Recommended Recovery Equipment for Off-Road Adventures
It’s time to start thinking about gearing up for summertime adventures. Time to dig out your toys and get them ready for some fun. Maybe you are part of the select few that never put the toys away through the winter or your summer toy is your daily driver. If you wish to seek the trail less traveled, it is a great idea to be prepared for the unexpected. Let’s face it, none of us think we’ll get our rigs stuck or disabled, but sooner or later it is bound to happen. Having the right recovery gear with you can help you get back on the trail safely and successfully. It’s more than just the gear though, it’s about having the right gear and knowing how to use it properly. Nobody wants to get hurt or destroy their rig unnecessarily while they are out having some fun. Take the time to collect the right gear and learn how to use it properly. Today, I’m going to focus on some recommended gear, but I can’t stress enough that the knowledge of how to use the gear is more important than the gear itself! A couple of websites I have found that are great sources of additional information about how to properly use recovery gear is www.yankum.com and www.safe-xtract.com. They both make premium quality recovery gear manufactured here in the U.S.A. and offer videos about using those products. I also recommend the following book on the subject; Off-Road Driving Techniques by Nick Dimbleby.
What qualifies as recovery equipment? I would define it as any equipment that aids you in getting the vehicle back on the trail and traveling back on its own wheels and under its own power. It’s always easier to recover a rolling and running vehicle. Sometimes the vehicle may need to be repaired or partially assembled/disassembled to facilitate a safe recovery. Take the time to stop, evaluate the situation, and develop a plan for recovery before you do anything. People get hurt when you rush a recovery. Take the time to develop a plan, communicate the plan with the people involved, and be prepared to adjust the plan as needed as the recovery unfolds. Each recovery situation is different and requires a different approach. Let’s look at some recommended gear to facilitate your safe recovery. Each level adds to the previous level.
Light Recovery/ Daily Driver (Level 1)
Kinetic Energy Recovery Rope- This is a rope that is designed to stretch when pulling. Look for one rated for the size of your vehicle. 20-30' in length depending on where you’re likely to get stuck. 20’ works better on tight trails and 30’ works best in open areas.
Shackle- Also known as D-ring or clevis. It’s good to have at least one hard shackle and a couple soft shackles so you have connection options for your rope. The soft shackles are lighter and easier to use but are susceptible to cuts on sharp edges. That’s why it is still good to have a hard shackle or two with you.
Hitch Achor Point- Look for one that uses a hard shackle or a smooth center hole for soft shackles. Don’t forget the pin! It’s important to connect to the center of the vehicle(s) when using the kinetic energy ropes, otherwise the vehicle(s) will be pulled sideways under load.
Portable Air Source- Mainly applies to street driven vehicles. Airing down your tires for trail driving is an easy way to vastly improve your off-road performance. Having a pressurized air source is needed to restore the tires to street pressure. It can be anything from a 12 volt plug-in air compressor, CO2 air tank, or an engine driven air compressor. Whatever it takes to get the tires aired back up to street pressure to prevent blow outs. See my article on “The Most Profound Off-Road Vehicle Modification” from August 2024 for more information about airing down your tires.
Low Pressure Tire Gauge and Valve Core Tool- A low pressure tire gauge will read tire pressures below 20 PSI. These tools are helpful to get your tires aired down properly. The valve core tool is used to remove the valve core to speed up the airing down process. Just be careful not to lose the valve core. I recommend keeping a few extra with you just in case.
Jack- In addition to the barely adequate factory jack, I recommend having some kind of High Lift jack, bottle jack, or aluminum floor jack. It depends on what works best for your vehicle. The aluminum floor jacks are nice if you have the room, but they need to be modified with a flat plate across the bottom to prevent them from sinking down into soft soil.
Tire Plug Kit- Many tire punctures can be temporarily fixed with a tire plug kit. Even side wall punctures can sometimes be “fixed” with a stack of tire plugs. Get a good kit that has everything you need in it. Safety Seal makes a great kit. Take some time to understand how to use it properly before you need it.
Lug Nut Wrench- Check to make sure you have the right tools to remove a wheel if needed.
Full Size Spare Tire- Sometimes your only choice is to swap out a damaged tire. Having a full-size spare can get you back on the road when tire plugs don’t work.
Wheeling Buddy- Think of it as your lifeline. Having another vehicle there can assist you with recovery, ideas, or simply another way out should you need it. A wheeling buddy can help keep a level of safety in your off highway travels. Although, if you choose the wrong buddy, you might get yourself in a worse situation. Choose wisely.
Winch Recovery (Level 2)
Winch- Adding a winch opens a world of recovery possibilities. A winch gives you access to self-recovery and slow and controlled recoveries. I recommend using a winch rated at least 2x your vehicle weight and generally recommend synthetic rope over wire cable. It’s lighter and safer to use.
Tree Saver- A tree saver is a flat strap used to wrap around trees or other anchor points. Look for one about 8’x3”.
Snatch Block- A snatch block is a pulley used to double up or redirect a winch rope. Size one that matches your winch rating.
Shackle- Time to throw in a couple more soft shackles.
What Were You Thinking? (Level 3)
Snatch Block- Add a few more. I like the offset snatch block rings from Yankum Ropes for synthetic rope because you can run the winch line around the outside and through the center hole. It’s like having two snatch blocks in one.
Short Kinetic Energy Recovery Rope- If you need to haul a dead vehicle out of a tight trail a 10’ stretchy rope takes a lot of the jerkiness out of the tow. It can also be used as a bridle to spread the load between two anchor points when towing or used to extend your longer kinetic rope for mud or sand recoveries.
Flat Tow Strap- Used to anchor the winch vehicle for multiple line pulls or as an extension. Look for one that doesn’t stretch. A 30’x3” straps seem to work well if you have the room. If space is a problem, multiple tree savers, soft shackles, or a winch extension can be used instead.
Winch Extension- Recoveries that involve multiple snatch blocks require a lot of winch rope. The 80’-90’ on your winch can disappear in a hurry. A quality winch extension can save the day. Keep it in some kind of bag or container to protect it from the sun and abrasion.
Tree Saver- Add one or two more to connect to additional anchors, other vehicles, and the snatch blocks.
Shackle- You can never have too many soft shackles.
X-Lock- A clever device designed by Safe-Xtract to shorten winch extensions and for anchoring other devices to which lines.
Additional Items to Consider
Small Tool Bag- Personally, I keep a small tool bag with me whenever I’m traveling, on or off-road. Even if you’re not the handiest person with tools, some common hand tools can save the day in a pinch. It’s also a good idea to check if you need any special tools for your vehicle and toss those in the bag too. This tool bag has saved the day countless times. Here is what is in my small tool bag.
Assorted metric and standard 3/8” sockets, ratchet, and extension
Two adjustable wrenches
Two Vise Grips, needle nose and curved jaw
Magnet
Magnetic flashlight
Lineman pliers, to be used as a hammer, prybar, pliers, and pointed hammer punch
If you prefer a hammer over the lineman plier, add a hammer and prybar
Assorted screwdrivers, including a very tiny one to assist with electrical connectors
Large Knipex side cutter capable of cutting brake lines or cable
Needle nose plier
Knipex adjustable channel lock
Wire stripper/crimper, assorted wire connectors, and electrical tape
Compact multimeter
Small ¼” drive bit set with ratchet
Torx driver set (Needed for one of the Jeeps)
Punch
Zip ties and towels. You can never have too many zip ties
A variety of hose clamps
First Aid Kit- Another great item to always keep in the vehicle. I have a general first aid kit filled with bandages, gauze, and general medications. Then I have a trauma kit with an Israeli bandage to stop a major bleeder. I also keep a couple bottles of water, some energy bars, and a hunting knife in the bag for emergencies.
Winch Weight Bag- Recommended if you are using steel cable on your winch. A winch weight bag wraps around the cable and is weighted down with sand or dirt. Should your winch cable fail, it’s designed to pull the cable down to the ground to protect the people around you. When you upgrade to synthetic winch rope you do not have to worry about this as much.
Traction Boards- Traction boards are typically made of plastic and are designed for use in soft terrain like sand, mud, or snow. Some people really like them and use them often, sometimes it seems like more of an overlander fashion statement.
PulPal Winch Anchor- Another not so common piece of equipment. They are used in areas devoid of suitable winch anchors, like sand. A good wheeling buddy with another rig will likely negate the need for this.
Wheel Chocks- They work well to secure the vehicle when winching someone else out. Look for ones with an enclosed bottom to prevent them from sinking into the soft ground. In a pinch a big rock can work too.
Spare Parts- All vehicles have weak spots or parts prone to failure. If your vehicle has parts that are known to fail in certain situations, consider keeping some spare parts with you. Especially, hard to find parts. Breaking something is bound to happen sooner or later and having the parts you need to get your ride back up and running can save your trip. Just remember to balance out the weight of what you have with you. Many spare parts can be left back at camp for those emergency situations.
As you can see, the list of recovery gear can go on and on. It’s important to have the right gear with you so you are prepared for the unexpected. It’s equally important to balance that out with where you are going and who you are with. Driving an overloaded vehicle can be more dangerous and problematic than missing a few items of convenient gear. I do recommend the Level 1 gear, a small tool bag, and a first aid kit for anyone wishing to explore off-highway trails. If your vehicle has a winch that you intend to use, then add the Level 2 gear too. You’re more likely to need some Level 3 gear if you like to hit the extreme trails. Coordinate with your wheeling buddies to see what they have. There’s a good chance that between two or three of you there will be plenty of gear. Consider the terrain where you will be wheeling. Would some of the Additional Items add to the level of safety? Anything that will add to the safety factor should be considered. Taking the time now to stop and consider where you are going and what challenges you might encounter on the trail will allow you to have the right gear with you and prevent the “What do I do now?” situations. Stay safe and have fun out there.
Aaron Bjorklund