What should I have for recovery gear?

[MilesTeg]

As a newbie to anything more serious than poorly maintained dirt road offroading. What should I guy have to not be completely helpless if he gets in a situation where he needs vehicle recovery? I've been doing my research but I would love to hear any advice from the highly experienced folks here. I am planning to do several trips over the next ~year to:

- Moab (nothing advanced)
- Colorado San Juan Mountains (alpine loop and similar)

I have a Badlands (non SAS) with the modular bumper and tow kit and I'm working on getting proper gear for my first "big trip" in May.

My research tells me I should have:

- food/water for 2-3 days
- bottle jack /w wide base
- 3 good steel shackles, not cheap/soft steel
- tire repair kit with plugs and replacement valves
- air down tool + pump
- trench shovel
- gloves/first aid
- tow strap and/or snatch strap

possible:
- beacon/sat com

Does this seem like a reasonable start? And recommendations on particular gear (especially jacks and straps)

Also, I'm not afraid to say I'm a total newb at any recovery skills, so I have little idea how to safely use a tow strap or a snatch strap, and am looking for advice on what a person like me should have and what resources (videos, etc.) there are that would give me the right information to have a prayer if I get into a pickle.

Thanks!

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[Smocaine]

If you plan to use an elastic-type snatch strap, you should consider using it with soft shackles due to the danger that overcooked kinetic recoveries can present. Steel flying with lots of energy is no fun. I prefer to keep my steel shackles on less energetic recoveries like winching.
Many offroaders are using GMRS radio these days. Especially useful if you're travelling with a group but can be helpful to communicate with anyone you come across. Handheld and vehicle mounted radios can be had for pretty cheap. The license is $35 and is good for your whole family, but you don't necessarily need a license to buy a radio to listen or transmit in an emergency.

e: I'd consider checking out Robert Pepper's YouTube channel for general offroading knowledge. He has a lot of videos about how to use recovery equipment safely and effectively.

 

[Glade Runner]

A winch.

 

[Bugkillah]

And for you guys that are going to the middle of nowhere, do the new Apple phones work with satellite out there? I think it’s just for texting, but would be interested, and yes, a gmrs radio, preferably installed with antennae.

 

[Qarlos]

• Metal shovel
• Soft shackles (safer and will save the paint on your hooks). If you go with steel shackles they must be RATED for vehicle weight, not just "good"
• Definitely both a tow strap AND a kinetic recovery strap/rope (be sure to size it correctly for vehicle weight – this is often overlooked)
• Tire deflator
• Air compressor
• First aid kit (I carry a full-on trauma kit) and a wilderness first aid handbook
• Water cans for potable water to carry double the water you think you will need
• Sat phones are expensive, but if you are soloing in the middle of nowhere, are very good insurance
• Recovery boards (Maxtrax), depending on terrain
• A toolbox: wrenches, pliers, hammer, mallet, etc
• Zipties and duct tape (seriously)
• WD40 or other spray lube
• Baseplate for your jack
• 2-way radios (GMRS or VHF) if going with more than one car

ETA: Warm blanket to stay warm when stranded, and bungee cords to hold everything down (credit to @RallyGorgo )

 

[RallyGorgo]

I’ve only been off-road a couple of times, once with a local group in an off-road park and once for the Off-Roadeo in Moab (I STRONGLY recommend doing the Off-Roadeo, you’ll learn a ton!!!).

When I did the local thing (western NY) it was just some trails a guy had cut through 80 acres on hills between corn fields. I learned some trail etiquette, mainly to keep the group together but also to give people some room. I wound up driving up a creek bed when the guy in front of me left me guessing which way to go. So I’m going up this creek bed when the rest of the group comes around a bend ahead of me up about 5’ above me on the right on the trail next to the creek. After some back-and-forth “what are you doin’ down there?”, “what are you doin’ up there?!” I started backing down the creek to find a place to climb up on the bank. I found my 1/2-worn tires couldn’t get enough bite so I decided to try using my winch for the first time. I pulled out a 2”-wide tow-strap to use as a tree-saver (good tip I picked up from a video someplace), hooked up everything the way I thought it needed to go, and pulled my Jeep (yeah, ‘06 LJR, my first off-road toy…) up the bank. Apparently it’s cool when you use your accessories, all the other guys were standing around watching asking if I needed help (“no idea, this is my first time off-road…”). The rest of the day was good. Looking back on it, if the guy behind me hadn’t been following as closely as he was (and if he hadn’t gotten stuck in the creek bed in his Cherokee with all-season radials…), I could have turned around in the creek and just driven down to make the turn onto the correct trail.

Anyways, one tip I hear all the time is to not go off-roading alone. It’s good advice, especially when you’re new at it. Dirt or gravel roads in state or national forests are one thing but, once you’re off the “beaten path”, you never know when you’ll see someone else when you may need some help.

I have a winch on my non-Squatch Badlands and carry my recovery gear in a sealed Husky box from Home-Depot. I’ve got gloves, a 30’ tow-strap, a couple of 3/4” steel shackles, a couple of soft shackles, a recovery loop for a trailer hitch (more to use on someone else’s vehicle), a tree-saver strap, a folding shovel, a few motorcycle-style tie-down straps, motor oil, water, shop rags, and brake-clean. I’ve also got a tool kit, 1st aid kit, and a blanket. All of this I keep tied-down in the back of my Bronco so that it doesn’t go flying.

Have fun, stay safe!!

 

[bassist]

Another vehicle.

Trust me on this one.

 

[duel007]

And for you guys that are going to the middle of nowhere, do the new Apple phones work with satellite out there? I think it’s just for texting, but would be interested, and yes, a gmrs radio, preferably installed with antennae.

Yup! iPhone 14 and later support calling for emergency help via satellite, and if you have iOS 18 installed, you can also send SMS and iMessages.

I haven't tried the messaging yet, but last year when I was in Moab and Colorado, I was able to use satellite to update my location with people back home who I had already shared my location with on my iPhone.

 

[Bigmoose]

If you expect to be alone i would seriously consider a winch. The deal on the ford one can’t be beat.
https://www.ford.com/product/20212024-ford-performance-parts-by-warn-bronco-winch-kit-p2760593812

you can find a coupon for an additional 15% easily as well.

 

[telenerd]

I think you got all the basics along with what other people mentioned. Have a friend is good idea too. My kit has grown over the years. Probably most important to me is a spare air compressor and electric jump starter. Compressors can die unexpectedly and if you have no other way to air up after your trip you’re screwed. Don’t ask me why.

 

[Valhalla]

I did not see a good first aid kit and fire extinguisher listed. I like a high lift, axe shovel and winch. to many tools. Ratchet straps, duct tape, bailing wire. Sometimes you McGuyver to get out.

 

[Felix808]

As a newbie to anything more serious than poorly maintained dirt road offroading. What should I guy have to not be completely helpless if he gets in a situation where he needs vehicle recovery? I've been doing my research but I would love to hear any advice from the highly experienced folks here. I am planning to do several trips over the next ~year to:

- Moab (nothing advanced)
- Colorado San Juan Mountains (alpine loop and similar)

I have a Badlands (non SAS) with the modular bumper and tow kit and I'm working on getting proper gear for my first "big trip" in May.

My research tells me I should have:

- food/water for 2-3 days
- bottle jack /w wide base
- 3 good steel shackles, not cheap/soft steel
- tire repair kit with plugs and replacement valves
- air down tool + pump
- trench shovel
- gloves/first aid
- tow strap and/or snatch strap

possible:
- beacon/sat com

Does this seem like a reasonable start? And recommendations on particular gear (especially jacks and straps)

Also, I'm not afraid to say I'm a total newb at any recovery skills, so I have little idea how to safely use a tow strap or a snatch strap, and am looking for advice on what a person like me should have and what resources (videos, etc.) there are that would give me the right information to have a prayer if I get into a pickle.

Thanks!

You've got a pretty good start. As @bassist said another vehicle hopefully with someone that has some experience. I know being new it's fun to just get out by yourself, but if you are going into secluded areas , having another vehicle adds a whole other level of safety. unless you have a winch mechanical or otherwise, without another vehicle a strap / rope will be hard to put into use.
With any vehicle recovery, use the CYAD method Calm Your @$$ Down!. You should never be a rush when preforming a recovery, unless you are trying to win KOH. Think it through make sure it's going to be as safe as possible that people are not near the vehicle or in the line of the recovery. Start slow & build up if trying a kinetic recovery. Too many people & equipment has been damaged by just yanking as hard as possible. Sometime you have to do a lot of work to dig the vehicle out, build a rock road to whatever, so you don't pull the vehicle apart during the recovery.

There are too many resources from local clubs to online forums such as this to go alone.
Be safe & enjoy

 

[bassist]

You've got a pretty good start. As @bassist said another vehicle hopefully with someone that has some experience. I know being new it's fun to just get out by yourself, but if you are going into secluded areas , having another vehicle adds a whole other level of safety. unless you have a winch mechanical or otherwise, without another vehicle a strap / rope will be hard to put into use.
With any vehicle recovery, use the CYAD method Calm Your @$$ Down!. You should never be a rush when preforming a recovery, unless you are trying to win KOH. Think it through make sure it's going to be as safe as possible that people are not near the vehicle or in the line of the recovery. Start slow & build up if trying a kinetic recovery. Too many people & equipment has been damaged by just yanking as hard as possible. Sometime you have to do a lot of work to dig the vehicle out, build a rock road to whatever, so you don't pull the vehicle apart during the recovery.

There are too many resources from local clubs to online forums such as this to go alone.
Be safe & enjoy

Order of recovery:

1. Use the various technological features of your vehicle.
2. Digging, stacking rocks.
3. Recovery boards.
4. Tow recovery - towing vehicle comes to a complete stop, and then you both simultaneously begin applying throttle.
5. Winch.
6. Kinetic recovery


Things get more dangerous as you go up the curve.

But calming down is super important. When I got stuck with my family by ourselves, my first mistake was having my rear diff locked - because of all the mud, all that did was cause my rear end to slide, which got me properly stuck.

I also didn't think to start stacking things immediately while we still had daylight. I was too busy trying to rig up a come along that ended up not fitting my recovery points nor properly unspool.


Also, I cannot emphasize this enough: do NOT buy a highlift jack. The odds of someone injuring themself is much higher than simply getting a better hydraulic jack. I'd spend the money on an ARB hydraulic jack, or just get a bigger and better bottle jack, before using last century technology that is known to pose a real danger.

 

[buck_6G]

As a newbie to anything more serious than poorly maintained dirt road offroading. What should I guy have to not be completely helpless if he gets in a situation where he needs vehicle recovery? I've been doing my research but I would love to hear any advice from the highly experienced folks here. I am planning to do several trips over the next ~year to:

- Moab (nothing advanced)
- Colorado San Juan Mountains (alpine loop and similar)

I have a Badlands (non SAS) with the modular bumper and tow kit and I'm working on getting proper gear for my first "big trip" in May.

My research tells me I should have:

- food/water for 2-3 days
- bottle jack /w wide base
- 3 good steel shackles, not cheap/soft steel
- tire repair kit with plugs and replacement valves
- air down tool + pump
- trench shovel
- gloves/first aid
- tow strap and/or snatch strap

possible:
- beacon/sat com

Does this seem like a reasonable start? And recommendations on particular gear (especially jacks and straps)

Also, I'm not afraid to say I'm a total newb at any recovery skills, so I have little idea how to safely use a tow strap or a snatch strap, and am looking for advice on what a person like me should have and what resources (videos, etc.) there are that would give me the right information to have a prayer if I get into a pickle.

Thanks!

Add gom jabbar in case you are stranded and the above fail.

 

[Valhalla]

Order of recovery:

1. Use the various technological features of your vehicle.
2. Digging, stacking rocks.
3. Recovery boards.
4. Tow recovery - towing vehicle comes to a complete stop, and then you both simultaneously begin applying throttle.
5. Winch.
6. Kinetic recovery


Things get more dangerous as you go up the curve.

But calming down is super important. When I got stuck with my family by ourselves, my first mistake was having my rear diff locked - because of all the mud, all that did was cause my rear end to slide, which got me properly stuck.

I also didn't think to start stacking things immediately while we still had daylight. I was too busy trying to rig up a come along that ended up not fitting my recovery points nor properly unspool.


Also, I cannot emphasize this enough: do NOT buy a highlift jack. The odds of someone injuring themself is much higher than simply getting a better hydraulic jack. I'd spend the money on an ARB hydraulic jack, or just get a bigger and better bottle jack, before using last century technology that is known to pose a real danger.

#2 I agree with
#3 I have never seen them work in my part of the country.
#4 tow vehicle should take slack out (mild throttle) prior to stuck vehicle applying throttle.

Using a hilift can be dangerous. This being said with a good bumper and a piece of wood to place it on you could have jacked the rear end off the ground and pushed the vehicle off to one side where better traction was available.
Just because you do not know how to use it does not make it dangerous. Using it in a dangerous way is. Hooking yank straps, come-alongs chains and winches can be dangerous when done poorly as well.

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