For some, driving as far as you can until you have to hook up a snatch strap is what 4WDing is all about. Tackling a muddy hill climb littered with rock steps is a guaranteed way to get the heart pumping, but would you do it if you knew you had no way out?

For the ill-equipped, an emergency recovery situation can be an excruciating distraction from the camp site waiting just around the corner. But when it comes to extracting your pride and joy from a sticky situation off-road, there’s always the possibility of something going wrong, especially if you don’t have the right gear.

Decent recovery gear is one of the most important purchases a 4WDer can make, so when it comes to purchasing your own, what should you be looking for?

This begs the questions; with so many new pieces of recovery gear on the market, what should you be carrying in the back of your 4WD and when is the right time to use it?

SIZING UP A RECOVERY KIT

When it comes to sizing up a snatch strap – it’s important to get it right because they are designed with a degree of stretch, and one that’s too heavy or too light won’t work the way it’s designed. When using snatch straps, the minimum breaking strength should be between 2-3 times the vehicle’s gross vehicle mass.

A Hercules 8,000kg strap should cater to most mid/full sized 4WDs. But if you own a Zook, consider a smaller strap around the 6,000kg mark, and if your pride and joy is a Patrol or Cruiser right up on its GVM and towing a camper – consider going with the Hercules 11,000kg strap.

Rated shackles are extremely important – any gear that says “not to be used for 4WD recoveries” in the fine print is not safe to use, ever! Recovery hitches and extension straps need to be rated around 4.5t or over, while a tree trunk protector and a snatch block should be rated to around double that of your winch.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU PAY?

Gone are the days where price is an accurate indicator of quality. There are very good examples of premium gear that’s competitively priced, and average quality items that are clearly over-priced. So when it comes to bagging a bargain, don’t just go with what you see on the shelves of your local auto store. Shop around and do your research. Look for kit like the Hercules complete recovery Kit that offers a good warranty. And spend the time comparing prices, because it could just save you thousands in the long-run.

SNATCH STRAPS VS. WINCH RECOVERIES

You can’t discount the use of kinetic energy when it comes to extracting a 4WD from a bog. The using though, is in the knowing of when and how.

A general rule of thumb is that the more “bogged” the vehicle (i.e. in deep sand) the better the use of a snatch strap. If a vehicle is on its chassis on a beach or belly deep in a bog hole, using a winch will only pull more sand or mud forward with the vehicle; better to extract it using a snatch recovery.

If the vehicle is half way up a gnarly hill, however, it is better to take your time and break out the Domin8r X Winch. These rules were meant to be broken, and for the most part, it comes down to experience and knowledge.

HOW TO PERFORM A SNATCH RECOVERY

1. First things first. Assess the situation and reduce any risk of injury. Make sure passengers and the vehicle is safe, bystanders are well clear, you’ve cleared a path from in front of the tyres and the diffs.
2. As basic as it sounds, check that you’re using a ‘snatch strap’ or that is rated to your vehicle and not any other type of strap. The main point of difference is that these recovery straps/ropes have up to 30% of stretch to assist with the extraction.
3. Attach it to a rated recovery point on both vehicles. This should be a rated recovery hitch on the rear of the recovery vehicle, and a rated recovery point on the front of the stuck vehicle. Make sure the strap is flat and not coiled, and don’t try to performance a recovery in reverse.
4. Jump on the UHF and establish a clear line of communication so both drivers know what’s going on, then start with a gentle extraction. Most of the time this will be all that’s needed to get the stuck vehicle out of trouble. If it doesn’t, back up and give it a few more herbs. If you try two or three times with no luck, reassess the situation and look for ways dig the stuck vehicle out before trying again.
5. Even the best snatch straps won’t stand up to neglect, so as soon as you get home, give yours a bath to ensure it lasts. Fill a bucket with water and gently massage any mud, dirt or sand out of the fibres. Avoid pressure washing it, as it only pushes the dirt further in. Rinse it a few times until the water comes out clear, then let it dry in an airy position out of direct sunlight.

TOP 5 TIPS FOR SAFER RECOVERIES

1. Don’t panic! The second you get into trouble, stop and calmly assess the situation.
2. Only ever use rated recovery points. Tie down points will break and could turn into deadly projectiles.
3. Carry a quality comprehensive kit like the Hercules Complete Recovery Kit that includes everything you’ll need to get yourself out of any situation.
4. Use a rated recovery hitch to help distribute the load of the recovery evenly across the rear of the vehicle.
5. Utilise a Hercules snatch block where you can to reduce the load placed on your winch.