Off roading requires skill and preparation. It is a fun activity, but a simple mistake can lead to injuries, damaged vehicles, or both.
Conducting a recovery while off roading also requires skill and preparation. Done right, and you’ll be able to get yourself or someone else out of a bind. Dong incorrectly, and you could have a serious situation on your hands!
To ensure you have the most fun out on the trails and remain safe when doing an off-road recovery, avoid these mistakes.
Table of ContentsÂ
- Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Standing Close to the Recovery
- Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Not Using Recovery Points
- Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Not Using a Winch Dampener
- Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Snatching a Vehicle in Reverse
- Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Never Using the Second Recovery Point
- Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Not Having a High-Quality Air Compressor
- Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Final Thoughts
Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Standing Close to the Recovery
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Whether you are winching or snatching a vehicle free, no one should stand close to the recovery as a winch line, snatch strap, or recovery point may break.
When this happens, the forces released can lead to serious injuries to people standing nearby.Â
The best practice here is to set up the recovery, stand back, and then let both drivers know that the recovery can begin. This ensures everyone stays safe.
Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Not Using Recovery Points
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This is one of the most common and most dangerous off road recovery mistakes…
When you first start off roading you may think (and I don’t blame you) that the tow hitch or anchor points of your vehicle are strong enough to be used as recovery points. Well, that’s not the case.Â
In most cases, the small hooks located under our trucks are there to secure the vehicle on trailers for transportation or to tow them on the road in case of a breakdown. They are not designed to withstand the forces of snatching a stuck vehicle; therefore, they can easily break.
The same is true for the tow ball. It’s only there to tow and was never designed to withstand the jerking of a snatch or even a winch recovery. Keep in mind that the tow ball is the worst recovery point as it is a heavy item. If it fails, it can easily smash through the window of the opposing vehicle.Â
When you’re stuck and have no rated recovery points, try finding a solid piece of frame or suspension component on which you can mount the rope. If you need to use your vehicle’s tow hooks, do so very gently.Â
Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Not Using a Winch Dampener
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A winch dampener is an essential off road recovery tool. The way it works is simple: you have a weighted bag that you place over your winch line or snatch strap. The job of this bag is to pull the recovery line to the ground in case of failure. This stops it from flying into a vehicle’s window or potentially injuring someone.
Many times, people are unaware of winch dampener bags or simply can’t be bothered to use one. The consequences of failed recovery equipment can be serious; therefore, always perform recoveries in the safest possible way.
Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Snatching a Vehicle in Reverse
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There are three reasons one should not perform a recovery in reverse. The first one is that you are facing the action; therefore, if something gives, you are more likely to get injured.Â
The second reason is that you cannot see what is going on behind you. In most cases, our trucks are so tall that short objects can’t always be seen from the rear window.Â
However, the most important reason one should not perform a recovery in reverse is that for most transmissions, it is the weakest gear. So, if your friends are properly stuck and you need to get into it to get them out, there is a higher chance of breaking your transmission if you try to recover them in reverse.Â
Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Never Using the Second Recovery Point
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When building up our vehicles, we often make sure to add two recovery points at each end of the vehicle. The reason we do this is for recoveries that will require a lot of force. For example, if you are bogged up to your frame in mud it is best to perform the recovery from both recovery points to reduce stress.Â
A second recovery point can also be used to dampen the forces of a double winch line pull. This is a winching method used to double the power of the winch by using a snatch block to redirect the winch line back to the stuck vehicle. Therefore, the line goes up to a solid anchor point, turns around, and reconnects to the vehicle.Â
Off Road Recovery Mistakes: Not Having a High-Quality Air Compressor
Not all off road recovery situations involve you or someone else being stuck in mud or high-centered on an obstacle. Instead, you might find that the recovery situation has to do with a damaged tire. For those situations, you need a tire repair kit and a high-quality air compressor to come to the rescue.
Tire repair kits are pretty self-explanatory. And you might think air compressors are as well, but not all air compressors are made alike. For example, my MORRFlate TenSix PSI Pro Gen 2 has an automatic setting that allows me to dial in the desired PSI, and then it takes care of the rest.
An Example of Using an Air Compressor for Off Road Recovery
So, if I need to air up my tires after a day of driving at the dunes, I can set the PSI, let the TenSix do its thing, and tend to other tasks, like helping a buddy patch a blown tire. Better still, with my multi-hose kit, I can use my MORRFlate TenSix to air up all four of my tires at the same time. Not only does this save time, but it means that my truck is ready to go well before my buddy and I have his tire patched. Then I can hook up the TenSix to his rig, air up his tires, and off we go. Nice!
Obviously, having a good air compressor with you when off roading also helps with deflating tires. In the example above of driving on sand all day, I can use my TenSix to air down to the desired pressure before heading out on the sand (and do so for my buddies as well). In fact, with the Mega Quad hose kit from MORRFlate, I can inflate or deflate up to six tires at once. I can also move air from one tire to another (e.g., from the spare to one of my driving tires).
Why This is Such a Great Air Compressor
In other words, this rig, which offers 10.6 CFM at 0 PSI and 6.5 CFM at 30 PSI, is the perfect companion for your off road adventures. Here’s a few other key features to consider:
- 150 psi rated
- PSI Cutoff Switch (80psi on, 120psi off)
- Thermal Cutoff Switch & Purge Valve
- 80% duty cycle @ 0psi (45min on, 10min off)
- Threaded filter caps so the compressor can now be mounted in any direction/orientation (except upside down)
Before you head out on your next adventure, be sure you have a compressor like the MORRFlate TenSix PSI Pro Gen 2. You can mount it on your vehicle or keep it under the front seat like I do and use it whenever you or a buddy needs to inflate or deflate tires. And with its rapid performance and durable build, it’ll be an off road recovery tool you can rely on for years to come!
Off Road Recovery Mistakes – Final Thoughts
Photo by Aleksandr Zyablitskiy via iStock
An off road recovery must be performed correctly to ensure the safety of your rig, your friends on the trail, and yourself. By taking the above tips into account, we can assure you that you will have fun while remaining safe out on the trails.Â
But safety isn’t just about being careful. You also need reliable gear to help you get out of a jam. When outfitting your recovery kit, invest in high-quality items that offer durable and reliable performance. Sure, you can get cheap gear, but is the higher likelihood of gear failure that comes with cheap stuff really worth it? I think not!
Just so you know, some of the cool stuff we mention comes with affiliate links, meaning we earn a commission if you buy (no extra charge to you!). Plus, we occasionally feature sponsored content, but rest assured, we only shout out products we genuinely stand behind.
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