Heading off the beaten track? Don't get caught unprepared! Here's the rundown on all the gear to ensure you're well equipped when you get stuck!
Snatch Straps
Snatch straps or recovery straps are a handy piece of equipment to keep as part of your 4WD kit. They're a woven nylon strap that's used to get your vehicle out when you're bogged. They work by transferring energy from a free vehicle to a bogged vehicle to 'snatch' the stuck vehicle into a position where it can gain traction and move freely again.
The main benefit of a snatch strap is that they can stretch up to 25%, avoiding the jerk or shock when the vehicle is extracted and preventing damage to your vehicle. To choose the correct strap for your 4WD it needs a rating of 2-3 times the GVM of your vehicle. For example, if your vehicle weighs 2500kg, you need a strap with a minimum breaking strain of 5000kg-7500kg. Not a piece of kit for the solo adventurer, but handy to have on hand when 4WDing with mates.
Kinetic Ropes
Kinetic ropes are used as an alternative to snatch straps in a recovery situation - they're more durable and less prone to failure. Standard snatch straps only stretch about 20%, whereas kinetic ropes stretch up to around 30%, meaning that there's a softer impact when recovering a vehicle. Kinetic ropes have a stretchy inner nylon core and a braided outer nylon to protect it from wearing, making them longer lasting than your standard snatch strap. Another advantage of a kinetic rope is being able to just chuck it in a bag when you're done and not having to stress about rolling it up correctly when you've finished with it.
Electric Winch
Electric winches are an essential part of your kit when you're heading off the beaten track, especially solo when there might not be another vehicle nearby to help out with recovery. Winches can attach to a wide variety of anchor points such as a tree or another vehicle to help get you out of a sticky situation.
When choosing a winch, it's important to get one that's going to match your vehicle. A general rule when it comes to winches is the higher the winch capacity the better, however at a minimum your winch should be able to pull at least 1.5 times the gross weight of your vehicle.
Winch Extension Straps
If you have an electric winch as part of your kit then a Winch extension strap is also a must have. Imagine you are out in the bush, miles from anywhere and you get stuck. You have your electric winch but the winch rope is not long enough to attach it to a suitable anchor point. That's where a winch extension strap comes in handy, giving you the extra length you need on your winch rope to attach it to the anchor point and safely get your vehicle out.
Snatch Blocks
Snatch blocks are another piece of kit that's essential if you're using a winch. Snatch blocks reduce the load on the winch and allow you to angle the cables when a straight line isn't an option. Our XTM 7 piece recovery kit comes with an 8T snatch block and all the other gear you'll need to help out with a winch recovery.
Recovery Dampener
A Recovery dampener is an important piece of safety equipment to have when doing a snatch or winch recovery. In the unlikely situation where a cable or rope snaps, a recovery dampener will absorb a lot of the recoil and help prevent severe injury or damage.
Shackles
There are 2 types of Shackles available on the market for 4WDing. Soft shackles are lightweight, waterproof and stronger than your standard 4x4 bow shackle. The main advantage of a soft shackle is that they're safer if something goes wrong and your shackle goes flying through the air. Using a soft shackle eliminates a heavy bow shackle from your recovery situation. The disadvantage of soft shackles is possible damage from sharp edges and lesser life expectancy than a standard shackle
Bow Shackles have been used in 4WD recovery for years and are long lasting compared to soft shackles and are a cheaper option. Their U-shaped design allows them to to take loads from many directions, making them ideal for recovery situations. The disadvantage is if a bow shackle gets attached incorrectly or to the wrong place it can become detached and go flying through the air, and you certainly wouldn't want to be hit by one!
Recovery Tracks
Recovery Tracks or Recovery boards are essential if you're heading off the beaten track without another vehicle. They're the ultimate self recovery tool that's perfect for mud, snow, sand and water. Simply jam the tracks firmly under your wheels and crawl the car on top of them allowing the wheels to gain traction and move forward. Don't forget to grab some mounting pins to attach them to your vehicle so you'll always have them handy.
High Lift Jacks
High lift jacks are a versatile bit of kit that can be used for anything for winching yourself out of a bog and lifting a tyre out of a bog hole to flipping a rolled vehicle. They're portable enough to take with you but rugged enough to handle any sticky situation. A high lift jack base will help give your jack a solid base to lift from and the High lift jack and shovel holder allows you to mount to your vehicle so it's always on hand when you find yourself in a jam. A hot tip is to always keep your jack well lubricated with a silicone spray or oil.
Air Compressors
Air compressors are a must-have for every off roading adventure. Making sure that your tyres are the right pressure is an absolute must for safety. It also helps your tyres last longer and stops you from wasting extra petrol. They're also essential for increasing your tyre pressure after you've let it down for your cruise along the beach. Air compressors come in a wide range of types and sizes. Two main things to consider when purchasing an air compressor are maximum PSI and litres per minute (LPM) air flow.
Tyre Accessories
Tyres are one of the most important parts of your 4WD so it's essential to have all the gear you need to look after them or fix them up when you get a puncture. There are a range of tyre accessories that should be part of your 4WD kit. Three key things are tyre deflators to let your tyres down on soft sand or 4WD beach adventures, a tyre gauge to check the pressure on your tyres and a tyre repair kit to get you back on the road if you get a puncture.