I know this has been discussed in the past but in the last few years there has been some gear trends that I find useful and in some cases safer for recovery. I have been in the process of updating my recovery gear, which isn’t easy, I’ve been collecting stuff for several decades. So I’ll list the items that have changed over the years, the ones I’m working on and the reasons why. I’d love to hear some of y’all’s input and hopefully evolve into recovery techniques, which I hope it does, can’t count the times I’ve seen things happen and no one have the first clue as to what to do. Let’s start with gear.
Most can agree a winch is almost a must have. In my opinion it must have synthetic rope and not wire cable. Cable is heavy, so it is harder on you and the vehicle carrying it. Cable is also less safe, if it fails, the release of energy is violent, flying objects can maim and kill. Rope is lighter, can be handled without gloves, recommended but not required and doesn’t store near the energy of steel cable.
Winch hooks, putting it in its own category, I’ve stopped using a hook, the thimble in the end of the rope is more than sufficient. A hook is really good for nothing other than just being a bludgeoning device for the person handling the rope to beat themselves with. I’ve been bruised and bloodied by them more times than I can count. The thimble will protect the rope and give a place to insert a steel d ring shackle or a soft shackle.
Soft shackles, I’ll post pics of them. Many do not know what they are, how they work or even how to use them. I have all but replaced all of my steel d ring shackles with these. They are lighter and safer. Can be used to reach around most anything to create a recovery point. They are extremely safe and again if there is a failure it isn’t sending steel shrapnel at your head. I carry at least 3 of these. I only carry 1 steel shackle, if your recovery points are just a hole in a tab, it is still the best connection.
Snatch blocks. I’m moving away from heavy steel contraptions to a simple aluminum ring that works with a soft shackle. The aluminum ring is lighter, seeing a trend? Again less weight if there is a failure less weight equals less energy. It also makes your gear weigh less and easier to store. I carry 2 of these, still need more to complete my fleet but getting there.
Recovery strap, make sure if it is a strap it is nylon and not polyester. Nylon stretches, polyester does not. Nylon is for recovery, polyester is for tree savers. A recovery strap or kinetic energy rope are a must and need to be rated to a minimum of 20,000 pounds. 20,000 pounds! My rig only weighs 5000 why 20,000? It is a kinetic energy device, hit the end of it with momentum and you can usually extricate what is stuck in the mud and develop many times your vehicles weight in pulling power. Hung on rocks is not the place to use that kinetic energy, but stuck in the mud most definitely is.
Tree savers in many areas are required by law anytime a winch or anchor line is attached to a tree. It protects the tree from damage often saving it from dying. They are also great for going around points if rocks or other objects. I carry at least 2. They typically range in length from 6-12 feet.
Post what you carry and we can also work in some techniques. I’ll use a term from my tactical training buddies. “Amateurs talk hardware Professionals talk software.” You can have all the gear in the world but if you don’t have the know how, training, and experience to use it it just weighs you down, slows you down and is in the way.
Most can agree a winch is almost a must have. In my opinion it must have synthetic rope and not wire cable. Cable is heavy, so it is harder on you and the vehicle carrying it. Cable is also less safe, if it fails, the release of energy is violent, flying objects can maim and kill. Rope is lighter, can be handled without gloves, recommended but not required and doesn’t store near the energy of steel cable.
Winch hooks, putting it in its own category, I’ve stopped using a hook, the thimble in the end of the rope is more than sufficient. A hook is really good for nothing other than just being a bludgeoning device for the person handling the rope to beat themselves with. I’ve been bruised and bloodied by them more times than I can count. The thimble will protect the rope and give a place to insert a steel d ring shackle or a soft shackle.
Soft shackles, I’ll post pics of them. Many do not know what they are, how they work or even how to use them. I have all but replaced all of my steel d ring shackles with these. They are lighter and safer. Can be used to reach around most anything to create a recovery point. They are extremely safe and again if there is a failure it isn’t sending steel shrapnel at your head. I carry at least 3 of these. I only carry 1 steel shackle, if your recovery points are just a hole in a tab, it is still the best connection.
Snatch blocks. I’m moving away from heavy steel contraptions to a simple aluminum ring that works with a soft shackle. The aluminum ring is lighter, seeing a trend? Again less weight if there is a failure less weight equals less energy. It also makes your gear weigh less and easier to store. I carry 2 of these, still need more to complete my fleet but getting there.
Recovery strap, make sure if it is a strap it is nylon and not polyester. Nylon stretches, polyester does not. Nylon is for recovery, polyester is for tree savers. A recovery strap or kinetic energy rope are a must and need to be rated to a minimum of 20,000 pounds. 20,000 pounds! My rig only weighs 5000 why 20,000? It is a kinetic energy device, hit the end of it with momentum and you can usually extricate what is stuck in the mud and develop many times your vehicles weight in pulling power. Hung on rocks is not the place to use that kinetic energy, but stuck in the mud most definitely is.
Tree savers in many areas are required by law anytime a winch or anchor line is attached to a tree. It protects the tree from damage often saving it from dying. They are also great for going around points if rocks or other objects. I carry at least 2. They typically range in length from 6-12 feet.
Post what you carry and we can also work in some techniques. I’ll use a term from my tactical training buddies. “Amateurs talk hardware Professionals talk software.” You can have all the gear in the world but if you don’t have the know how, training, and experience to use it it just weighs you down, slows you down and is in the way.
