Self-recovery

[Burns]

While I wait for the money to buy a winch bumper, or the time and help to build one, I'm throwing together some self-recovery tools. So far, I'm not sure what I'd need. One of my co-workers has an old full sized Blazer (blasphamy, I say!) and he told me his setup that's worked for him each and every time. He's got two 1-ton come-alongs with 12' of cable, a small length of chain with heavy hooks on each end, and two 12' 5/16 cable with 5/8 1000 WLL hooks. It all seems good, but will that all haul a full sized truck out? The numbers just seem low to me, and the last thing I need to be doing is hurting someone while trying to recover the truck because I used inadaquate tools. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[Justshootme84]

I carry a tow strap/stretch strap about 30 ft long, much lighter than cable or chain. All of the rigs where I wheel carry the straps and use those to pull each others' rigs out of a "light' stuck situation where a winch is not needed.

 

[Burns]

I carry a tow strap/stretch strap about 30 ft long, much lighter than cable or chain. All of the rigs where I wheel carry the straps and use those to pull each others' rigs out of a "light' stuck situation where a winch is not needed.

The straps that have the loops, sometimes hooks, on the end? I think they have 5,000/7,000/10,000 limits, correct?

 

[Justbust1n]

The straps that have the loops, sometimes hooks, on the end? I think they have 5,000/7,000/10,000 limits, correct?

i have seen some with up to 30,000 lbs rope.... Pro Comp has some in there catalog i use a winch and a Clevis hook youll probably need one of those get two for good measure

 

[Justshootme84]

A search for "recovery strap" at JBG found this, same as mine:

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-36932_...trap_2_x30_.htm

 

[LOSTinthewoods]

When we go out we usually carry this chain come along we got at a yard sale, and 2 or three extra chains. Twice we landed on our side the thing got us back over and i cant count how many times it got us out of the mud or sand. I think its geared for like 30 thousand lbs but im not sure really.

 

[bidibronco]

If you're at a place that has big ships such as a naval base or ship yard you may be able to get your hands on a moring line. If they can hold a huge ship in one place and pull it to the pier I'm sure even a huge truck would have trouble parting thoes things.

 

[rubberdust]

NO WAY on using chains!

When things break & if you do this long enough you'll be around to see it & hopefully still around afterwards.

Get a GOOD tow strap I'd go to at least 15,000lbs.

Get the kind with the sown eyes in the end not the hooks, also get a couple clevis pins or D-rings that are rated as high as the tow strap you buy.

The come-a-longs are fine but you are going to find that unless you are just barely stuck they wont do the job.

Serious consider getting a Hi-Lift jack & MAKE CERTAIN your bummpers have a place suitable to use it. (Not much good on stock bumpers.) Get a piece of plywood 1/2 or 5/8 thick by a foot square this will come in very handy to use under the base of the jack in soft surfaces. The Hi-Lift can also be used as a come-a-long. Being stuck by myself I've had great luck jacking it up one corner at a time & filling in the hole under the tire with what ever I could find available, including my spare tire.

Anytime you are getting pulled out with a strap or a winch place something like an old blanket, coat, etc over it. (they make fancy bags with lead pellets for this if you want to spend the money) by having something like that on the cable or strap if something does break it will typically fall harmlessly to the ground. I've seen & done some stupid things over the years & by sheer luck not been hurt.

I'll have to look through some pictures as I think I still have the one of my buddys Bronco II with a hole in the tail gate & the chain imbedded in the back seat! Big oops funny now but learned a little about physics, stored energy & mass that day I should have learned in school.