A Basic Vehicle Recovery Kit You Can Rely On

Vol. 15

My friend Paolo asked for recs on a basic recovery kit for his Sprinter van. Figured I’d share that with everyone. 

Vehicle recovery is the act of getting something stuck, unstuck. As such, it can involve pulling with another vehicle, using your winch (Paolo is appropriately equipped with a Warn VR Evo 12 S mounted in a front winch bumper), or using devices like Maxtrax or a jack to help add traction or clear an obstacle. Often, recovery feels like solving a complex puzzle, which is why it’s a good idea to go equipped with the ability to try any of the above. 

I should note that Paolo’s van has a 9,000 pound gross vehicle weight rating. That’s the maximum combined weight of his van, and anything and anyone he may carry in or on it. You need to size your recovery gear to your GVWR, but that’s a little different for different items, as I’ll note below. 

Shackles: Crosby 3/4 Inch

You’re going to own your shackles forever, so you might as well get the nicest ones. These are made in America, and enjoy a wide reputation for quality. While WLL for these is only 4 3/4 tons  (9,500 lbs), maximum breaking strength has been shown to exceed something like 70,000 lbs in independent tests. The indestructible nature of these is why I prefer steel shackles to soft items, which can easily be abraded or cut, and sized for a normal SUV, truck, or van, have an MBS of only around 30,000 lbs. Buy three or four. 

Kinetic Recovery (or Snatch) Strap: ARB 33,000lbs

This is where sizing to GVWR gets a little tricky. Kinetic recovery straps are designed to stretch, helping to tug a vehicle out of a sticky obstacle. But getting the right amount of stretch is key to them working, and that’s pegged to vehicle weight. Another big, heavy vehicle tugging on Paolo’s hefty van will need the resistance and strength provided by this strap, which has an MBS of 33,000lbs. If Paolo tries to pull out a tiny Jeep Wrangler, this strap may not provide the desired stretch. Still, this is the appropriate item for his needs. If you drive something smaller, get the 24,000lbs strap. ARB by no means makes the fanciest recovery gear out there, but it’s well priced, and this is a brand I’m happy entrusting my life to. 

Tree Strap: ARB Tree Saver

You use these to wrap a tree and attach a shackle as a pulling point, and because they’re short and don’t stretch, you can also use them to create a bridle between two recovery points on your vehicle, spreading the load of a kinetic recovery between your frame rails. Get the 10 foot length. 

Winch Pulley: ARB Snatch Block

Combined with that tree strap and a couple of those shackles, you can use these to double the force of your winch pull, or to change its angle (like if you need to pull something at 90 degrees to your vehicle). The more line you get off your drum, the more power your winch has, so in addition to doubling the force, these really give that device some extra oomph. With a heavy van, Paolo should really try to be as kind to his winch as possible, and I see no reason why anyone should carry anything but the 20,000 lbs item. This style pulley is designed to connect to a D shackle and securely captures the winch rope. It’s so, so much easier to use than one of those little soft shackle donuts, which will drop the rope any time the system loses tension. 

Jack Base: Generic Hi Lift Base

I don’t recommend carrying a Hi Lift, but generic bases designed for them are cheap, strong, and fit most bottle jacks. The idea here is that if you’re not on pavement, this thing creates a firm, stable surface, and also a little extra height. 

Jack: An Appropriate Bottle Jack

The OE Long Travel 200 Series comes equipped with a quality bottle jack from the factory, so that’s what we carry in that vehicle. The Ranger? Not so much, so I’m currently shopping for one. (Any recommendations?). Paolo, and anyone else, should take the time to add a bottle jack sized appropriately to their GVWR. Not only will it lift more points on a vehicle more easily, but you can use these as a recovery tool should you get hung up on an obstacle like a rock or log. Just lift the wheel that’s stuck, then drive off the jack in 4WD, allowing it to tip over. On a long, low vehicle like that van, the ability to do that is especially important. 

Maxtrax: Maxtrax

Avoid knockoffs, they’re made from cheaper materials than the proprietary nylon blend used in Maxtrax, so will crack, melt, and fall apart the first time you use them. Maxtrax remain the original and highest performing recovery board. The idea here is that you just shove these under your driven wheels if you’re stuck in snow, mud, or sand, and drive out. They really work. 

Air Compressor: Viair 450P

I use either a Power Tank, or a dual-piston ARB compressor. Both options are expensive. Most people are probably better off with the $372 Viair. The advantage of spending more is speed. 

Tire Repair Kit: Boulder Tools

This just has a more generous tool selection than other, similar kits, and costs less.

Tire Deflator: Indeflate Two Hose

Way more convenient than pulling your valve stems every time you want to air down, plus you can use it to speed inflation. Connect one hose to each tire on an axle, and you can also balance your pressures easily. Anyone with big off-road tires will understand how important matching pressures precisely is to good on-road handling. 

Hitch Receiver Shackle Mount: A Cheap One

I carry one of these not to use on my own vehicles (which all have real recovery points front and rear), but just in case I need to help someone whose vehicle isn’t fitted with such (like the new Tundra). Sure, you can just stick a receiver pin in the receiver, through the strap, but this solution is a little easier.

I think that’s about it. Don’t leave home without any of this stuff. Did I forget anything?