Gang,
Lots of discussion has been going on in several of my local offroad clubs about recovery items, specifically when dealing with equipment and safety.

The debate usually starts off with tow devices a.k.a. straps or chains or cables.  These multipurpose devices are used by offroaders in hundreds of unimaginable ways.  To strap onto other vehicles to tow your ride back home, to hook into another vehicle to yank you out of the mud, to attach to a Hi-Lift jack and become part of the trail-made ‘come-along’ and hundreds more ways to numerous to list here.

They also come in many different sizes, lengths, strengths and have different attachment devices on the ends, loops, hooks, and knots.

The general consensus from several of our clubs ‘safety officers’ is that nylon straps with loops are preferred.  (no flying metal hooks to gouge anybody with).

I agree with that straps with loops are probably the safest, but I often wonder why people don’t bring along heavy tow chains or cables in their assortment of recovery devices.  There are plenty of times when I’m out on a trail ride and get suck with a strap that has too much stretch to it and a chain would be preferred.

I usually carry both a hooked chain and a hooked tow strap to cover these situations along with all of the other usual trail stuff, but our clubs have become more anal about each vehicle carrying recover devices of their own and they insist on the looped nylon straps.

This isn’t much of a problem for me, but I wanted to get other peoples opinions on the topic.

What do you carry on the trail with regards to tow straps, chains, cables?

~Nate

A 2 ton cumalong With a25ft cable and 30 ft strap!And as for the club gettin there panties in a bunch they should be thankful for the versatility of their Club members!And it falls back on the age old saying better safe then sorry or you never know what you need!

Our club requires that you have tow points on both the front and rear of the vehicle (either hooks or welded loops attached to the frame) We will not allow someone on a trail ride that does not have them. Besides that we dont care. I personally only use tow straps with loops and attach them with screw in clevices. If that does not do the trick, I use the winch.

I dont think that everyone on the trail should load down with recovery equipment. Our club has designated items that each person brings for everyones use. On an average ride we will have 1- tool truck 2- food truck 3- drink truck 4-recovery truck. 5-video (or photo truck) 6- spotter truck.

This way everyone can leave the majority of stuff at camp but know they will have what they need.

We also stagger winched and nonwinch vehicles, along with staggering experienced drivers just in front of nonexperienced drivers with comparable vehicles so they can watch and learn how to pick lines instead of having the spotter "tell" them what to do at each obsticle.

Zig

Zig

Hey zukipilot, your club sounds like it almost makes too much sense, the question is do ya all have fun   it would be nice if the guys around here were that organized  

Actually it just kind of ended up like that. I've been camping and wheeling with some of these guys for 6-8 years. You just kind of get use to what the others bring. Scott always tools and food and I always had recovery and drinks.
A suzuki can usually make it home if you can get out, and I can go a long time without eating and it doesent bother me.
Scott drives a Jeep and can fix just about anything quick and his wife is a diabetic so they must have food at all times (just incase)
I got use to buming food and tools and he bumed drinks and recovery items.
It just kind of progressed into other vehicles doing the same. Scott and I still bring the same staples but others have cought on to the fact that we bring enough for everyone so they bring something else.

I thought we were bad, until I saw a club that has one guy that brings nothing but icecream to every ride. He packs the entire rear of his ride with coolers packed with dry ice and gives out icecream all weekend. To everybody, not just his club
Zig
P.S. Yea we still have fun Thats why were in a sport that cost more than the average cost of living.

My trail gear includes

1 case of mountain dew
2 20 foot 2 inch pro comp strap
3 tools to do light maintenence
4 3 fire extinguishers ( ive been on fire quite a few times)
5 pringles chips (so they dont get dirty or smashed)
6 Package of donuts ( to throw at eric when he's not looking... or when he is, who cares!)
7 140 feet of synthetic winch rope 6000 warn
8 hook front and rear
9 jacket
10 one inner and outer tierod assembly
11 full size matching spare. I got burned a couple times with blowing a tire early into a weekend and having to call it quits. After driving and getting the weekend off and cost of camping ect, I cant afford to be shut down over something so trivial.

I dont carry hardly any spare parts in the tracker. I may bring a couple other things but I leave them at camp.

Mike

My trail gear includes

1 case of mountain dew
6 Package of donuts ( to throw at eric when he's not looking... or when he is, who cares!)

Mike

This is for like, a half day.... right? Yous guys need way more than one case for a full day of wheeling... Don't forget your welder so you can help me out by fixing my junk back at camp... Thanks buddy...

-Eric

My trail gear includes

1 case of mountain dew


Mike

NO WONDER HE'S REDLINE ALL THE TIME   SUGAR RUSH   OH YEA BABY    

when i go wheelin i take,
1 full size spare
HI LIFT jack
4-way lug wrench
camara(haven't EVER rembered it yet but i will somday)
at least 1 fire extinguisher
first aid kit
1 30X4 snach strap
1 20X2 snach strap
3 to 6 Clevises
2 tool boxes full of tools
food and drinks(no mounttain dew, goes flat too quick)
and NO spare parts because if you think your going to break somthing, you will.   lata Stu

NO spare parts because if you think your going to break somthing, you will.   lata Stu

 NOW THATS AN OPTIMIST IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE.......I LIKE YOUR WAY OF THINKING    MATTY D.

1 30X4 snach strap

Do you think your driving a monster truck?!


2 tool boxes full of tools... and NO spare parts because if you think your going to break somthing, you will.


Now this you are going to have to explain!

Mike

Naw, he brings the 4" strap to pull out the
monster trucks

So is anybody carrying around tow chains?  
You know, those big heavy pull trees out of the ground type chains?

~Nate

I admit, I do. They're left over from my days as a towtruck driver of 7yrs. I've gotten lots of recovery practice.
Plus
6ft treestrap
2 12ft recovery chains w/hooks
 S  hooks (when there is no tow hooks)
 6inch chain w/hooks
 
 Prepare for the worse
 Hope for the best.

Chains actually weaker than nylon and your applying a shock load so I don't see it replacing straps.
I've winched up a hill using chain and hilift so it does have it's uses, we were in a very isolated place and it might have been weeks till someelse came along.

charlie