Recovery Gear
02-04-2011, 02:02 PM
#11
JK Junkie
In priority order (if you can't afford all at once):
1. Recovery points on the front and rear of your Jeep. If you don't have the stock hooks on the front, see if you can pick up someone's take-off bumper that does. Sometimes free, usually quite cheap (few tens of dollars). For the rear, you can pick up a shackle that attaches to a standard 2" receiver hitch. Or maybe you can find someone's take-off stock tow hook (some JKs will accommodate that, some won't without removing the trailer hitch). THIS IS THE BARE MINIMUM BEFORE YOU GO WHEELING--NO MATTER WHAT, YOU MUST HAVE RECOVERY POINTS!
2. Snatch/recovery strap and two shackles. Not a tow strap. A true recovery strap will stretch to assist with the recovery. A tow strap will not. It will be quite clear on the product packaging if you're getting the right strap (it will say something about being able to stretch). If you have hooks (vice shackle mounting points) on your Jeep, you can get away with one shackle (presumably to attach to the other Jeep's bumper). One of the loops on the snatch strap can be set over the top of it. Do not loop the snatch strap onto itself--put the loops over hooks or secure with shackles.
3. Leather gloves.
4. A buddy. The above will be pretty useless if there isn't someone to pull you out.
5. A couple short pieces of 2x6" boards--perhaps two feet long. You can stack them to get your jack up to your Jeep's frame/axle when changing a tire. And they can be placed under a couple tires when mired in mud/sand to assist with getting free.
5. Shovel and axe and saw. The shovel will help to place the boards above, or just to move lots of mud/snow/ice/sand that's blocking your travel. The axe and saw will allow you to deal with debris in the way. And, the cut material may be useful for a make-shift roadbed. Of course, one should always be respectful of the tread lightly creed--don't be cutting on public/private property where it's not permissible. Clean up any mess you create.
6. A Hi-Lift. But not to change tires, because when you need to change a tire while wheeling, often the Jeep is at some odd angle and lifting with a Hi-Lift is an unsafe proposition. But, it will allow you to jack up the Jeep to remove a rock you're high-centered on, to stack rocks under a wheel or two to push the Jeep up and get it moving again, or to push the Jeep sideways to get it off the offending object.
After that you're moving into the area of self-recovery and winches, etc. If I overlooked something I expect someone will chime in.
1. Recovery points on the front and rear of your Jeep. If you don't have the stock hooks on the front, see if you can pick up someone's take-off bumper that does. Sometimes free, usually quite cheap (few tens of dollars). For the rear, you can pick up a shackle that attaches to a standard 2" receiver hitch. Or maybe you can find someone's take-off stock tow hook (some JKs will accommodate that, some won't without removing the trailer hitch). THIS IS THE BARE MINIMUM BEFORE YOU GO WHEELING--NO MATTER WHAT, YOU MUST HAVE RECOVERY POINTS!
2. Snatch/recovery strap and two shackles. Not a tow strap. A true recovery strap will stretch to assist with the recovery. A tow strap will not. It will be quite clear on the product packaging if you're getting the right strap (it will say something about being able to stretch). If you have hooks (vice shackle mounting points) on your Jeep, you can get away with one shackle (presumably to attach to the other Jeep's bumper). One of the loops on the snatch strap can be set over the top of it. Do not loop the snatch strap onto itself--put the loops over hooks or secure with shackles.
3. Leather gloves.
4. A buddy. The above will be pretty useless if there isn't someone to pull you out.
5. A couple short pieces of 2x6" boards--perhaps two feet long. You can stack them to get your jack up to your Jeep's frame/axle when changing a tire. And they can be placed under a couple tires when mired in mud/sand to assist with getting free.
5. Shovel and axe and saw. The shovel will help to place the boards above, or just to move lots of mud/snow/ice/sand that's blocking your travel. The axe and saw will allow you to deal with debris in the way. And, the cut material may be useful for a make-shift roadbed. Of course, one should always be respectful of the tread lightly creed--don't be cutting on public/private property where it's not permissible. Clean up any mess you create.
6. A Hi-Lift. But not to change tires, because when you need to change a tire while wheeling, often the Jeep is at some odd angle and lifting with a Hi-Lift is an unsafe proposition. But, it will allow you to jack up the Jeep to remove a rock you're high-centered on, to stack rocks under a wheel or two to push the Jeep up and get it moving again, or to push the Jeep sideways to get it off the offending object.
After that you're moving into the area of self-recovery and winches, etc. If I overlooked something I expect someone will chime in.
