photo by Terryfic3D via iStock
Off-roading is great fun, but it does come with a high risk of getting stuck.
Every serious off-roader or overlander must have a complete recovery kit inside their vehicle to ensure that recovering the vehicle will be a simple process when they get stuck.
However, what should one have in a recovery kit?
I recently published a video in which I talk about the gear I have for recovery purposes.
Part of my gear includes a new all-in-one recovery kit from Tackle Tuff. It’s such an impressive kit that I wanted to highlight each component separately in this article.
Let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
- The Tow Strap
- Shackles
- Snatch Block
- Tree Saver
- Winch Line Damper Bag
- Gloves
- Tackle Tuff Ready-Made Recovery Kits
- Other Recommended Off-Roading Gear
The Tow Strap
The most obvious item in a recovery kit is the tow strap. There are few things quicker to use and more effective than this. If you or one of your friends gets stuck, just connect the strap to each vehicle and complete the recovery.
The forces that go through your vehicle’s strap and recovery hooks are big, so you need to stand clear from the recovery and have rated recovery points installed.
Rated recovery points are hooks that are specially designed to withstand the forces of an off-road recovery. Normal hooks on vehicles are just there for towing or tightening down.
Shackles
Another item that must be in your recovery kit is the shackle. A shackle enables you to connect other recovery equipment to your existing strap or attach the strap to the vehicle.
Shackles can also be permanently left on recovery hooks that steel bumpers sometimes have. This is an easy and cheap way to get rated recovery points.
Snatch Block
Next on the list of items that should be in a recovery kit is the snatch block. A snatch block is a tool used during winch recoveries and can do a variety of different jobs.
For example, it can alter the direction of pull or be used for a double line pull technique. A double line pull essentially doubles the power of the winch, and it can only be done properly if a snatch block is used.
Tree Saver
A tree saver must also be in the recovery kit of anyone planning to use a winch.
Wrapping the winch line directly around a tree will both damage the tree and the winch line – especially if the winch line is made from synthetic rope.
Here is where the tree protector comes in handy. It is a piece of kit meant to go around the tree while its two ends connect to the winch line. This ensures that neither your winch line nor the tree get damaged.
Winch Line Damper Bag
Winch recoveries can be dangerous – especially if you use an old-school steel winch line. When a winch line breaks, heavy objects such as shackles can fly towards you or your car, which can lead to serious injuries.
The best way to prevent this is to put weight on the winch line. Therefore, if it breaks, it will fall to the ground making the process much safer.
The perfect tool to achieve this is the winch line bag. This is a folding bag that hangs on the winch line. With weight in each pocket, the bag keeps the line to the ground in the event of a failure.
Winches can be helpful but also dangerous, so using safety equipment such as this is a crucial aspect for a safe recovery. Having a winch line damper bag in your recovery kit is essential.
Gloves
The final item on our recovery kit list is the gloves. When performing a recovery, gloves are important because they can protect your hands from handling all the recovery gear.
For example, a steel winch line may have some thin steel wire that has unwound itself. If that pokes through your hand, it will be painful.
To avoid injuries and inconveniences on your off-road trip, use some gloves while performing recoveries. They will also save your hands from the cold during this time of year.
Tackle Tuff Ready-Made Recovery Kit
Thankfully, you don’t need to go out and buy every single one of the items mentioned above separately. Many companies out there make complete kits that come with everything you need in them.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the best in the market is the recovery kit from Tackle Tuff. Their recovery products are items of excellent craftsmanship and quality.
Inside the kit, you will get all the gear you will ever want while also being sure that the equipment you use is of high standards and will work exactly like it should when you need it the most.
If you have any questions on the Tackle Tuff recovery kit or any other off-road and overland-related questions, post them over on the forum section of our page.
Other Recommended Off-Roading Gear
- Recovery Board
- Winch
- KC Lites
- Hi-Lift Jack
- Tire Inflator/Deflator
- Portable Power Station
- Portable DC/AC Refrigerator
- First Aid Kit