The Four Wheel Drive Recovery Gear That Every Off-Roader Should Have

Traveling through all kinds of terrain with the elements against you is best done in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. However, even the most powerful off-roader isn’t invincible. It takes a lot to stop these mean machines but once that happens, getting them out of a muddy terrain can be quite the hassle if you don’t have the necessary equipment. Of course, you can always improvise but it’s always better to have everything at hand so that you can continue with your adventure through the Australian outback. Here are some of the pieces of recovery gear that will make getting out of a sticky situation easier.

Snatch Strap

This is a piece of elasticated webbing strictly used to pull out a vehicle using another vehicle. The snatch strap usually lays on the ground between the two vehicles as the recovery vehicle is driving at a reasonable speed in order to prevent the strap from snapping. This is a very useful piece of four wheel drive recovery gear, however, be very careful when using it as a broken strap travels very fast and can cause serious injuries.

Winch Extension

This type of four wheel drive recovery gear may look similar to the former but it certainly isn’t the same because it isn’t elastic. A winch extension is used for simple straight pulling and it shouldn’t be used to pull out your mate’s 4×4 from the mud. You shouldn’t use a snatch strap for straight pulling either because it will lose its elasticity.

Tyre Gauge

Since off-roading is done on all kinds of terrain and you are bound to come across different terrains during your ride across the Australian outback, it is important to adjust the pressure of your tyres. Different terrains require different pressure levels and you should adjust it as soon as you come across a different ground. Of course, this needs to be done very accurately, which is why you’ll need a tyre gauge which will make this much easier for you.

Bow Shackles

Bow shackles are best used when connecting a winch or a strap to a recovery point, otherwise, they should be avoided. This is because if something were to break, you’d rather it be the winch extension than a shackle. In this case, you’ll need to use 4.75 rated bow shackles. If you happen to have hooks, I’d suggest you use them instead – using bow shackles should always be your last resort.

Shovel

Yep, a good old shovel can be a good ally in times of need. Make sure it is a big one as the small folding ones aren’t as effective in muddy terrain and will take you much longer to dig. Using a shovel to form a narrow gutter will save you a lot of time later on as the recovery (extraction) will be a lot easier this way.