I apologize for being a bit redundant with this topic, but I have now read a lot on different options on recovery gear and wanted to bounce my proposed basic recovery kit off some people with more experience before I actually invest in some of the items.

I'm running a stock 2012 JKU Sahara w/ factory LSD in the rear. At the moment my driving is limited to light off-road, mainly during camping and fishing trips. I have intentions of eventually getting onto the trail for some more serious off-roading, but that will come with time (and some other upgrades). Either way, I'll need a good kit so for now I'm just focused on ensuring that if I get myself into a jam that I should be able to get out without the help of another vehicle (assuming nobody is around).

Here is my proposed kit:
[ ] 1 Recovery Strap (20 or 30 ft)
[ ] 1 Tree Strap (6 or 10 ft)
[ ] 2 D-Rings
[ ] 3 or 4 ton come along
[ ] Receiver hitch w/ D-Ring
[ ] Collapsable Shovel
[ ] Air Compressor
[ ] Chain (12 ft)
[ ] 2 12" wood 2x6's to use as extra traction (or jack stand)
[ ] short handle sludge hammer (to get 2x6 under tire)

It's worth noting I already have a fire extinguisher and D-cell maglite mounted to the passenger and drivers side seat frame. I also throw my "go-bag" in the jeep every time I take a legit trip, which has 3 days of food for 2 people, survival gear and short axe so I could always hunker down if need me. Oh, and axe would be useful if I needed to cut branches to make extra traction.

I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything or if anyone has any extra advice. Thanks for the help!

 

For a basic recovery kit the only other thing I can think of adding is a hi-lift.

 

Eventually I think a hi-lift would be a nice addition, but given that I'm running stock suspension with stock bumpers, would a hi-lift be of that much use? I figure if the come along can't get me free then the high lift probably wouldn't be of much use either. Unless I hammered it in the ground like a stake and used it as an attachment point... that'd sure be something.

 

You'd be surprised what you can do with a hi-lift lol. Even with stock bumpers, you can use your wood blocks for cribbing to disperse the weight over a larger area and not do "too" much damage to your bumpers (and hey, now you have an excuse to get new ones). You can also find that if you get high centered your stock jack may not work (I found that out the hard way ) You can use the hi-lift to lift from more places to get some wood or limbs under tires. The hi-lift also gives you another pulling device if required or if your come along breaks.

 

I decided to go with the Wyeth-Scott Power Puller, the 3 ton version with the synthetic line. Expensive, but I found it on the forum in a few places and it consistently seems to come most highly recommended. Someday it'll make a good back-up to a winch up front, or regardless will allow a bit more versatility (rear use, side use, carrying up the trail to someone who doesn't have a winch when another vehicle can't help).

As for the hi-lift, some day I'm sure, but I really don't want to be "that guy" with a mounted hi-lift and a stock set-up. Besides, I've used them before for other applications like removing a fence post and I can see them being more of an accident waiting to happen.

 

That's a pretty impressive come-along. FWIW there are several winches you can get for the same $$...

http://www.quadratec.com/products/pr...+Winches&c=142

 

Right, but to do it right I'd want a new bumper, and then that would lead immediately to a suspension upgrade, etc.

Nonetheless, true though, and eventually yes to a winch.

Anyway, I wanted to wait to comment on this until I tested it out, which I did in a campsite with a buddy this weekend. Not exactly "trail tested," but it was definitely effective at moving my jeep, albeit with moderate effort, and I like that the synthetic line is 35' so with the shackle block in place you could get a good 16' of movement if need be. That said, it'd be a ton of work (no pun intended). For now though, it'll do just fine and makes a good addition to my recovery gear.

 

Gotcha.

I guess another advantage of the power puller is you can use it on the front or rear.