Help me build a simple recovery kit

[surfyjeeper]

Snatch straps CAN be used with any other vehicle, as long as you know the strong points to connect to. thats what the soft shackes are for, to give you more options with where you can connect.

As for the method you mentioned about hooking up to a tree... are you thinking of a kinetic rope? the one that stretches like a rubber band?

I totally was, didn’t know if those were separate things or not. Thanks for clearing that up.

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[surfyjeeper]

you're young? and know who Macgyver is?...... Story isn't jiving already Sir.

lol, i’m 23, and one of my favorite shows growing up was lost in space. specifically the old black and white ones. but i think i only know macgyver because of how much they talked about him on mythbusters.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I totally was, didn’t know if those were separate things or not. Thanks for clearing that up.

Here's good video showing uses of the soft shackle and recovery straps/ropes

 

[surfyjeeper]

As for which jack to get, you have a better chance of 100 people agreeing on what restaurant to go to for dinner. It's been debated to death on this forum.

The HiLift jack is the iconic jack, but many here won't use them or prefer not to if there's an option. Then there is the dyed in the wool believer that the HiLift is the only jack worth considering. What I can say is that a bone stock jeep has a lack of adequate lift points to make good use of one. The proponents will often be guys with highly modified jeeps that have many hard lifting points for their HiLift. So, if your jeep is bone stock, look for a different jacking solution.

Here's a video on alternatives for off-road. I went with an oversize 24" lift scissor jack, which fits in my storage cubby compartment.

i bet i could use one with the sliders i have, as long as i get the round connection point for the jack. i have the smittybilt side step sliders, which are steel tubes bolted to the frame.

that said, from everyone’s replies here it sounds like i don’t really need one and would be better off with straps, a shovel and boards, so i’m not gonna worry about it for now. i can always carry a 2x4 to prop a bottle jack up on and i already have that. sounds like i should only upgrade that as i find the need

 

[surfyjeeper]

Here's good video showing uses of the soft shackle and recovery straps/ropes

that’s super helpful, thanks!

 

[surfyjeeper]

Since you're in Socal, you're likely to do some wheeling in the desert and that means sand. With the drought in full swing, we're not likely to find much mud for quite a while.

For a sand recovery, the shovel and some pieces of carpet will do as well as a $200 traction board. Some carpet stores will let you dumpster dive in their remnants for nothing. Get a couple good sized pieces, maybe 4. Pieces should be about 2-3 times wider than the tire and maybe 5-6 ft long as a minimum. Free is cheap.

For the shovel, you mentioned finding one that mounted to the roll bar. Be careful, they get crazy money for little machined clamps that are custom made to take the money out of your wallet. You can buy shovels from $10 to hundreds of dollars for custom made stainless steel with machined anodized colored aluminum. HomeD might fit your wallet better. If you are want something compact, a surplus military trenching shovel that folds was the standard for many generations of jeepers.

what a great idea on the carpet. in my old car i knew i could always use the floor mats if i got in trouble, but i’m less inclined to destroy them in my jeep.

good point regarding the shovel. i’m gonna go for the military folding one and make my own clamp or strap. no sense paying that much for something i can accomplish with some velcro straps or a buddy’s 3d printer.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Best advice is to avoid getting stuck. This sounds kinda obvious. But, if you are alone in the vehicle and no other vehicles are with you or around you, and the consequences are extreme (100F in the desert, below freezing, too far to walk out, no cell coverage, no satellite communicator, etc.), you really shouldn't be anywhere you might get stuck. Especially for recreation.

 

[Jtphoto]

I don’t have time to go through all the posts to see if anything may have been missed so I will give you 2 lists that I pass on to all new Jeepers in our club.

Winchless recovery kit:

Tugging (non winch) gear bag includes:

1 - 3/4” x20’ Kinetic rope
1 - 2.5”x 20’ recovery strap
3 - soft shackles or D ring shackles



Winching gear bag.
Suggested recovery gear bag contents:

Winch gear bag includes:

3 - snatch blocks or snatch rings for synthetic
50’ - Winch line extension
4 - D rings or soft shackles
3 - Tree savers.
1 - weighted winch line safety mat.



This will get you out of most anything.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I don’t have time to go through all the posts to see if anything may have been missed so I will give you 2 lists that I pass on to all new Jeepers in our club.

Winchless recovery kit:

Tugging (non winch) gear bag includes:

1 - 3/4” x20’ Kinetic rope
1 - 2.5”x 20’ recovery strap
3 - soft shackles or D ring shackles



Winching gear bag.
Suggested recovery gear bag contents:

Winch gear bag includes:

3 - snatch blocks or snatch rings for synthetic
50’ - Winch line extension
4 - D rings or soft shackles
3 - Tree savers.
1 - weighted winch line safety mat.



This will get you out of most anything.

Good kits. I need to get another tree strap and a winch extension. But, my tow strap and kinectic rope can do double duty as an extension for now.

I ended up getting rid of my steel snatchblocks and chains in favor of soft shackles and aluminum winch rings. I'm trying to minimize the steel in my systems and lighten the gear I carry.

 

[AZJeepGuy]

Most of the basics you could find at yard sales. D Handle shovel, hatchet, ax, machete, bottle jacks etc.
Then I would get a simple lKnetic rope: https://www.amazon.com/JUVENED-Kine...58499689&sprefix=kinetic+rope,aps,150&sr=8-26

 

[Thane]

Spetnaz shovel, super strong solid construction, no floppy joints, doubles as hatchet... it's that sharp.

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Steel-9...10859&sprefix=spetnaz%20shovel,aps,117&sr=8-5

 

[five9dak]

https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-UV-5...qid=1659028677&sprefix=baofeng+,aps,69&sr=8-3

If you are really in deep shit, annoy the HAM guys to get a rescue. hah.

 

[Garry in AZ]

As someone new to the hobby, as you might have gleaned by now, there is an important difference between a "Tow Strap" and a "Snatch Strap or Kinetic Rope"
You should not substitute one for the other if at all possible.

A good tow strap is typically made of 100% polyester, because of the strength and lack of stretch that polyester webbing offers. Tow straps are a versatile tool that can be used for all static recoveries, towing vehicles on-road or off-road, and can be used as winch extensions.
Much like a winch line or chain, a tow strap is not meant for use in dynamic recoveries, they do not stretch and absorb kinetic energy and can damage your vehicle or the people in or around your vehicle. However, some people incorrectly refer to a polyester tow strap as a snatch strap, which is wrong, and can lead to bad stuff happening.

Sometimes to get a vehicle un-stuck, you need a running start. That is where a snatch strap or kinetic rope comes in. You should never use a standard tow strap for dynamic recoveries. Snatch straps and kinetic ropes are designed to stretch, store the kinetic energy, and release it in a way that makes the recovery gentler on the vehicle and its passengers.

Snatch straps/ropes are made with Nylon because of its strong but stretchy properties. When used properly, these straps are a game changer, but they also require practice and extra safety precautions. When they are engaged, they are like a rubber band storing tens of thousands of pounds of energy that eventually needs to be released. Weak tow points, incorrectly used shackles, and even small vehicles can become projectiles when snatch straps are used incorrectly.
You shouldn’t use snatch straps or kinetic ropes for towing, they need time to rest and return to their normal structure after each pull, towing doesn’t allow them to have the rest time they need and can cause a failure.

What’s the difference between a snatch strap and a kinetic rope?
A snatch strap and kinetic rope are designed to serve the same purpose. They both stretch, store kinetic energy and release it assisting with a vehicle recovery. The difference is in the way they are built, typically a snatch strap is made with webbing material that looks a lot like a tow strap. A kinetic rope looks like a standard rope but it has loop ends that is usually reinforced for protection. Kinetic ropes typically have more stretch than a snatch strap and are a newer technology.

I hope this helps.

Garry

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