TOTM FOR MAY 2012 RECOVERY GEAR, & SAFE PRACTICES!

Let's see how you guys are getting your keeps outta sticky situations? Winches, ****** blocks, straps, tree savers, high lifts, tricks, & the safe practice of these items! TOTM (Topic Of The Month) is a group effort posting helpful info. Post what pics you have on the topic, as well as helpful info for people looking into these topics for their first time. The Idea is to have a less hardcore verison of pirates TOTM here on CherokeeForum.

Remember to update any of our older TOTM threads as you build, & help me, help you, by throwing out some suggestions for future topics here. http:// https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/to...umpers-118393/ www.cherokeeforum.com/f19/tot...gestion-93121/

Thanks to mithuth for his suggestion of recovery gear, & safety!

I personally don't get stuck. Lol but for some dumb reason I carry everything from ****** blocks, & welding rod... all the way down to sun screen, & bug repellent. Then again it doesn't matter what you carry if you don't know how to safely use it!

Looking forward to seeing all you guys' gear lists...

 

So glad to see that this made the TOTM! I've learned a lot in a short time when getting stuck/free. I guess the one thing that always stands out is when winching to stand clear of the line and to use a weight to limit recoil in case of catastrophe. Radios have helped us keep communication from a safe distance to the driver. Some el cheapo walkies will totally do the trick. That and proper tow points.. No sense in doing unnecessary damage to driveline/steering. I'm really looking forward to this one!

The pic is my roommates first run in the TJ. NO recovery gear. It was a 4 mile hike to get to my XJ with the hi-lift, chains, straps... A hi-lift alone woulda done it.. Lesson learned. No more solo trips, plenty of recovery gear.

 

Make sure all pull points are secure! This includes BOTH the recovery vehicle and the stuck vehicle. I will not even consider pulling someone out or letting them tug on me until I have seen how their hooks, shackles and d-rings are mounted.

Always have a plan of attack, sometimes a little planning ahead saves a lot of head aches. People get into lots of trouble when they don't step back and look at where the recovery and stuck or broken vehicles is going to end up. Getting the recovery truck stuck is a bad scenario that happens way too much.

Rule of thumb for a rear pull point is that it be no weaker than a stock receiver hitch. I have had argument with people about using the smaller 1 1/4" receivers on Cherokees. I have one and have used it for pulling people out and being pulled on the mounting points are the same, the cross tube is the same thickness. The only real difference is the size of the tube welded below the cross-member.

Front recovery points: On a full framed vehicle should be bolted not welded on. Tow hooks are hardened and welding them on may take the temper out of them. Vehicles with unitbodies like our Cherokees should at minimum be mounted to a plate that extends well beyond the stock bumper mounts. I prefer that they be part of a bumper so that the load is distributed to both sides of the truck.

Straps: Bigger is NOT always better. The strap used should be properly sized for the vehicle that is stuck. Using a 6" strap to yank on a stuck Cherokee is asking for trouble. Straps are designed to have some give, when to large a strap is used there is shock load.

Chains, they have their place believe it or not. Although chains should never be subjected to a shock load such as tugging they can be very useful for holding an axle in place or using a highlift to pull frames, body panels or axles back into place.

When hung up one something it is usually easier to go back the way you came from and lifting with a jack is usually safer and easier than yanking with a strap or pulling with a winch.

 

Always let the person your pulling out put the winch or strap where they want. That way if it breaks they don't whine to you about putting it there.

 

I can agree with that as long as you feel its a safe place also. You don't want some jack *** putting a strap around a sway bar and then have it flying at you.

 

As far as putting on straps to be pulled out, my motto has always been that you hook to your truck and I'll hook to mine. No blame for bent or broken parts that way.

 

The best recovery point is the wallet. Make sure theirs is thick enough to do the job.. Haha..

But seriously, I totally agree with you hook to yours and me to mine. Then let me double check yours for good measure.

What about: fraying ropes? I know how I feel about using anything if I think it's "compromised" in any way.
Also, where NOT to buy recovery gear, or what brands do you dis/like?

 

Ya I agree also if your stuck you hook it up. If you dont think other peoples recovery equipment is good enough make sure you have your own handy. You being the one getting stuck means its your fault if something happens in my opinion. Cell Phones and CBs ensure proper comunication between trucks if they work properly lol.

The things I carry are.

4 clevis
1 ****** block
winch w/ cradle that slides into recievers on my bumpers
1 4x20 strap, 1 4x30, 1 tree strap
hi-lift jack
clevis that slides into recievers for two truck dead pulls
Small shovel

The more I learn and expierience the more things get added and im sure im missing some things

 

Don't hook the strap to a trailer ball.

If you hook it to a hitch already in the recieiver, make sure it has a pin in it. A hitch rusted in a receiver and a ****** strap are deadly combintations.

 

I think those fancy receiver shackles are nice but they usually aren't needed. The end of most decent 4" straps are folded over sewn together and leather wrapped. I simply slid them in the receiver and put a pin through it. Just as strong and a hell of a lot cheaper.

 

What's the difference between a recovery strap and a tow strap? They look exactly the same.

 

Ones meant for static load, the other for being repeatedly shock loaded.

 

Think bungie cord... You can build up a lot more pulling power without the damaging jerk of a tow strap/chain.

 

I'm not talking about a ****** strap. Are recovery straps like a mix between a ****** and a tow strap?

 

I don't think there is a difference. A ****** strap IS a recovery strap. It stretches like 20%....a tow strap is like a sling, almost no stretch.