Essential Recovery Gear for 4WD Adventures: Stay Safe and Ready
When preparing for an adventure in your 4WD, recovery gear is one of the most critical items on your checklist to finalise before setting off. You may need assistance from another vehicle, and if you do, it’s important to remember that incorrect recovery equipment is fraught with danger.
Commonly used equipment for a snatch-style recovery is:
- Rated recovery hitch
- Rated recovery points which are vehicle specific
- Rated snatch strap/kinetic recovery rope
- Rated bow/soft shackles
- Recovery blanket/dampener
In Australia, we have an authorised body that sets a standard on safety for rigging, lifting, towing and slinging. These standards are in place for our safety. Any item we use to recover a vehicle must meet this standard as a minimum. Each item in a recovery kit will have a series of letters and numbers related to the Working Load Limit (WLL) and Minimum Breaking Strength (MBS).
The Working Load Limit (WLL) is the maximum working load designed by the manufacturer. This load represents a force much less than required to make the lifting equipment fail or yield.
The minimum break strength (MBS) is the minimum single value from a series of five prototype rope assemblies, including terminations and break tests.
The use of recovery points and recovery hitches is your best defence against injury and failure of the structure of your vehicle. Most vehicles have tie-down points, which are not to be mistaken for correct-rated recovery points. Tie-down points are solely used for securing your vehicle while in transit, such as on a tow truck.
The tow ball on your vehicle is also not a rated recovery point. Unfortunately, many injuries and deaths are caused by people using the tow ball as a recovery point.
The tow bar can be used as a recovery point if the tow ball is removed and a recovery hitch is fitted.
Snatch straps and kinetic recovery ropes look different but perform the same function. They are designed to stretch, not to be confused with tow ropes or winch extension straps that do not stretch. Part of the Australian Standards is that snatch straps and kinetic recovery ropes must be clearly labelled to prevent incorrect use and injury.
Bow shackles and soft shackles have a WLL rating, and most of them available in Australia will be rated for your light vehicle. If you have a 4WD truck, don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturers and acquire the correct rated gear to suit your truck. If you buy your recovery equipment from an overseas provider, ensure that it meets our Australian Standards.
A recovery blanket or dampener is most commonly used in winching. As an industry always looking to increase safe recovery techniques, we have adopted the use of the recovery blanket in snatch recoveries. Simply applying the blanket over each end of the connections will arrest the rope if you experience a failure.
Preparing for safe vehicle recoveries will ensure your adventures are the memories you want to keep. Before heading off, inspect your recovery gear for signs of damage or fatigue and replace it if required. Inspect for the new safety labels and standards; if you do not see them on your gear, replace them as a priority.
Nathan Johnson is an active member of the Australian 4WD Industry Council.
