I am researching upgrading and adding to my recovery gear. Not tools or gloves, just ropes, straps, shackles, snatch block, etc.

If you are building a recovery gear pack for your self, excluding tools and gloves, what would you go with if you had an approximate budget of $500? I would assume the following list but what brand, specific model, length, quantity, etc.?

• Tow strap or rope
• Snatch strap or rope
• Tree strap or rope
• Snatch block
• Steel shackle
• Soft shackle
• Any specialty items such as tool to splice synthetic lines, winch line extension, etc. (again, excluding tools and gloves)?

Just some FYI:

• My rig is a 4dr JKU on the heavy side with an Engo 10K synthetic line winch.
• Currently have 1 Teraflex tow strap, 1 Teraflex tree strap, and steel shackles on my bumper plus one in tool bag.
• Also, have a 2dr JK that was my late Dad's that I am fixing up for my son. It has a Warn 8K steel cable winch. Would be looking to use some of the $500 budget along with current items to have recovery gear in it as well.
• Also looked at maybe putting my synthetic line on the 2dr and upgrading my line. Any specific recommendations?

Appreciate any input on products.

 

You're looking at (low end) $100 for the synthetic cable for the 2dr. I've not broken a rope and had to repair it in the field but factor 55 makes a nice kit that floats at $52 to do that. I was actually just looking at tree straps today on Amazon and I can't seem to recall where I found soft shackles for a competitive price but I'll look.

I carry a 4ft adjustable rope, 6' rope extension (not much, but it works), 30' strap that doubles as a tree strap, snatch block, and a handful of steel shackles. I'll be moving to synthetic but I think I'll keep the steels around for when someone needs to borrow one.

 

I was also looking at gear from Tactical Recovery Equipment. Was kind of leaning towards ropes instead of straps. Thoughts?

 

I've heard of tactical recovery equipment in the past. The company I had stumbled across (via a jeep channel on YouTube) is Crawler Off Road. Prices look good but their online presence in the form of YouTube seems lacking. They may or may not worth considering.

Slightly off topic yet relevant- soft shackles and winch line extensions are something you can make if you can source Amsteel. Realistically, you could do your own winch line as well, you'd just need the heat cover on one end and the rock sleeve on the other. I started toying with the DIY Amsteel with hammocks and that's how I stumbled into my winch extension.

Your recovery situations are going to dictate if you can use rope or straps. I don't mind dragging straps through the mud, they're easy enough to clean well. Rope can be another story. The coated kinetic ropes wouldn't be bad but then youyou've got to consider of if your recovery situations will have you in a place where you can get a little running start or if it'll be more direct pull.

 

Having just gone through this to build a kit for my Gladiator (will keep existing kit in the JK), let me share with you what I've ordered (and it duplicates much of your current kit)

• Teraflex Tree Saver (unlike some tree savers that are just 2", it's 3 inches, which should be better at protecting the tree)
• Teraflex Tow Strap (unlike some that are rated at 20,000 pounds, but only 2" wide, TF is 3" wide. And beware many are rated below 20,000 pounds.
• Two Teraflex shackles. On the JK, I have four mounted on the bumpers. But, the JT has the OEM hooks, so need a couple extra for attaching to other vehicles and the snatchblock. I have one of the soft ones, but never use it. I just grab one off the bumper when I need one, and the soft one is typically lost down among my other gear and a bit more difficult to retrieve because of that.
• Warn 20,000 pound snatchblock 88899. I have one in the JK that has seen plenty of use and it works just great with the synthetic line I keep on my winches. It's not pretty, but it's inexpensive (which doesn't mean it's cheaply made--it will do the job, just doesn't look as sexy as more expensive models).

Notice what's lacking: Snatchstrap. They are dangerous. Once you start a recovery, it's pretty much impossible to stop the movement until all of the kinetic energy is released--even if something goes wrong where, with a tow strap or winch, the spotter would just yell out, "Stop!" I do own one--it was a gift--but I never carry it. And I won't sell it or give it away because I don't wish to be responsible for someone tearing up their rig or injuring or killing someone should they use it.

• Finally, last thing is sometimes you don't have a buddy to winch off of or give you a tug, and no tree, rock, etc, to act as an anchor. That's when a Pull-Pal comes in handy. I have one already, and strongly recommend the original product--not some cheap knock-off. Pull-Pal has been tested against the others and consistently delivers better performance.

And because videos and photos are fun, for my kind of offroading I've found I spend more time pulling trees off the intended route than winching vehicles (4:00 if not forwarded automatically--several tree removals so keep watching for a couple minutes) ...


But have managed to get myself stuck while alone and without anything to serve as an anchor ...