The trail less travelled can be a very risky and unpredictable place. There are countless obstacles that are ready and waiting to slow you down or even stop your entire adventure in its tracks. Here 4wdtalk shares more about the realities of off-road travel and what gear you really shouldn’t be without as a result:
“A different day, different situation, and different trail can change everything, though… Whether you’re a hard-core off roader or you only occasionally hit the trail, off-road recovery gear is a critical component of your ability to go off roading and do it safely. You never know when you’ll encounter a soft spot, a washout, a rock that’s bigger than you thought, or another person on the trail that’s stuck and needs help getting out.”
In this blog post, we reveal exactly what recovery essentials you need to carry in your 4×4 for when the worst does happen.
Snatch strap
Freeing a stuck vehicle isn’t easy, especially if it’s mud or sand that has got it bogged down. Snatch recovery, with the appropriate strap, differs from normal tow recovery. It’s generally considered more efficient and effective, with the elastic properties of the snatch strap absorbing shock loads and reducing the risk of vehicle damage.
Snatch straps are also extremely versatile, and are able to be utilised across a wide range of makes and models. They’re portable too, providing a lighter weight, easier to store alternative to winches and more cumbersome recovery gear.
Our ARB snatch straps are rated from 8,000kg to 15,000kg, making light work of extracting the heaviest rigs from the toughest conditions.
Shackles
Your snatch strap should only ever be used with the assistance of a shackle. That’s right, don’t be tempted to affix your snatch strap to your vehicle’s tow ball. It’ll only end in disaster!
Equally lightweight and easy to transport/store – just take a look at our Saber Offroad Soft Shackle Key Ring – shackles securely connect your strap to your vehicle via a suitable tow point to ensure recovery or self-rescue can take place with ease.
Tree trunk protector
All too often it’s necessary to use your surroundings to aid extraction, and nearby trees make ideal anchor points. A tree trunk protector provides the means to protect the environment and get your vehicle out of trouble a whole lot quicker.
It works by spreading the load of your vehicle more evenly, all while minimising damage and preserving the natural environment. Find out more about the benefits of using a tree trunk protector during recovery here. You can also browse our tree trunk protectors to shop for yours.
Snatch block
The final piece of the snatch recovery puzzle, a snatch block is the link between your vehicle, an anchor point (such as a nearby tree) and the extracting vehicle. It’s a crucial tool that can significantly boost your pulling power. This is one of the reasons why the combination of snatch block, tree trunk protector, snatch strap and shackle feature in our ARB recovery kits.
Damper
If you need to winch your vehicle during recovery, put safety first by investing in a damper, like this Saber Offroad 4×4 Winch Damper. It’s essential when using steel ropes. A winch damper is placed over the cable during operation, and absorbs kinetic energy should the cable fail and snap, protecting you and bystanders from injury.
Shop all the recovery gear mentioned above and more by browsing our full recovery kit range today.