Buy the correct recovery gear & know how to use it!
IF YOU haven’t got stuck, then you probably haven’t seen the best bits yet, every four-wheel drive needs to be carrying high-quality recovery gear.Believing you’re never going to get stuck is like wanting a unicorn as a pet, even the best-equipped 4x4 can get bogged beyond the side steps. Believing that is the first problem, because every remote-area purpose built tourer can count on getting stuck kilometres from civilisation at least once in their 4WDing life.Once you’ve accepted you’re eventually going to encounter a trap too mighty for your un-defeated rig, it’s a matter of preventing the worst from happening, having no means of recovery – by preparing your vehicle with the best quality recovery gear you can afford. If recovery tracks and a trusty shovel are no match for the predicament you’re currently facing, then say hello to your new best friend, the recovery strap/rope.
Getting unstuckGETTING stuck is part of 4x4ing and exploring just that bit further than last time, if you jump on line or visit your local 4x4 accessories retailer you will find an overwhelming list of products made specifically to get the Off-Road Enthusiast out of such a pickle.A vital recovery tool is the Snatch Strap or Kinetic Energy Recovery Rope (KERR) and is one of the simplest methods of recovery in certain situations: “In instances such as beach driving, low-traction inclines and even river crossings, a snatch strap or recovery rope can often be a quick and safe solution to get a vehicle mobile again when travelling with a mate or in a group.”When you were searching the net you would have notice a few different styles of straps on the market – snatch/kinetic straps/ropes, static straps, winch-extension straps, tree trunk protector strap, all are designed to serve very different purposes. Static straps are useful for towing and (on occasion) winching, while kinetic/snatch straps/ropes are better suited to recovery situations where you need to ‘pop’ yourself from soft sand or a bog hole full of mud.“A snatch strap is one of the basic essentials when deciding to leave the Black Top. Whether you are exploring in sand, mud or snow, a recovery strap/rope can be a quick and easy way to get a stuck vehicle unstuck. When used correctly, it is a relatively safe and effective recovery method and should cause no damage to either vehicle.”
Now obviously just chucking a strap or rope on the ground and hoping for the best probably wont get you far, so there are also a few important things that works in perfect harmony with your strap or rope to improve your recovery efforts. “A complete recovery kit should have a damper blanket, which is essential in all recoveries. There are people on the net that would have you believe they are a waste of time and money, unless you have seen the damage a snatch recovery can cause or are happy putting other peoples lives in danger, just use one, get in the habit and use it. At least two rated bow or soft shackles, and, if it is a winch-recovery kit, a pulley block or winch ring depending on whether you are using wire rope or a spectra/dyneema rope. All these recovery items are for your safety and an effective recovery of your vehicle, so when you’re storing them don’t just chuck them on the floor or in the back of your ute. Too many times I have seen recovery equipment fail because no care has been taken during storage so get your self a quality hard wearing bag, quality kits are let down by bags that disintegrate after being lugged around just a few times.Other associated gear includes bow and soft shackles, a winch-extension strap, a snatch block or winch ring, leather gloves and tree-trunk protectors. If it has no rating attached or the price is too good to be true then don’t bother, We cannot stress enough the importance of using quality, rated straps and shackles made by trusted brands. What to look for? By law a snatch strap/KERR must be labeled as just that, a snatch strap or a Recovery rope. If it’s not labelled, simply turn and walk away. Snatch straps are made from Nylon and will have a glossy finish as opposed to Polyester. NYLON! ALL agree that snatch straps must be made from 100 per cent nylon. There is no negotiation. While polyester is used for static straps, extension straps ect, reputable brands will use nylon for their respective snatch straps as it provides the adequate stretch required to build kinetic energy and allow them to work.If the product is not nylon and is used in a snatch-style recovery, this could lead to dangerous results when performing the recovery.Make sure you can inspect when you are purchasing, look for consistent stitch quality on the strap, The stitching needs to be uniform to ensure that no inadvertent weak points are created.Look for brands that have tested their product and can show evidence.Also take a close look at the loops at each end of the strap and ensure they are double-stitched to maintain the strap rating. Some brands will be protected with an outer sheath to protect the strap from any damage at the connection point, this should be taken into consideration when buying. Now you’re armed with the information thus far, there’s no point spending your hard earned money on a quality strap when it’s not suited to your 4x4, so it’s important to take into consideration the weight of your rig when buying recovery gear. Get the correct rated strap for your vehicle. To light of a strap and you may as well just sit and throw sand at each other. If you are too heavy for the kinetic energy supplied you are going nowhere in a hurry, so the vehicle and strap need to be matched.As a general rule, a snatch strap should have a tonnage of between two to three times what the vehicle weighs.An 8000kg snatch strap/rope will be perfect for a vehicle that weighs between 2600kg and 4000kg, while an 11,000kg strap is good for vehicles between 3600kg and 6000kg.At the other end of the scale, Bigger is not always better, using a strap that is too heavy won’t provide enough stretch to pluck your vehicle out of the bog. A higher rated strap has less elasticity and if used incorrectly could shock-load both vehicles, potentially breaking something. For a majority of four-wheel drives, an 8000kg strap/rope is the preferred choice.Static straps are a little bit different, “These straps come in a host of different lengths opposed to a typical snatch strap/KERR being 9 meters. Static straps are able to be doubled over and used at half their length as well. When it comes to static straps used in winch recovery, the bigger the better. Generally static straps are rated to a minimum breaking strength of 10 tonnes.”Whilst a static strap can be doubled over, under no circumstances should a kinetic strap/rope be doubled over!When shopping, look for quality in the strap include full sewn eyes, protective sleeves, wear indicators and compliance tags. Brand reputation is also very important, as all trusted brands set strict safety standards. Testing There is no national standard for the testing of four-wheel drive recovery straps/ropes, there is however self-imposed independent testing through a NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) lab. Reputable brands will select straps at random from every batch, and all straps/ropes should have the batch stamped on them.
This includes testing for break strength and the stretch of the straps. Randomly batch testing every strap before shipping keeps consistency with straps and alerts to identify any changes in the manufacturing process or supply of raw goods. Many will batch test their straps/ropes to ensure they exceed the ratings they offer. Look beyond the trusted brands and you’re likely to be welcomed into a dark underworld of dodgy, unsafe and dangerous gear, as the internet is home to plenty of dodgy recovery gear.DESPITE no national standard for testing 4x4 recovery straps, it’s important to ensure individual brands have conducted thorough R&D and safety testing of products. That’s why browsing unknown manufacturers on the World Wide Web is a big no-no (more on that later).“Using a snatch strap in a recovery can be nothing other than dangerous if not done correctly or if the product is damaged or inferior. As we discussed before numerous cheap straps may not be nylon and unable to build up kinetic energy. If the strap breaks due to no stretch, generally other things break, people may get injured; if the vehicle fails due to a sudden shock-load ripping off the recovery point (generally metal) because the strap has no stretch, the result can and has caused serious injury and even death. All straps must come with guidelines and other requirements on the strap and packaging.”At the end of the day you are out exploring to find and create new memories. Recovering a stuck 4x4 at the best of times is dangerous, why turn a great outing into something potentially deadly. Why avoid cheap internet products, because you don’t know what you’re getting and where it has been tested. Put simply, why skimp a few dollars on something that could save your vehicle, and could kill you if it breaks due to crap products and poor quality control.”
Safety doesn't turn off There are a few safety tips to keep in mind the next time a snatch recovery is required and to return you and your beloved 4X4 safely home after your adventurous expedition;- Stop, slow everything down and assess the situation to decide on the best recovery technique. Work on the least energy expention possibility first.- Ensure ALL bystanders stand well back and there are no passengers in the vehicles.- Use a dampener!- Use only rated recovery points. The factory points on your vehicle are for securing it during transport, not pulling it out of a hole!- Ensure you have the correct strap for your vehicle weight, remember the strap is too be two to three times the GVM of the lighter vehicle.- Check the strap and associated equipment for wear or damage prior to use.- Communication is key, always establish communication before proceeding with any recovery.
Recovery pointsAttaching a strap to your vehicle really is not rocket science, but you need to ensure the point is fit for the job because an incorrectly attached strap can be down right deadly.These are a non-negotiable must-fit accessory, if you are planning on going off-road or touring, rated recovery points are an essential part of a vehicle build. All 4x4er’s need to understand the importance of attaching recovery straps to a recovery point or hitch that is suitably rated for use with that strap … NEVER, NEVER ever use a towball, your bullbar or a factory tie-down point!
Let’s not sugar coat it, people have been killed by flying projectiles such as towballs, shackles and poorly secured recovery points when recovery straps have been attached incorrectly.Without fail every weekend we see someone recovering a vehicle with a tow ball. Towballs are not rated for the load placed on them in a recovery situation, they are designed for towing only. If the shank snaps off the towball then you have a 50mm solid-steel projectile flying through the air at astonishing speeds. People have been killed by these things coming through the window. It is so scary how many times we see people still using towballs. “I always use my towball” is a common response from “Eddy the Expert’ with no regard for safety, so lets assume “Eddy” recovers his mate after placing such force and energy through his towball, then Monday comes and he hooks his work trailer up and proceeds to use a potentially damaged towball whilst overtaking you on the highway putting more innocent people at risk!
Recovery Poorly executed SNATCH-strap/KERR recoveries have wrecked the adventures of many unsuspecting weekend warriors, so to prevent a projectile flying toward your noggin at high speed and to rescue your sinking 4x4 – it’s important to use some common sense, a little education and do the job as it was intended, safely.What’s the theory behind snatch recovery? The goal here is to connect a rated recovery strap or rope between two vehicles, one of which is stuck and one of which is not. The recovery vehicle who is not stuck would back-up towards the stuck vehicle, allowing approximately two to three meters between depending on where the firmest ground is for the recovery vehicle to get traction on. At all times, it is the responsibility of the two drivers to be in constant communication with each other and any bystanders and keep them as far away from the live recovery area as possible.Once the strap is connected to both vehicles, generally the stuck vehicle first, remember to grab your dampener blanket and place securely over the rope, even better if two are available place one approx. 1/3 in from each vehicle. Back the recovery vehicle up allowing your recovery strap or rope to be placed in an “S” pattern in the middle of the vehicles so the stuck driver can see it. The free vehicle can then start to drive forward, maintaining a slow but steady pace. As the slack is taken up, the stuck driver should start to drive forward, at a steady pace to assist the recovery. As the recovery vehicle moves forward the snatch strap or rope will stretch, building up kinetic energy, this energy is then released on the stuck vehicle popping it out of the bog, imagine a giant elastic band. If at first you don’t succeed, reverse up, re-set the strap or rope and go again, there is no rule that you have to recover in one go.A note to punters, it is not a race nor are you trying to rip the stuck vehicle in half, take it slow and steady, ensure there are no kinks in the strap and remember only rated recovery points and rated shackles whether steel or soft should be used.It’s important to remember that a snatch recovery requires a straight-line vehicle-to-vehicle pull, never be used in conjunction with a winch.
Keep Livin’ The Dream
Now obviously just chucking a strap or rope on the ground and hoping for the best probably wont get you far, so there are also a few important things that works in perfect harmony with your strap or rope to improve your recovery efforts. “A complete recovery kit should have a damper blanket, which is essential in all recoveries. There are people on the net that would have you believe they are a waste of time and money, unless you have seen the damage a snatch recovery can cause or are happy putting other peoples lives in danger, just use one, get in the habit and use it. At least two rated bow or soft shackles, and, if it is a winch-recovery kit, a pulley block or winch ring depending on whether you are using wire rope or a spectra/dyneema rope. All these recovery items are for your safety and an effective recovery of your vehicle, so when you’re storing them don’t just chuck them on the floor or in the back of your ute. Too many times I have seen recovery equipment fail because no care has been taken during storage so get your self a quality hard wearing bag, quality kits are let down by bags that disintegrate after being lugged around just a few times.Other associated gear includes bow and soft shackles, a winch-extension strap, a snatch block or winch ring, leather gloves and tree-trunk protectors. If it has no rating attached or the price is too good to be true then don’t bother, We cannot stress enough the importance of using quality, rated straps and shackles made by trusted brands. What to look for? By law a snatch strap/KERR must be labeled as just that, a snatch strap or a Recovery rope. If it’s not labelled, simply turn and walk away. Snatch straps are made from Nylon and will have a glossy finish as opposed to Polyester. NYLON! ALL agree that snatch straps must be made from 100 per cent nylon. There is no negotiation. While polyester is used for static straps, extension straps ect, reputable brands will use nylon for their respective snatch straps as it provides the adequate stretch required to build kinetic energy and allow them to work.If the product is not nylon and is used in a snatch-style recovery, this could lead to dangerous results when performing the recovery.Make sure you can inspect when you are purchasing, look for consistent stitch quality on the strap, The stitching needs to be uniform to ensure that no inadvertent weak points are created.Look for brands that have tested their product and can show evidence.Also take a close look at the loops at each end of the strap and ensure they are double-stitched to maintain the strap rating. Some brands will be protected with an outer sheath to protect the strap from any damage at the connection point, this should be taken into consideration when buying. Now you’re armed with the information thus far, there’s no point spending your hard earned money on a quality strap when it’s not suited to your 4x4, so it’s important to take into consideration the weight of your rig when buying recovery gear. Get the correct rated strap for your vehicle. To light of a strap and you may as well just sit and throw sand at each other. If you are too heavy for the kinetic energy supplied you are going nowhere in a hurry, so the vehicle and strap need to be matched.As a general rule, a snatch strap should have a tonnage of between two to three times what the vehicle weighs.An 8000kg snatch strap/rope will be perfect for a vehicle that weighs between 2600kg and 4000kg, while an 11,000kg strap is good for vehicles between 3600kg and 6000kg.At the other end of the scale, Bigger is not always better, using a strap that is too heavy won’t provide enough stretch to pluck your vehicle out of the bog. A higher rated strap has less elasticity and if used incorrectly could shock-load both vehicles, potentially breaking something. For a majority of four-wheel drives, an 8000kg strap/rope is the preferred choice.Static straps are a little bit different, “These straps come in a host of different lengths opposed to a typical snatch strap/KERR being 9 meters. Static straps are able to be doubled over and used at half their length as well. When it comes to static straps used in winch recovery, the bigger the better. Generally static straps are rated to a minimum breaking strength of 10 tonnes.”Whilst a static strap can be doubled over, under no circumstances should a kinetic strap/rope be doubled over!When shopping, look for quality in the strap include full sewn eyes, protective sleeves, wear indicators and compliance tags. Brand reputation is also very important, as all trusted brands set strict safety standards. Testing There is no national standard for the testing of four-wheel drive recovery straps/ropes, there is however self-imposed independent testing through a NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) lab. Reputable brands will select straps at random from every batch, and all straps/ropes should have the batch stamped on them.
This includes testing for break strength and the stretch of the straps. Randomly batch testing every strap before shipping keeps consistency with straps and alerts to identify any changes in the manufacturing process or supply of raw goods. Many will batch test their straps/ropes to ensure they exceed the ratings they offer. Look beyond the trusted brands and you’re likely to be welcomed into a dark underworld of dodgy, unsafe and dangerous gear, as the internet is home to plenty of dodgy recovery gear.DESPITE no national standard for testing 4x4 recovery straps, it’s important to ensure individual brands have conducted thorough R&D and safety testing of products. That’s why browsing unknown manufacturers on the World Wide Web is a big no-no (more on that later).“Using a snatch strap in a recovery can be nothing other than dangerous if not done correctly or if the product is damaged or inferior. As we discussed before numerous cheap straps may not be nylon and unable to build up kinetic energy. If the strap breaks due to no stretch, generally other things break, people may get injured; if the vehicle fails due to a sudden shock-load ripping off the recovery point (generally metal) because the strap has no stretch, the result can and has caused serious injury and even death. All straps must come with guidelines and other requirements on the strap and packaging.”At the end of the day you are out exploring to find and create new memories. Recovering a stuck 4x4 at the best of times is dangerous, why turn a great outing into something potentially deadly. Why avoid cheap internet products, because you don’t know what you’re getting and where it has been tested. Put simply, why skimp a few dollars on something that could save your vehicle, and could kill you if it breaks due to crap products and poor quality control.”
Safety doesn't turn off There are a few safety tips to keep in mind the next time a snatch recovery is required and to return you and your beloved 4X4 safely home after your adventurous expedition;- Stop, slow everything down and assess the situation to decide on the best recovery technique. Work on the least energy expention possibility first.- Ensure ALL bystanders stand well back and there are no passengers in the vehicles.- Use a dampener!- Use only rated recovery points. The factory points on your vehicle are for securing it during transport, not pulling it out of a hole!- Ensure you have the correct strap for your vehicle weight, remember the strap is too be two to three times the GVM of the lighter vehicle.- Check the strap and associated equipment for wear or damage prior to use.- Communication is key, always establish communication before proceeding with any recovery.
Recovery pointsAttaching a strap to your vehicle really is not rocket science, but you need to ensure the point is fit for the job because an incorrectly attached strap can be down right deadly.These are a non-negotiable must-fit accessory, if you are planning on going off-road or touring, rated recovery points are an essential part of a vehicle build. All 4x4er’s need to understand the importance of attaching recovery straps to a recovery point or hitch that is suitably rated for use with that strap … NEVER, NEVER ever use a towball, your bullbar or a factory tie-down point!
Let’s not sugar coat it, people have been killed by flying projectiles such as towballs, shackles and poorly secured recovery points when recovery straps have been attached incorrectly.Without fail every weekend we see someone recovering a vehicle with a tow ball. Towballs are not rated for the load placed on them in a recovery situation, they are designed for towing only. If the shank snaps off the towball then you have a 50mm solid-steel projectile flying through the air at astonishing speeds. People have been killed by these things coming through the window. It is so scary how many times we see people still using towballs. “I always use my towball” is a common response from “Eddy the Expert’ with no regard for safety, so lets assume “Eddy” recovers his mate after placing such force and energy through his towball, then Monday comes and he hooks his work trailer up and proceeds to use a potentially damaged towball whilst overtaking you on the highway putting more innocent people at risk!
Recovery Poorly executed SNATCH-strap/KERR recoveries have wrecked the adventures of many unsuspecting weekend warriors, so to prevent a projectile flying toward your noggin at high speed and to rescue your sinking 4x4 – it’s important to use some common sense, a little education and do the job as it was intended, safely.What’s the theory behind snatch recovery? The goal here is to connect a rated recovery strap or rope between two vehicles, one of which is stuck and one of which is not. The recovery vehicle who is not stuck would back-up towards the stuck vehicle, allowing approximately two to three meters between depending on where the firmest ground is for the recovery vehicle to get traction on. At all times, it is the responsibility of the two drivers to be in constant communication with each other and any bystanders and keep them as far away from the live recovery area as possible.Once the strap is connected to both vehicles, generally the stuck vehicle first, remember to grab your dampener blanket and place securely over the rope, even better if two are available place one approx. 1/3 in from each vehicle. Back the recovery vehicle up allowing your recovery strap or rope to be placed in an “S” pattern in the middle of the vehicles so the stuck driver can see it. The free vehicle can then start to drive forward, maintaining a slow but steady pace. As the slack is taken up, the stuck driver should start to drive forward, at a steady pace to assist the recovery. As the recovery vehicle moves forward the snatch strap or rope will stretch, building up kinetic energy, this energy is then released on the stuck vehicle popping it out of the bog, imagine a giant elastic band. If at first you don’t succeed, reverse up, re-set the strap or rope and go again, there is no rule that you have to recover in one go.A note to punters, it is not a race nor are you trying to rip the stuck vehicle in half, take it slow and steady, ensure there are no kinks in the strap and remember only rated recovery points and rated shackles whether steel or soft should be used.It’s important to remember that a snatch recovery requires a straight-line vehicle-to-vehicle pull, never be used in conjunction with a winch.
Keep Livin’ The Dream