Scott Brady
Founder
An OJ would be proud to be used in such a manner 
Recovery how-not-to
- Thread starter Spikepretorius
- Start date
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
:sombrero:I could have introduced this Recovery necessity earlier, but I figured it would be a little to serious for the theme of this thread, well here it is
This JEEP RUBICON gem, is irreplacable in recovery use at night, it's too bad that ONLY CERTIFIED JEEP RUBICON OWNERS, can obtain these
1) Rugged
2) AM/FM Weatherband radio
3) Adjustable/retractable flashlight
4) Multi-position twin tube fluorescent lantern
5) Emergency flasher and reflectable "X" panel
6) Compass
7) Thermometer
8) Backlit digital clock
9) Audible mosquito repellent
Man, if they'd just had this on Apollo-13
:wings::costumed-smiley-007:safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO
This JEEP RUBICON gem, is irreplacable in recovery use at night, it's too bad that ONLY CERTIFIED JEEP RUBICON OWNERS, can obtain these
1) Rugged
2) AM/FM Weatherband radio
3) Adjustable/retractable flashlight
4) Multi-position twin tube fluorescent lantern
5) Emergency flasher and reflectable "X" panel
6) Compass
7) Thermometer
8) Backlit digital clock
9) Audible mosquito repellent
Man, if they'd just had this on Apollo-13
:wings::costumed-smiley-007:safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO
M
MuddyOval
Guest
I like the old toolbox looking Jeep radio/first aid kit better. Not sure why you need a radio, compass, thermometer or small lamp in a huge housing during a recovery. Did I miss a joke or something?
Scott Brady
Founder
At first, I thought it had one of those little magnetic tools. You know, the ones that telescope to pick up little screws, etc. My thought was, "how completely random is that?", then I realized it was just the antenna. :sombrero:
I have one of those Jeep multi-tools similar to the jerry-can-type posted except mine has a 4" color TV built in!!:lurk:
My sister gave it to me a few years ago, been sitting on a shelf waiting to be posted for sale or maybe just given away in an ExPo classified.
Brian
My sister gave it to me a few years ago, been sitting on a shelf waiting to be posted for sale or maybe just given away in an ExPo classified.
Brian
Well, I have to admit this thread has got me thinking. Since we apparently have tow-pros here: what IS the approved method for extracting the hypothetical, buried-to-the-axles-at-the-bottom-of-a-ditch minivan?
Let's presume you can't position the tow truck to get a lifting-arm whatchamacallit under a pair of wheels. The van still doesn't have decent recovery points. Does the recovery pro just tell the van owner "I can winch you out, but there'll likely be some damage"? If so, how is that different from us private citizens doing the same?
Please don't tell me this degenerates to who's better insured to withstand a lawsuit.
Let's presume you can't position the tow truck to get a lifting-arm whatchamacallit under a pair of wheels. The van still doesn't have decent recovery points. Does the recovery pro just tell the van owner "I can winch you out, but there'll likely be some damage"? If so, how is that different from us private citizens doing the same?
Please don't tell me this degenerates to who's better insured to withstand a lawsuit.
This video shows a great example of why not to use a shackle to link two straps, just after 6 minutes into it. It also shows a variety of other questionable recovery tactics.
Note, there is some very light swearing in this vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8lMxYnGIrw&feature=player_embedded
Note, there is some very light swearing in this vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8lMxYnGIrw&feature=player_embedded
Hey
I found this one, just to show how much force there is in a shackle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR22oP1WRtY&feature=related
just imagine how force it takes to embed a shackle in a tire!
I found this one, just to show how much force there is in a shackle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR22oP1WRtY&feature=related
just imagine how force it takes to embed a shackle in a tire!
p1michaud
Expedition Leader
Extending your reach...
Scott,
Great photo storry on how to extend your recover strap, but I have one problem. Abusing that Overland Journal, I'd much prefer keeping it for re-reading and using another 4WD magazine, no names...:sombrero:
Scott,
Great photo storry on how to extend your recover strap, but I have one problem. Abusing that Overland Journal, I'd much prefer keeping it for re-reading and using another 4WD magazine, no names...:sombrero:
Antichrist
Expedition Leader
Are you kidding? Someone could do a running commentary for the entire video on what not to do during a recovery. That video actually gave me the creeps watching it. :Wow1:
UnfrozenCaveman
Explorer
Aha! "Girth Hitch", thanks Al. I knew there was a proper name for that...
And thanks to Scott for the photos!
Though I must admit, I carry a few lengths of wooden closet pole in the recovery bag "for just such an emegency."
And thanks to Scott for the photos!
Though I must admit, I carry a few lengths of wooden closet pole in the recovery bag "for just such an emegency."
M
MuddyOval
Guest
I just asked that question of the shop foreman at my shop, who has 20+ years of towing/recovery experience. He was the guy the state police would call for the difficult jobs.
He said the big difference is that he's never in a hurry. It's just a car. If it takes 30 minutes to dig out what he needs, he grabs a shovel and goes at at. For vehicles without recovery points, he carries mutil-layer short straps that can be wrapped around suspension parts, crossmembers or any other spot that will work. He said he always tries for a crossmember first, and the straps are 3" thick and thrown away if they get cut. Chains are also used quite a bit. He said he always avoid wrapping suspension parts, but if he does he'll use a bridle to spread the load.
He said that off-road guys never want to take the time to rig properly or stop and re-rig everything. Sometimes after a car only moves a few feet, the whole scenario has to be re-rigged and sometimes the tow truck moved to reposition the winch. Multiple pullies are sometimes used too- sometimes to raise or lower the angle of the pull where most people only think right and left.
Short version: Shovels, 4"x4" wood posts, bridles, no emotional necessity to either be a hero or rush the job.
robert
Expedition Leader
To add to what MuddyOval said, getting access to the frame is important. This is of course dependent on being able to get some sort of jack under the vehicle. One of the locals who teaches recovery and does 4x4 recovery around here does what he calls the "jack and stack" method. He carries sheets of 3/4" plywood. First things first is to chock the vehicle so it can't roll. He then puts the jack (usually an airbag or a floor jack since most vehicles aren't properly set up for Hi-lifts) on a sheet of thick plywood to disperse the load then jacks the vehicle up, fills under the tires as best he can and puts the plywood down under the wheel before lowering the vehicle again. Now you can remove the chocks from in front of the direct you want to pull; leaving the chocks behind the vehicle will prevent it from rolling back if anything fails or you need to reposition equipment. The strips he uses are probably 2'x4' or so- basically cheap versions of sand ladders. If he needs to pull the vehicle over, he also has wider sheets of plywood that he can put under the tires that allow the vehicle to "slip" sideways for a straighter pulls. Getting the vehicle up allows him to rig to the frame like MuddyOval talked about. He preaches redundancy also.
Airbags aren't cheap and they require some training to use correctly i.e. cribbing, but are pretty easily deployed once you know how to. With so many off-roaders carrying air compressors/spare air tanks, it's easy to imagine folks carrying one or more. ARB makes what they call an exhaust jack that is getting good reviews. http://www.arbusa.com/Products/Tow-Straps-And-Recovery-Gear/Exhaust-Jacks/46.aspx
The big thing is to slow down, take some good deep breaths, assess the situation and figure out not only what equipment you have available, but how you are going to use it and what can go wrong. Too often people don't think about how/where a vehicle is going to move once they break it free/lift it/etc. or what might fail. This can lead to worse stucks, (further) damage to the vehicle or equipment or injury/death to bystanders.
Disclaimer- I'm no recovery expert by any stretch of the imagination but I have taken a couple of rescue/extrication classes in my years as a paramedic. This is just one method that works sometimes- evaluate each situation individually.
Wow- a little thread drift there...
Airbags aren't cheap and they require some training to use correctly i.e. cribbing, but are pretty easily deployed once you know how to. With so many off-roaders carrying air compressors/spare air tanks, it's easy to imagine folks carrying one or more. ARB makes what they call an exhaust jack that is getting good reviews. http://www.arbusa.com/Products/Tow-Straps-And-Recovery-Gear/Exhaust-Jacks/46.aspx
The big thing is to slow down, take some good deep breaths, assess the situation and figure out not only what equipment you have available, but how you are going to use it and what can go wrong. Too often people don't think about how/where a vehicle is going to move once they break it free/lift it/etc. or what might fail. This can lead to worse stucks, (further) damage to the vehicle or equipment or injury/death to bystanders.
Disclaimer- I'm no recovery expert by any stretch of the imagination but I have taken a couple of rescue/extrication classes in my years as a paramedic. This is just one method that works sometimes- evaluate each situation individually.
Wow- a little thread drift there...
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