offroad recovery tips

[Pete M]

who has some pointers?  not all have to directly apply to the photos below.  I'll start off with...

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never be in a hurry.  think things through.  the physics of 2 tons rigs and high tension wires is rarely forgiving and should not be rushed.

 

do NOT mix bungee recovery straps with static load straps. 

 

be aware of what your weakest link is. 

 

weight bags are your friends.

 

booze is not your friend.

 

speaking of friends, clear them all out of the way before yanking or winching. yell at them if you must.

 

only attach to proper recovery points on the 2 rigs.  just because the other guy has an offroad bumper doesn't mean he attached it correctly.  axles are not proper points.  neither is a tow ball.  nor are those little holes in the frame used to tie down a rig for transport.

 

some recoveries really are best left to the professionals.  a tow bill is not worth your life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gogmorgo]

I saw this going around facebook but only as a screen shot of some thumbnails. In most cases everyone seemed to be assuming the kinetic rope had cut through the strap and done the damage, or they'd used a shackle between the two that went flying, but is that the strap sitting in the bed after it punched under the tailgate?

I'll also add that a kinetic rope designed for recovering an 80,000lb truck isn't going to stretch and absorb much impact if you only hit it with a 5000lb truck. You'll only get so much pull out of a light vehicle, and the kinetic rope needs to stretch to work its magic, regardless of what's at the other end of it. It's tough to say, but that does look to me like a heavier rope.

[Pete M]

I think that's an extra strap in the bed. 

[89 MJ]

Here’s a recovery trip: bring friends. 

[DesertRat1991]

That pic is a great example of how quickly being a good Samaritan can go completely sideways.  These days it's pretty rare that I will touch a total stranger's rig.  Times have changed. 

 

Tip: Before you touch a stranger's vehicle, CYA.  Take photos. Even better, take 15 seconds to record the following on camera:

"Do you need assistance?

 

Do you understand that recovery operations are inherently dangerous?

 

Do you agree that I won't be held liable for damage to your property?"

 

Any problems with that, just walk away and let them call a tow truck company who will have them sign a paper that says pretty much the same thing anyway.

[tugboat95]

As a volunteer firefighter, I see tow truck drivers do amazing things with a winch. But a a tugboat crew member that regularly tows and hooks up 10 thousand TON plus vessels to each other I see them stand in stupid, dangerous places. Always assume your strap, cable, whatever WILL part! When it does where is the snap back gonna go? Are you using a pulley off of a tree making a triangle for a better angle? Don't be in that bite. If the pulley fails, that line will come straight immediately don't BE THERE! It will kill you. Personally because of my own experience, I like the Synthetic line. (Spectra or Plasma are the trade names) No stretch what so ever. If sized right it will do anything. A 1 inch spectra line will hold more and weigh a fraction of a 2 inch winch cable. If it parts there is no snap back. It will fall to the ground where it lays. Only worry with them is abrasion resistance. Use chaffing gear and don't cut it on a sharp object. 100% Nylon has a stretch of 40%. A 100 foot line will stretch to 140 feet. Its strength is in the stretch. But once its been reached it will part violently. Most rope has nylon in it. When mixed with Dacron the stretch is significantly reduced and the breaking point is lowered as well.
Another hit, if you ever see a rope "smoking" get away from it. Its getting ready too fail. Its not always seen, but if you do see it, that's what's happening.

1989 Eliminator
4.0L 5 speed
2wd

[tugboat95]

That barge weighs around 10 thousand tons loaded. I move 90 % of the time with this line. Spectra for the win

(There is a 2 1/4" cable under the line for when we tow offshore about a 1/2 mile behind us)

1989 Eliminator
4.0L 5 speed
2wd

[Pete M]

ooo, that's a good one!  expect a failure!  and then don't be standing where the fast moving items might fly.   

[gogmorgo]

4 hours ago, DesertRat1991 said:

That pic is a great example of how quickly being a good Samaritan can go completely sideways.  These days it's pretty rare that I will touch a total stranger's rig.  Times have changed. 

 

Tip: Before you touch a stranger's vehicle, CYA.  Take photos. Even better, take 15 seconds to record the following on camera:

"Do you need assistance?

 

Do you understand that recovery operations are inherently dangerous?

 

Do you agree that I won't be held liable for damage to your property?"

 

Any problems with that, just walk away and let them call a tow truck company who will have them sign a paper that says pretty much the same thing anyway.

One more to add, what's the traffic like? Just before Christmas I saw a guy in dark clothing with no lights standing beside the road trying to flag down traffic, at night. I had straps, etc, and likely could've got his minivan out, but there was still moderate traffic on a major highway, and he was only in the ditch due to freezing rain so that road was a curling rink. We were down in a bit of a depression and I wasn't sure how visible I'd be, and I've got no emergency lights or anything. I called him a tow truck. As much as I wanted to help him, I didn't need to get hit, and I didn't need to ruin anyone else's day having them run into me either, because I made a poor call.

[FrankTheDog]

9 hours ago, gogmorgo said:

One more to add, what's the traffic like? Just before Christmas I saw a guy in dark clothing with no lights standing beside the road trying to flag down traffic, at night. I had straps, etc, and likely could've got his minivan out, but there was still moderate traffic on a major highway, and he was only in the ditch due to freezing rain so that road was a curling rink. We were down in a bit of a depression and I wasn't sure how visible I'd be, and I've got no emergency lights or anything. I called him a tow truck. As much as I wanted to help him, I didn't need to get hit, and I didn't need to ruin anyone else's day having them run into me either, because I made a poor call.

Good call.

 I was on my way home the other night and there was a guy standing at the entrance of a shopping plaza holding his cell phone up with it’s light on in one hand and a set of jumper cables in the other. I turned around and he was parked at the back of the parking lot with a dead horse. He was out there in 10 degree darkness for an hour before l stopped.