What's in your recovery bag?

Found a pic, practicing what I preach...from back in the day...tire under the Jeep in case it fell off the jack, handle out of the jack when not needed.

dusy2-1.jpg


If you have to break something (an axle u-joint spit a cap), might as well do it the top of Kaiser Pass on the Dusy-Ershim trail.
 
bob91yj said:
I'm fascinated with all of the different varieties of recovery straps available. All I've ever had are standard looped end 20-30K (depending on brand and web size) 20-30' long recovery straps.

It's been a few years (OK maybe more than a few and apparently a lot of technology) since I worked course recovery for CaRoc's. I've had some crazy course recovery's with a minimal of gear (compared to what is on the market today) with no injuries or failed recoveries.

<holy crap, tried to endure the missed keystrokes, couldn't hang, had to switch browsers>

Maybe the wrong thread, but I'm going to start it here anyway...

I see more vehicles with a Hi-Lift jack mounted to it somewhere, and a casual vehicle inspection indicates no where that they are going to be able to use said jack on their own vehicle. I've quit carrying one because any time one is needed there is someone that is begging you to use theirs. Don't get me wrong, a Hi-Lift has saved my bacon many a time...usually in my rock Jeep with countless jacking points, including the bead locked wheels. As far as a usable vehicle recovery jack, get a solid base, and a higher rated bottle jack than you'll ever need. I'll damn near guarantee that you'll use the bottle jack more often on your junk than you do the other guys, and you won't have a near death experience that a Hi-Lift can create when used improperly, or in a dangerous manner (NEVER get a body part in the swing arc of the handle, if the jack takes off, handle hits you in the head, it can kill/blind you...it's happened). I can't stress Hi-Lift safety enough. If you have one, great, they are awesome tools when used correctly, practice with yours in the driveway or some other flat/hard surface. Get a wheel off the ground, shake the vehicle a bit, see if you can knock the vehicle off the jack...I'll bet yiou can! Just saying is all!:cool:

If you are just starting out with your recovery gear, focus on the simple stuff. If you get stuck, have a strap out, and a solid recovery point, most anyone with any trail manners at all will stop and give you a tug. In my experience most of us have more recovery gear than we usually need...having a reason to get it out and use it to help someone is usually a positive thing...at least it is for me and the crew I wheel with.

Start with the simple stuff, and don't skimp on quality, it could be your life depending on your recovery gear.

The most important thing is SOLID recovery points...double throw me down tow hooks bolted to a sheet metal bumper ain't gonna get it. I've seen a bargain bumper pulled right off of a Jeep and damn near kill the gawkers during a recovery. Just saying is all.:cool:

I'm old (not compared to Woody or Tango...but still on the downhill side), my doc says I'm fat, and this is the interweb. Take my opinions for what they are worth.
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It's nice to hear you young punks are starting to get it finally.

Agree with Bob's observations. I carry a HiLift with Jack Mate and have never used it to jack up the truck, and only once to "jack and cast." I do use it a lot, however, but only for teaching how to use during training. Anytime I've had to change a tire or jack something up it is exactly as Bob suggested, a higher capacity bottle jack. Way smaller, safer, and easy to support.

I also see the same damn phenomenon of HiLift mounting in the complete absence of jacking points... no rock sliders, aftermarket bumpers (with a nose perch), and maybe a 2" hitch or more often not.

- - - Updated - - -

bob91yj said:
If you have to break something (an axe u-joint spit a cap), might as well do it the top of Kaiser Pass on the Dusy-Ershim trail.
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You broke down there? Should have just called AAA for an easy tow... :rolleyes:
 
The only times I ever seem to be using my Hi lift is for jacking up the rear end of the tractor under the hitch mount to remove the big tires. A bottle jack is looking more and more likely to be a new made purchase. Thanks for that advice.
 
Here are a couple very handy reference cards. My advice is to laminate and keep in your recovery bag.

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Nice Mike... just like an engineer to drag math into the mix... :)

So what I see you illustrating here are 4 Resistance Factors - Surface - the quality or texture the disabled vehicle is on, e.g., loamy soil, silt, mud, loose scrabble, asphalt, sand, etc.; Damage - such as the wheels not able to rotate, broken axle, etc.; Stuck or Mire - as in the tires stuck to the depth of the sidewalls, hubs, or frame; and, Grade or Slope - uphill, downhill, or level ground.

A great way to illustrate how to turn a 4,000 pound vehicle into a 20,000 pound monster.

Kind of makes you think that the advice to get a winch 1.5 times the GVW of your vehicle was maybe not a good idea after all. Or maybe 1 recovery pulley really isn't enough...
 
Maybe just demonstrates the reality that sometimes its going to take more kit than you got to get your mired keister out of that mud hole and maybe you shouldn't attempt it in the first place. :)
 
Mr. Leary said:
Maybe just demonstrates the reality that sometimes its going to take more kit than you got to get your mired keister out of that mud hole and maybe you shouldn't attempt it in the first place. :)
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Exactly. Not like anyone here has ever done that.
 
Everyone has to learn sometime. Some of us just have to learn the hard way, others don't.

:advhat

EDIT: Ill add that sometimes MY trail etiquette means I make sure everyone is safe and offer to call a tow truck. Sometimes the lesson sticks better when its an expensive one. That goes back to that saying, everything happens for a reason. Sometimes that reason is you made a stupid decision, and its not someone else's job to pay the consequences.
 
Great advice Bob91yj. Thanks for the additional view points and suggestions. I also carry a bottle jack and it fits nicely into the hi-lift jack base to use as a stable, flat surface.
 
Maxcustody said:
Very nice. I have that tire repair kit as well.
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I've been eyeing the set for quite a while. I haven't had any flats in the boonies:) but I have had very many on both tractors and many truck tires from my job. So much so I ended up having the front tires on the tractor Foam Filled and are now fairly solid. Many of the kits you can buy at the auto parts and big box stores are not of good quality like the ARB. Heck, I've had one of the inserting tools on the cheap Chinese kits snap off in a tire before and had to dig it out with pliers. I like the ARB kit, it is a very nice product and looks of high quality. Although it doesn't fit into the ARB Recovery bag, I would recommend it to others.
 
100acrehuphalump said:
I've been eyeing the set for quite a while. I haven't had any flats in the boonies:) but I have had very many on both tractors and many truck tires from my job. So much so I ended up having the front tires on the tractor Foam Filled and are now fairly solid. Many of the kits you can buy at the auto parts and big box stores are not of good quality like the ARB. Heck, I've had one of the inserting tools on the cheap Chinese kits snap off in a tire before and had to dig it out with pliers. I like the ARB kit, it is a very nice product and looks of high quality. Although it doesn't fit into the ARB Recovery bag, I would recommend it to others.
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Agree, it seems very high quality. I haven't had to use mine, and hopefully it remains that way.....:D

Sent from my Roof Top Tent
 
Scott, it is Blue Ridge overland gear.....great products. I did a review on here of the stuff I have. I would paste the link but I am on my phone and unsure how to do that. Search blue Ridge overland gear, that is what I titled it......

Sent from my Roof Top Tent
 
Maxcustody said:
Scott, it is Blue Ridge overland gear.....great products. I did a review on here of the stuff I have. I would paste the link but I am on my phone and unsure how to do that. Search blue Ridge overland gear, that is what I titled it......

Sent from my Roof Top Tent
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Thank you - I will take a look.

EDIT - Thanks - just checked out their site. Another place to spend money!!!!!
 
In y'all's opinion is it still necessary to use a winch cable blanket after having switched to a synthetic line from a steel cable? Would a jacket work as well? Opposed to pulling out a blanket from the truck, does the line still need to be weighted down, and if so how many approximate lbs is recommended?
 
I would say anything upwards of 1 lb. Is sufficient for a synthetic line.

I use my ECWS parka

I have seen t shirts used, but feel safer with more weight
 
Question: once you've mucked up your strap, rope, wire, hardware, what is your process/procedure for cleaning, inspecting and storing? Particularly interested in the cleaning of mucked up straps and synth ropes. Much appreciated.
 
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