How to choose the right recovery gear for your 4x4 trips

The moment your vehicle leaves the tarmac, predictability is largely diminished, and that’s what adventure is all about!

A four-wheel drive is the key to unlocking some of the most amazing life experiences we have available to us. So, get inspired, get educated and get going.

4x4 trips don’t always go to plan

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve used recovery equipment more times on 2WD dirt roads than I have on 4WD tracks. How could that possibly be? Probably because when you hit the rough stuff, you slow down, you prepare yourself and you prepare your car by appropriately lowering tyre pressures, engaging low range… you may even engage your lockers. But two-wheel drive dirt roads, what could possibly go wrong?

Enjoy, at my peril, some of the silly mistakes that I’ve made from the recovery examples below. And take what you will from the campfire stories, the fond memories, the adventure, and the achievement of them all.

In every instance, no one was ever close to getting injured, no vehicles were ever damaged (apart from maybe the drowning) and above all, experiences were lived!

The unexpected recoveries

  • I once winched a mate out of what could only be described as a puddle in a driveway, thanks to simply getting the car a bit crossed up and getting caught up on his diff.
    #winch #winchblanket #softshackle

  • I winched a Holden Commodore off a grass embankment due to again getting caught up on the underside of the vehicle and losing traction to the rear wheels, on what was otherwise a very small rise.
    #winch #winchblanket #softshackle

  • I got recovered on a perimeter road to a salt lake after a crusted-over section of the road completely gave way to a sinkhole and bogged the car down to the top of the door sills!
    #winch #recoveryring #winchblanket

  • I recovered a trailer from the back of a car that had slipped down a shallow embankment on a firewood collection.
    #winch #recoveryring #winchextensionrope #softshackle #winchblanket #recoverygloves

  • Once, I wasn’t paying attention doing a three-point turn on a 2WD track. I drove straight into a spoon drain, the Landcruiser see-sawed on a loose edge and I lost all traction. Twin-locked, I couldn’t drive myself out. An embarrassing recovery.
    #snatchstrap #recoveryhitch #winchblanket #kineticrope

The recoveries I should have expected 

  • The last track back to camp. It had a little off shoot to the side, steep, big rock steps, and I had 5 cars of encouragement behind me. I sent it, but my ambition outweighed my talent. And we winch.
    #recoverybridle #winch #winchextensionrope

  • Heading down to a beach for a quick ‘photo op’, “Won’t need to worry about the tyres, looks solid.” Neck minute… bogged. Out come the recovery tracks.
    #recoverytracks

  • 25kms down a 27km track, we came across an edge-to-edge bog hole, twin-locked, feet firmly planted on the load pedal. I had all the momentum until I had none. No winch, but good, and better-prepared mates! Recovered forwards from the vehicle behind me!
    #recoverybridle #winch #ratedrecoverypoints #winchextensionrope #winchblanket #recoveryring

  • Approached a river crossing, it looked fast, but I dipped the heels in far enough to decide that it was a bad idea. Couldn’t get enough traction to go backwards, so I sent it across. I made it! But it wasn’t worth the risk for the other cars, so I sent it back. Got caught in the downstream current and… drowned it. Winched back onto land and started the drying out process.
    #winch #winchextensionrope #winchblanket #softshackle #ratedrecoverypoint

Recovery gear is a must-have for 4x4 trips

We all understand that every extra-curricular activity comes with some additional investment.

Jet skis require a trailer and lifejacket, and mountain bikes require mounting racks, a helmet and protective clothing.

Likewise, off-roading requires some basic investments (for your safety). Recovery gear is one of the most essential tools you can have to keep moving.

What recovery gear is available and what you need

As per some of the examples above, it doesn’t take much to need a lot to perform a quick and safe recovery. But we’re here to help, so let’s try to make some sense of all the gear and help you build an appropriate recovery set for your specific needs.

Rated recovery points

The inarguable number-one recovery accessory you need on your vehicle is a rated recovery point.

You should NEVER try and pull your vehicle free by the tow ball or any hook or clevis that was built as standard into your vehicle.

Rated recovery points are an aftermarket product that are manufactured from thick steel and engineered to attach directly to your vehicle’s chassis.

Check the rating, but Ironman 4x4 recovery points are largely fitted in pairs and rated to 5,000kg (5t) each for a combined 10,000kg (10t) rating when appropriately used together. Many new Ironman 4x4 bull bars come with rated recovery points included!

Winch

A winch is what I like to call cheap insurance. A winch is mounted into your winch-compatible bull bar and utilises an electronic motor with reduction gears that can pull weights well over 12,000lb (5,443kg).

To put that in perspective, any vehicle over 4,500kg is a truck and can only be driven on a truck licence.

Ironman 4x4 offers 9500lb and 12000lb winches.

In most cases for dual-cab utes, a 12,000lb winch is the most practical choice. Unfortunately, not all bull bar manufacturers rate their bars to 12,000lb winches, but Ironman 4x4 do! (Just saying)

Recovery Blanket

 Any recovery that involves a tensioned rope also needs a recovery blanket (a.k.a. recovery damper, or dampener, if you ask some people).

The purpose of a recovery damper is that if the recovery rope (from a winch or other) should unexpectedly break, the blanket will help force the rope to the ground before the over sprung, highly tensioned rope whip lashes in the opposite direction potentially causing serious vehicle and personal harm.

This is no joke; people have sadly died from snapping recovery ropes.

Soft Shackle

A shackle is a connector that is used to connect several different pieces in a recovery line.

You can use soft shackles to connect your winch hook to a recovery point, or to a tree trunk protector.

You will need a soft shackle (or steel shackle) to operate a snatch block or recovery ring. At the end of the day, you want to have at least two shackles in your kit, and ensure they are rated appropriately.

Note: Soft shackles are the preferred type of shackle these days. Not only are they immensely lighter, but if one were to come flying at your person or vehicle, it is far less likely to cause the damage the steel equivalent would.

Recovery Hitch

A recovery hitch is a piece of equipment that fits perfectly into your vehicle’s towbar receiver. It allows for a clean, safe attachment for a soft shackle to be passed through.

Once fitted with a soft shackle, you can then attach a winch, winch extension rope, kinetic recovery strap, snatch strap, etc.

Recovery hitches can be used to recover others or to be recovered by, usually backward!

Recovery Hitch >> Soft Shackle >> Winch hook / or / Recovery Strap

Tree Trunk Protector

If you find yourself bogged, you’ll be looking for a good healthy tree quick smart. Nothing in the bush is as solid as a healthy tree to anchor off. 

You should never run a winch line directly around a tree and back onto itself. The ropes are not designed for this, and it will absolutely destroy the tree.

Please, carry a tree trunk protector to safely wrap around the tree when attaching your soft shackle and winch hook. Then place your recovery blanket, and you are ready for winching!

Tree Trunk Protector >> Soft Shackle >> Winch hook/line

 

Winch Extension Strap

Sometimes, that good, healthy tree is a bit too far away. Standard winch ropes are anywhere between around 20 to 30 metres.

Most of the time, the tree you need is between 30 to 40 metres – don’t ask me why, it’s just some cruel trick the world likes to play on us.

A winch extension strap is a 20-metre strap that you can connect to the end of your winch line, giving you the extra length to reach that good healthy tree. Don’t forget your tree trunk protector!

Tree Trunk Protector >> Soft Shackle >> Winch Extension Rope >> Winch hook/line.

 

Recovery Ring

A recovery ring is a clever, simple and lightweight product that allows you to Double the pulling power of your winch or redirect the recovery direction when using synthetic rope.

Using a recovery ring to double the pulling power of your winch:

By running your winch line around the recovery ring and back to the rated recovery point on your own vehicle, you are effectively halving the load. This is called a double-line pull. Great for when you are extra stuck – but be aware, with twice the pulling power, your recovery is going to happen at half the speed.

Tree Trunk Protector >> Soft Shackle >> Recovery Ring >> Winch line >> Recovery Point

Using a recovery ring to redirect the vehicle recovery direction:

With some clever setups, combining recovery rings with winch extension ropes allows you to suspend a recovery ring between two trees and effectively create a solid anchor in the middle of the track. It also allows the car behind to recover you in a forward motion.

Winch Extension Cable >> Soft Shackle >> Recovery Ring >> Winch line >> Recovery Point

Recovery Block (aka Snatch Block)

A recovery snatch block is used for all the same purposes as a recovery ring. Being a heavier construction, Recovery Snatch Blocks will accommodate both steel and synthetic cables.

Bridle Rope (aka Equilizing Strap)

A recovery bridle rope is designed to run in a triangular set-up through your recovery points and back to a central location to connect a recovery rope/strap.

A recovery bridle is used to equalise the force across multiple recovery points, allowing you to use two recovery points at the same time.

It can assist in centralising the force when recovering and can be used for winching, double line pulls and kinetic rope recoveries.

Bridle Rope >> Soft Shackle >> Recovery Rope/Winch Line

Kinetic Rope

Kinetic Ropes are designed to use kinetic energy transferred between two vehicles to help recover an immobile vehicle.

Very popular in the sand or mud, you simply connect a kinetic rope to a rated recovery point on the back of one vehicle and the front of another.

The mobile vehicle will drive in the direction of the recovery and once the rope reaches its full length, the kinetic energy of the rope will be transferred to the immobile vehicle, providing a much needed ‘tug’.

The reason for using a kinetic rope is that they are designed to stretch, providing the necessary amount of shock absorption.

Recovery Point >> Soft Shackle >> Kinetic Rope >> Soft Shackle >> Recovery Point

 

Recovery Strap (aka Snatch Strap)

Recovery straps are used in the same fashion as a Kinetic Rope. They carry all the same features; however, snatch straps are a flat, wide band rather than a round rope.

Recovery straps are arguably easier to roll up and store.

Recovery Point >> Soft Shackle >> Recovery Strap >> Soft Shackle >> Recovery Point

Recovery Gloves

Recovery work is dirty work. You’ll thank yourself if you take the time to don a pair of decent, well-fitted gloves!

Recovery Gloves >> Hand >> Hero

Find a recovery kit tailored for your next adventure

To help work out what to take with you, here is some basic feedback from my experience.

Recovery gear for bush driving & off-roading

For any off-roading, I recommend having rated recovery points and a synthetic rope winch (lighter and easier to work with than a steel variant) fitted to your vehicle.

With this, I will always carry the following gear:

  • Recovery Blanket
  • Winch Extension Rope
  • Tree Trunk Protector
  • 2 x 14,000lb Soft Shackles
  • Recovery Hitch
  • Recovery Ring
  • Recovery Bridle
  • Kinetic Rope (especially if looking to cross rivers or hit mud in a convoy)

Recovery gear for beach driving

When hitting the beaches, a set of recovery points fitted to your car is a must!

I like to have with me:

  • Recovery Blanket
  • 2 x 14,000lb Soft Shackles
  • Recovery Bridle
  • Kinetic Rope
  • Recovery Boards (2 sets if no diff lock)
  • Shovel
  • Tyre Deflator

We’ve taken the guesswork out of putting a kit together. Explore the Ironman 4x4 Recovery Kit range and get a comprehensive kit, tailored for your next adventure.

Still feeling a bit overwhelmed about 4x4 recoveries?

The best thing to do next is get out there with a few mates and use the equipment. You don’t even need to be stuck, just practice running through the motions.

Have a chat with your local Ironman 4x4 store, and I am sure someone can give you the right advice.

Alternatively, join a club or undertake some 4x4 recovery training by a qualified professional!

Happy Exploring!