Category Archives: The Recovery Series

In our epic Recovery Series finale, we look at snatch recoveries. Bernie Williams talks us through which equipment to use, the differences between a tow rope and snatch rope and how to execute a safe snatch recovery.

It seems that a ‘must-have’ piece of equipment, which is often mounted on peoples’ 4x4s, is a winch. It most certainly has that ‘wow’ factor and makes you look like the ultimate adventurer. This piece of equipment has been available for decades, yet many owners have no idea how to operate it safely.

When it comes to vehicle recoveries, the standard jack is very limited. If your vehicle is fitted with a lifted aftermarket suspension, that standard jack will simply not be able to lift the wheel off the ground if you have a puncture or some other wheel/tyre issue.

In today’s day and age, with access to all the information we have ever wanted at the click of a button, it is scary to see how uninformed people really are. As a result of this, we often hear about how things go horribly wrong when it comes to recoveries. Which brings us to shackles. These are a key element in the recovery bag, and there are a few types available.

It’s time to talk straps, a key element when it comes to vehicle-to-vehicle recoveries. It is so easy to fall into the trap of buying the wrong equipment when it comes to recovery, especially recovery straps.  Straps need to be tested and rated for the task at hand.

Recovery tracks have a long history. In fact they probably go back as far as the advent of wheeled vehicles, in one form or another. Early explorers in the Namib resorted to wooden planks and plane tyres to get their thin-wheeled trucks through the soft sand.

The four circles of rubber connecting our vehicles to the road are one of the most critical components on any drive, on any terrain. Yet they are all too often overlooked, or simply taken for granted.

This month, we provide a list of the essentials you will need to keep you moving when the going gets rough, and help get you out of trouble when you do get stuck

Hopefully, you have also completed a 4×4 training course, at least to Level 1, with a reputable training institution. That will ensure you understand the basic principles of off-roading. Let’s face it, the biggest fear most newbie off-roaders have is getting stuck. As many of the older hands will admit, if you have never been stuck you either haven’t been properly off-road or you are simply not trying hard enough!