Recovery gear - best hand-powered options?
 

I started looking at learning how to build a flip-flop winch in a jam:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFDGGht3CQU

I was wondering what you guys usually carry with you for emergencies in case you are alone and stuck. I've read everything from Hi-lift jacks to actual ratchet straps (yikes!) being used for vehicle recovery.

Since I don't plan on installing a powered winch, I wanted some real-world advice for what to pack in case a situation like this does arise. Safety first... last thing I want is a ratchet strap hook flying at me.

What vehicle are you potentially pulling?

the most versatile is a Tirfor hand winch, not too heavy and can be stored in a plastic tote, can be used on all 4 sides of the vehicle and for lifting etc.

[url=http://www.tractel.com/ca/series.php?id_serie=47]TRACTEL

Probrably pulling a 4Runner or Xterra-sized SUV... 4-5000 lbs of vehicle weight.

I looked into the Tirfor - seems to price out at about $1000...

Is there a more economical option?

Those particular ones are expensive, there are much cheaper ones around, but you generally get what you pay for.

Manual Hand Winch (w/ Handle and Cable) | GoWesty

unless you start messing around with hi lift jacks and chains - which are incredibly slow and annoying a hand winch is the most versatile option.

Tirfors are lovely, bombproof, use however long a (specific type of) rope you are carrying, don't mind mud which alternative hand winch/hoists might but are slow and can be hard work. Can pull either end, up or sideways.

Hilifts are cheaper, lighter, simpler but you don't get much pull. You might want something like a Rescue 42 Jackmate to get more out of one.

An adjustable length chain would be good to have with both as well as a recovery rope.

You probably won't use either unless you are not paying attention or trying to get stuck?!

I've bought the Australian bog-out system, that is just a like a bunch of ropes that you attach to your wheels (front or rear) and climbs around your wheel, allowing you to use engine power to pull you out.
Haven't used it yet.

https://www.bogout.com/

Amazing how effective a few digs with a shovel and letting a bit more air out of the tyres can be.

Been there done that with a full-size tirfor and it is slow hard work but it does do the job. make sure you have a few spare shear pins. Not sure how the weight to pull ratio compares with a decent fixed winch. I carry the small version to use in conjunction with the front mounted electric winch when there is a danger of tipping over sideways.

If you buy a tirfor-like handwhich (same style but cheaper) at weights like 800kg then you have an affordable, small and lightweight handwinch. This will get you out of a lot of situations but not all. 1600kg version already a bit more expensive but is more gauranteed to have the power in a lot of situations. With our 2 ton 4x4 van, I would like to see the 3200kg version as the one that will always work (could even lift the car vertically), but I sold it again, way to big and bulky to move around and handle.

Now I got the bog-out system, which weighs maybe 1kg or something?
I also want to buy such an exhaust jack (inflatable bag) but I'm only doing that because of all the parts of the trip that have a lot of sand.

Thanks for all the replies guys. Unfortunately I couldn't get my hands on a Tirfor so I settled with the Hi-Lift and recovery kit with a 30' non-stretchy strap and 20' of chain to climb along.

Hopefully I won't get stuck - and I've got the cheap maxsa recovery boards, shovel, and tire deflators to try 1st line before I break out anything more dangerous.

That's the current plan at least.


Wow that looks really slick! Will keep in mind for future trips. Anyone have experiences using them that can comment on their limitations?

I can vouch for the exhaust jack effectiveness except for two things - finding a sturdy, snag-free spot underneath the vehicle that won't damage either the vehicle or the bag - and getting a bag with enough lift to do any good with a high vehicle. On a Suzuki it was magic and on a RangeRover it got me out of a horrendous bog but now I have a truck it isn't any use.

ANY method that requires a decent anchor point is not much use when there is no anchor point and all the magic tricks such as burying a spare wheel require a day's work to prepare the anchor. Any of the "smart" methods using the vehicle wheels require the anchor points to be in exactly the right place and in the real world, that rarely happens.

For the really intrepid there is always a couple of lengths of 2 x 4 hardwood and some rope or chain to tie it to the wheel.

@Tony LEE, I agree with most of it. Although it is not that easy with all vehicles to just strap a piece of hardwood to the wheel.

Anchor point in exactly the right place is hard in reality. However: using it on the front wheels means you can point to an anchor point. And actually, the bigger bulkier bush whinch has an eye on the wheels to be able to make a corner towards your anchor point. But I don't like to carry that stuff and the long wheel nuts.

If I have to dig in the spare wheel for half a day of work, so be it, if that is the way to get out of a remote desert place then it is fine. But an exhaust jack is probably more useful then.

But airing down the tires is actually the first step, together with a relatively decent compressor so you can pump them up again.

I would advise anyone on a vehicle based trip to familiarise themselves with the flip flop winch as a very handy thing to be able to master, I used one on a course recently and was very impressed, you do need a couple of trees to make it work!!