1.SIMPLE IS ALWAYS BETTER – if you don’t need a component, don’t use it!
When setting up your 4WD recovery, less is definitely more, by minimizing the use of unnecessary or excessive components, you reduce the risk of finding a weak link in the chain of recovery gear and reduce the potential for metal components like shackles from turning into high speed airborne projectiles!

When connecting your winch cable to your tree trunk protector or winch extension avoid adding a shackle, simply connect the winch hook directly to the straps end loops and always use a Winch Dampener to weigh down components in case of failure!

A winch dampener will force any stray components towards the ground and away from any spectators vital areas!

2.Anchor your winch off living tree’s – Not only are live trees stronger, and more flexible, but they are also less likely to have rotten or hollow cores or termite damage as with dead tree’s.

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By anchoring your winch to a live tree you can undergo your winch recovery with confidence, knowing that the winch will be firmly secured and unlikely to give way, when you are depending on it!

3.Always use a Tree Trunk Protector low on the trunk – Ring barking is a serious problem, and occurs when too much pressure is applied around the circumference of the tree, this can essentially starve the tree resulting in it dying!

The lower you connect your tree trunk protector on the tree trunk, you will find that lesser forces are applied to the tree, which includes less leverage meaning it is less likely that you’ll rip the roots out of the ground, and ruin the perfect anchor point for the next guy who gets stuck!

4.Less cable on the winch means better low-end power!

Because of the effect of additional torque supplied by a smaller effective diameter of the drum, when there is more cable that is unspooled, your winch will have more torque and additional ability to slowly and in control pull your 4WD free from trouble!

5.Snatch straps are not rated as an extension strap!
The dynamic bungee cord ability of a snatch strap means that it is not capable of pulling a steady and stable load, as with a winch extension strap this is because of the bungee effect. You will find that your snatch strap will actually cause a lot of issues when performing winch recoveries and is best left for recoveries that do not require a winch!

6.Winch lines are considered Dangerous once connected.

NEVER Step over a winch cable, this is a very important rule, whether it is loaded or not you should take the long way around a 4WD recovery.

During a 4WD winch recovery, winch cables can become loaded at unexpected moments, and if they are already loaded, can break without warning, meaning you will be right in the firing line in an emergency.

To prevent any injury, never put yourself over a winch cable that is connected in a setup – and always use a winch dampener!

7.Clear communication is critical!

When you have many tons of force involved in an offroad rescue situation, it is critical to ensure all bases are covered, misunderstandings or people not being ready could result in serious injury and even death! By making sure you have a clear line of communication with your spotter, and any other vehicles involved in the recovery you will make sure that all passengers and participants are safe and that damage to your vehicle is completely minimized!

8.Single point of contact- by reducing the amount of channels the driver has to pay attention to, by ensuring that the spotter is the only point of contact the driver undertaking the recovery has to talk to, there is less that the driver has to pay attention too.

The benefits to using a spotter in the recovery is the ability for the spotter to see things and relay information to the driver that may not be apparent from the drivers point of view – by establishing the chain of command, the spotter can decipher what information others may think is relevant to the driver or things that are clearly not.

The spotter can even monitor the less than immediate obstacles involved in the recovery and only notify the driver when it becomes a relevant issue worth addressing – the chain of command, is important to consider and will make sure too many cooks don’t spoil the broth and confuse the driver!

9.Keep the area around the recovery clear!

Although a recovery can be great to watch, by keeping all spectators out of the way, you make sure that no harm will come their way!

Snapped winch cables can be deadly to a perimeter equaling their full length – by keeping all observers well out of the reach of recoiling cables, and potential projectiles – you make sure everyone gets to go home safe – DON’T FORGET YOUR WINCH DAMPENER to help minimize this risk!

10.There is nothing more dangerous than gear that is poorly maintained!

Some people say “you get what you pay for” but in the modern age of high quality automated manufacturing, the difference between more affordable and “top price leading brands” when it comes to rated recovery gear is practically minimal. With appropriate maintenance even the more affordable recovery gear will last you years on the tracks!

The issue many people encounter with gear failure is by not maintaining their gear. This always ends in disaster and even if you paid top dollar, will end in tears if not worse!

By giving your recovery gear, and even your winch cable, a good scrub down after a 4WD session, you will  make sure all of the mud, dirt & sand that can cause microscopic abrasion cuts to the fibers in your recovery gear are removed ASAP!

By using dirty gear, the sharp particles on the inside of the straps will cut your straps and winch ropes apart from the inside, resulting in catastrophic failures when you least expect it!

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Following these 10 PROTIPS to getting your 4WD recovered more safely, you can  make sure that all your mates get home to tell the epic tales on the tracks!