bunch of brands that offer a small kit or a large kit with about $100-$150 between the 2 kits.

small kits usually consist of gloves, bag, a couple of shackles and a snatch strap
large kits have everything the small kit has plus winch extension strap, tree trunk protector, drag chain and snatch block

is it worth the extra to just get the big kit and not have to worry about not having the gear you need or do you think its a waste for light 4wd'ing

until I get some more permanent recovery points put on the vehicle, are these recovery hitches suitable?

http://www.tigerhitch.com/images/GenII400.jpg

[mr_mike]

yes, all i have ever used is a recovery hitch

[S133LTR]

Just get a snatch strap and some recovery points for now dude.. Ive got some shackles you can have.

Get a compressor too.

[S85FI]

Fellas,

Looking at changing my wire rope to the plastic stuff.

Dyneema VS the Plasma Rope.

From what I have read, Plasma doesn't bind, it's rating is the true breaking point (dynamic rating not static like Dyneema) and doesn't bind in the winch drum.

Has anyone had any experience with either of them? Currently running 30m steel cable and looking to go to 40m of synthetic stuff. Over fighting the kinks etc in a steel cable.

[gazza750]

Running Dyneema and haven't had any problems with it binding

Fellas,

Looking at changing my wire rope to the plastic stuff.

Dyneema VS the Plasma Rope.

From what I have read, Plasma doesn't bind, it's rating is the true breaking point (dynamic rating not static like Dyneema) and doesn't bind in the winch drum.

Has anyone had any experience with either of them? Currently running 30m steel cable and looking to go to 40m of synthetic stuff. Over fighting the kinks etc in a steel cable.