Personal safety is a top priority when considering recovery of your Jeep or recovering another.
Never attempt to recover a vehicle without all the necessary equipment.
Only use equipment that is properly rated and in serviceable condition. If in doubt, don’t use it.
Ensure that only the people required for the recovery are present. All spectators should be kept at a safe distance.
Ensure that there are good communications maintained between participants and bystanders at all times. This is best achieved by use of a radio.
Synthetic recovery straps require rest periods between use to return to their original length and capacity. Be aware that excessive pulls on a recovery strap over a short period of time can cause a build-up of heat and possible failure.
Recovery Points
It’s important to ensure that only correctly mounted and rated recovery points are used for vehicle recovery. Check your 4×4 manufacturer’s hand book for recovery point locations. Tie-down points are not suitable for vehicle recovery.
Soft and Hard Shackles
Only use shackles that are load rated should be used for recovery your Jeep. Load ratings are visible on the shackle. Shackles with a rating of at least 3.25 tons should be the minimum and are suitable for attaching one end of a strap.
BEWARE Never over tighten the Hard Shackle shackle pin. Forces exerted on the shackle by vehicle recovery can cause the pin to seize. The correct method is to tighten the pin until it seats, then back off the pin by approximately ½ to 1 full turn.
Snatch Strap (Kinetic Rope)
Snatch Straps, as the name suggests, are used to “snatch” a vehicle that can no longer maintain forward momentum under its own power (bogged or unable to climb due to loss of traction, swamped in a water crossing, stuck on an obstacle [crest of a dune], or loss of power)
A snatch strap is an elastic recovery device that stores kinetic energy and has the ability to stretch to a significant degree and return to its original length. This elasticity combined with the momentum of the recovery vehicle creates a “snatching” effect that can extract a vehicle from the most precarious positions without shock loading the vehicle or attachment points.
It is important that a correctly rated snatch strap is used. If a strap with a high rating is used on a light vehicle the desired stretch may not be achieved and more stress will be placed on the recovery points.
The method for using a snatch strap is quite simple; however improper use can cause serious damage or injury.
The recovery vehicle should be placed within reach of the snatch strap and if possible directly in line with the direction of pull. If this is not possible due to insufficient length, two straps may be joined using the correct method. Never join snatch straps with a bow shackle, as this may become a lethal missile in the event of a strap breakage.
The strap should be unrolled and connected to a secure recovery point on each vehicle ensuring that the strap is not twisted or knotted. Approximately 2-3 meters of slack strap should be left between the vehicles.
A recovery damper should be placed approx. Midway between the vehicles.
Clear all spectators from the recovery area to a minimum safe distance.
With communication maintained between both vehicles, the recovery vehicle should gently accelerate to take up the slack and proceed on, allowing the kinetic energy of the strap to pull out the stranded vehicle. For best results the stranded vehicle can assist by trying to drive at the same time. If the vehicle is not recovered on the first attempt, a little more speed by the recovery vehicle may be needed.
Once free, the recovered vehicle should take care not to run over the snatch strap as damage to the car and/or to the snatch strap may occur.
Only once both vehicles are stationary and secured should the snatch strap be removed.
Maintenance
Never exceed the breaking strength of a strap or shackle.
Ensure attachments such as hooks, shackles, chains, cables and clevis pins have a breaking strength equal or higher than the strap.
Avoid twisted and kinks in the webbing, Always coil your strap during storage (can be done after the trip during inflation).
Never allow your strap to rub against sharp or hot surfaces.
Inspect the entire length of any strap for nicks and cuts before and after use. If damaged, the strap may fail and should be replaced!
Inspect bow shackles for damage. Pins that are hard to turn suggest that the shackle has been overstressed and should be replaced.
