We sat down with Tony from Adventure Afrika Training and Tours to chat about what is essential to your recovery bag. However, it is not limited to these items alone, as there is much more equipment necessary to make a recovery successful. We will cover these as we move on through the comprehensive list.
Beginning with a recovery, the first and obvious necessity is attitude. If you are an overlander or just a weekend warrior, at some stage you will get stuck, and a recovery of some sorts is required. Try not rush into the recovery blindly. First, check the terrain and the surroundings, and come up with a plan that makes sense fin terms of simplicity and ease. Safety should be your number one priority, not only for you, but your family, friends and vehicle are of utmost importance. Work smart not hard.
Spade, shovel or hoe?
All three have an important role to play in a recovery. The golden rule of any recovery is lift and pull. It is vital that the soil build-up, either in mud or thick sand, be removed to assist that rolling forward motion, making it easier for the vehicle which is being used to recover you. Not only are these spades/shovels invaluable for this work, but they play other roles, such as moving hot coals around for the braai, and for that call of nature.
*Side note: Ideally, in the most perfect conditions, toilet paper will decompose in one to three years. However, in alpine areas, deserts, and wetlands, toilet paper takes much longer time to break down. Not ideal when you finally find the perfect spot for your cathole, just to dig up someone’s old, used toilet paper. Burn the paper after use.
Pull straps
These straps come in various lengths, from 3m to 5m and 10m. A 3m strap is typically used as a tree trunk protector when winching is involved. In an emergency you could also use it as a bridle. The 5m pull strap has more value, as it gives a bit more distance between the vehicle being recovered and the recovery vehicle. The 10m strap gives the perfect distance for the recovery to take place. In saying that, however, remember that different scenarios, call for different lengths to be utilised.
The name says what it does – this strap is required when a vehicle that needs recovery, is typically snagged on a ridge, trapped on an obstacle, or has fallen into a ditch. Enthusiasm in this recovery is not necessary. Simply connect the strap (in the correct manner) to both vehicles, take up the strain with minimum effort and pull gently forward to retrieve the stuck vehicle.
Both vehicles should be in low range and first gear. Try never to recover using reverse gear. The gearing is forward designed, and a reverse recovery could be extremely harmful to the wallet.
*Side Note: Always unravel the strap and try to keep it as flat as possible with the fewest kinks possible.
Kinetic/snatch straps
This is one of those items that should never be left at home. Stretchable and strong nylon ropes (made of polyamide) are called kinetic recovery ropes/straps (or snatch ropes) these are used to free stuck vehicles. This would mainly apply when the recovery vehicle has a traction issue, example mud or soft sand.
When recovering a vehicle that has become stuck, it is best practice to transfer some of the kinetic energy from the recovering vehicle to the stuck vehicle. The elastic construction allows kinetic straps to stretch by a factor of 1.5 times. They can be reused multiple times and last much longer if cared for correctly.
That said, it should only be used around three or four times in a single recovery operation. All that kinetic energy is stored in the strap and will lessen the stretch factor at each pull. If unsuccessful in the recovery, use another snatch strap, or reassess the situation and make a calculated decision to either use the winch or jacks. Recovery of strap from rest to reuse is once in 24 hours.
It’s important to remember that the breaking strength of the rope should be approximately three times the weight of the vehicle you’re pulling, so make sure you get the right one.
Method of usage is impressive when it works, but there is a factor of danger. Bearing in mind that extreme forces are implemented in this recovery and if mounting points are a weakness, this will be the area of failure. As a safety precaution, an item such as a Tough Dog recovery damper, heavy bag, blanket or something similar must be draped over the kinetic rope during its use to reduce unintentional rebound of the rope. It is also good practise to use a safety lanyard on both vehicles in the event of failure, from either the strap or a mounting point.
The strap is normally laid back over itself in an S shape (about 1.5m or half of its overall length). The recovery vehicle takes off in low range, first or second gear, dependent on the terrain and traction available, in a straight line, away from the stuck vehicle. This stretches the strap to its fullest. The vehicle to be recovered will also assist using first gear low range.
Practice will allow a good driver to stop before the strap stops him, thereby allowing full utilisation of the kinetic capability and not straining the strap or recovery points on the vehicles.
Kinetic straps and ropes should never be used to anchor a winching operation or extend a winch cable. They should also not be used as tow straps. Wash thoroughly with high pressure water and allow to dry in a cool shaded area.
In summary
These are purely guidelines for vehicle recovery. Due to the multiplicity of variables involved Adventure Afrika Training & Tours cannot guarantee the efficacy of the operation, or the safety of bystanders, participants and property. As such, we recommend that you attend a professional recovery course.
This series is brought to you by Opposite lock 4WD & Vehicle Accessories Africa
Hop on to their website for all you overlanding needs: https://www.oppositelock.co.za/
