WARN USA – When it comes to vehicle recovery, you need to have the right tools for the job. Rarely will only one tool get the job done, either. And while there are lots of recovery products out there, we’ve put together a list of essentials you should always have with you when you hit the trails, no matter where you are in the world or what terrain you’re in.
ZEON XD 12-S is matched with a Fab Fours bumper that’s rated to handle the stresses generated in a hard recovery pull.
Winch
A winch is the ultimate recovery tool. Although, at its core, it’s a simple spool and rope, it’s effectiveness is unmatched when it comes to getting a vehicle unstuck— so long as you select the right winch for your application. Often mounted on the front of a truck, SUV, ATV, or UTV, a properly specified winch will be able to pull your vehicle out of a stuck situation, no matter if it’s mired in mud, sand, snow, rocks, or anything else.
While most vehicle recovery winches are electric and wire into the vehicle’s electrical system, there can be hydraulic winches, but they’re more complicated, and often reserved for industrial use.
The bottom line is this: Make sure you select the right winch for your vehicle and confirm it’s mounted to a proper mounting system, and you’ll be ready to GO PREPARED for any stuck scenario.
Shackles
Shackles are a must-have tool for vehicle recovery. They help connect various rigging equipment in both winching and non-winching recoveries. The two most common types of shackles used are screw-pin bow shackles (often made from forged steel) and soft shackles, which are made from the same material as synthetic rope.
WARN and Factor 55 offer both steel and synthetic shackle options. Factor 55 rigging is clearly labeled with important working load limit information.
All shackles allow you to connect the looped ends of straps, ropes, or hooks for maximum recovery potential. Metal shackles, such as our Epic Shackles can be fairly heavy but are extremely abrasion resistant. Soft shackles are lightweight and easy to handle but are more prone to damage from abrasion.
Most vehicle recoveries will require at least one shackle of some kind. Always be sure to buy high-quality hard or soft shackles, as they’re going to be under serious loads. Ensure a shackle’s capacity is in line with the loads you’ll pull, too. Most quality companies, such as Warn and Factor 55, include capacity information directly on the product. Never exceed these capacities. We recommend having at least two shackles with you when you hit the trails.
Tree Trunk Protector
If you’re needing to winch to a tree trunk, boulder, or another anchor point, a tree trunk protector is a must. Using a tree strap—specifically on a tree—helps to disperse the winch’s load on the trunk. If you use a winch line directly to the trunk, it can constrict the tree’s bark, cutting off its water supply, and ultimately kill the tree. Off-roaders killing trees = closed trails, so always use one. Additionally, using a tree strap with any anchor eliminates the need to double a winch line back onto itself using the hook. Hooking a winch line to itself can cause damage to the rope, reducing its service life. Always remember to use a suitable anchor point. This includes large, non-rotten trees. Safety first.
Both WARN and Factor 55 offer premium rigging straps, featuring reinforced end loops with abrasion-resistant wear pads.
Snatch Block
A snatch block or pulley block lets you change a winch line’s direction, or by mechanical advantage, increase pulling capacity. No, it’s not going to turn your 10,000 lb. winch into a 20,000 lb. unit, but it will let you nearly double its capacity by performing a double-line pull. Keep in mind, a double-line pull halves the line speed and uses twice the amount of line, but lets you nearly double the capacity when used properly.
The ability to change direction using a snatch block (which is still a single-line pull) is exceptionally useful on tight trails where you cannot perform a straight line pull. No matter how you use it, you’ll need a tree strap and at least one if not two shackles to properly rig it. And keep in mind, you’ll need to attach it to a proper anchor point capable of holding the force of winching.
Snatch blocks come in different rated capacities and styles and are one of the most versatile recovery tools out there. Everyone should carry at least one.
Pictured above: WARN Epic forged steel snatch blocks, and the newer lightweight Rope Retention Pulley from Factor 55.
Recovery Strap/Kinetic Energy Rope
A recovery strap or kinetic energy rope differs from a tree strap because it has elastic properties and is usually longer. Think about it like a big rubber band. When a vehicle is stuck, a recovery strap is attached to an appropriate recovery point on both vehicles. The non-stuck vehicle moves forward, imparting force on the stuck vehicle, effectively pulling it out of the stuck situation. The elastic properties add kinetic energy helping to free the stuck vehicle.
This non-winching recovery method can be very effective. But you need a strap or rope with the correct ratings for your vehicle. For example, you wouldn’t want to use a strap designed for a lightweight powersports vehicle if you’re recovering a full-size truck. Like all other recovery equipment, make sure it’s rated for the task at hand. But this is another tool you should have in your kit.
Receiver Shackle Bracket
If your vehicle has a trailer hitch, a receiver shackle bracket can slide into it providing a great rear recovery point. Units like the WARN Receiver D-Ring Shackle Bracket are made from forged steel and include a forged WARN shackle, providing a place to attach a winch line or strap. Factor 55 offers its HitchLink, offering the same versatility but in a myriad of colors, and is ready for soft or hard shackles.
Simple, strong, and exceptionally effective, any rig with a trailer hitch should have one of these if you’re venturing to places with the potential of getting stuck.
Pictured above: FACTOR 55 Shackle Bracket combined with a WARN Epic Shackle attached to a kinetic recovery rope. The entire assembly is securely tied into the Class lll receiver hitch mount.
Winch Line Extension
Although a winch is an extremely effective vehicle recovery tool, it only has so much rope. Carrying a winch line extension can help when you don’t have quite enough line to get to what you need to pull (or pull to).
Rope extensions are simply sections of winch rope with two eyelets on either end which can be connected with a shackle or hook. They’re available in a host of diameters and lengths for truck and powersports vehicles (and in synthetic or steel). So, if your winch line comes up short, simply add some line and get unstuck.
