By Marc on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 08:01 am: Edit

I am looking to put together a basic recovery kit. I am just getting into off-roading. I have a 95 Discovery. I have just installed a OME MD suspension. I want to be able to go out and do some light off-roading and be able to get out of whatever trouble I may get into, however, please bear in mind that I won't be doing any of the heavy stuff a lot of you guys do (at least not yet - give me some time to get warmed up).

Ok - so far I have purchased a 4-ton come-along to use for winching (I will probably buy a winch, but not untill I can make an educated purchase).

My questions/concerns are:

1. Should I get a hi-lift? I have heard varying opinions - can I even use it without jack points? Also, I have the come-along for winching.

2. What chains/cables do I need? Can I just go buy chain and cable at my local hardware store. I want to be sure it is strong (read safe) so - what grade or rating? I assume a the right way to use the come-along would be:
VEHICLE --- CHAIN --- COME-ALONG --- CABLE --- ANCHOR

3. I am going to get a tree strap for those of you that are eco-minded. It seems like the right thing to do.

4. Does a snatch-block make that big a difference? Not really sure how it works. Will it take stress of my come-along?

5. What recovery points do I need to install on my Discovery. I think the receiver-shackle looks good - any opinions? What else?

Any hints at how to put this together myself would be appreciated. The pre-packaged kits seem overpriced, and I can get my own gloves and duffel. Also, if you could indicate what the major components might be generally used for, that would be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

-Marc

By Kyle Van Tassel (Kyle) on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 08:21 am: Edit

Get a high lift , that come along is just going to piss you off one day and might put a dent in your truck when you go to throw it. You can just get a hitch pin for the rear and slide that through your strap. As for the front , there are many options out there includingsome right from land Rover , all pretty much do the same with the exception of the ones that also give a jack point.

Kyle

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 02:01 pm: Edit

Is that really a 4 ton comealong? That's 9000 pounds! What type is it? How much does it weigh?

Dean

By nadim on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 02:24 pm: Edit

ALL you REALLY need is this:

1. HI-LIFT
2. Shakles of different sizes
3. Couple of towing ropes
4. Tree saviour
5. Self locking chain
6. Axe
7. Shovel with strong handle
8. Leather gloves
9. Collabsable saw

That is the bare basic. Make sure your Disco has both front and rear recovery points...not those puny factory eyes (used for shipping)

You can later add:

10. Jack-Mate
11. extra cable wire rope (25 feet)

Ultimately, you need a winch. The previously stated items are necessary with or without a winch.

I carry, in addition to the items mentioned before:

12. FULL tool set
13. Vital Spares
14. Extra clothes/food/water
15. Engine, t-box, g-box, diff oils

and other few items...

IMPORTANT LIST is:

Ducktape!
Leatherman!
Hi-Lift!
Shovel!
Tow rope!

with these 5 you can build a city!

enjoy

By nadim on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 02:28 pm: Edit

(forgot the snatchblock somewhere in that message)

By Marc on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 03:58 pm: Edit

Ummm, isn't 4 tons equal to 8000 pounds?

Anyway - not trying to be a wisacre- just comes natural - here is the link for the come-along:

http://www.cabelas.com/texis/scripts/store/+/CatalogDisplay/displayPOD/CabFALL1998/CabFALL1998AhAMAA/XA763R

only $35.00 - haven't used it yet, but it seems pretty solid.

By Dean Brown (Deanbrown3d) on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 06:39 pm: Edit

Marc,
You might think about a different come-along or a proper winch. I tried out the 4000lb comealong from Home Depot, with its 3/16 cable (shudder) (doubled). I winched the disco up onto 4 ramps. It was a terrifying experience, because you have to stand right next to the winch and right between the anchor point - if anything gives, you're in the way.

I don't have an electric, but I have the Black Rat 3.5K lb hand winch with its 1/2 inch cable and 4 foot long handle and overload protection. With this doubled or tripled you can pull out as much as you want as far as you want - not the 6 feet you can get with yours. Definitely worth its price, especially if you can get a used one.

Dean

By Marc on Friday, July 27, 2001 - 07:19 pm: Edit

Dean - this one is a bit sturdier then the ones they sell at HD - I checked them too. I will give it a shot, but I was thinking about getting a pipe to extend the handle

By Alastair Australia on Sunday, July 29, 2001 - 07:17 pm: Edit

Marc

Here's what I carry for Australian travel:

* Snatch strap
* Winch extension strap (non flexy) - good for extending a snatch strap for recovery situations that require the vehicles to be a long way apart.
* Engine oil, power steering fluid and clutch/brake fluid
* An assortment of rated d-shackles
* Tools, gaffa tape
* Air compressor and tyre gauge
* Shovel (sometimes 2 - I make the passenger dig too!) - generally used for road building (ie. filling in ruts etc.)
* Tree trunk protectors are good ideas. Get one.
* Metal sand/mud ladders (3 interlocking metal plates that fit under the tyres to give extra grip). All up, they're around 2 foot long.
* Jumper cables.
* First aid kit.
* Spare water for me & car.
* Mobile phone & UHF radio.
* Bow saw or axe
* Leather gloves (for handling someone else's winch rope)

I don't bother with a high lift jack. There isn't really anywhere to use it on my 97 Discovery. I can jack the rear up, but I run the risk of it falling, and I don't have a bar on the front, so I *will* dent the front of the car if i tried to use it.
They're also quite dangerous if they fall and hit you.

Hand winches are ok, but are heavy and hard work. I prefer to go driving with another car or two instead. Or to get an electic winch. Stacks easier and faster.

I recovery the car off the rear pin tow hitch and from the front recovery point (factory point) at front left hand side of the vehicle (funny tongue thing poking out the plastic spoiler). Dont' use the little hoop things further back - they're shipping tie points.

I had my front recovery point strengthened (another loop of metal welded to it, plus 3/4" brackets instead of original 1/2" ones. Cost $20AUD to do and it's really strong.

By Ron on Monday, July 30, 2001 - 10:56 am: Edit

Lowes and HD sell 30ft of 3/8 or 5/16th grade 5 choker chain. I have been happy with mine. albeit it has not yet left the bag. Maybe next years MAR when the "special team" trys to finish somewhere far below Mike Boggs and son again. (We do pretty good at the tire change but have yet to finish a hand winch with the hi lift yet). Then again maybe I should be smart and just watch.

Ron

2 3/4in D shackles (4 if you can afford them)
30ft of chain
6ft of chain
Tree strap
30ft tow strap (preferrably two)
(note all of the above may need to be hooked together)
Hi lift (throw out the come along or use it for bending stuff back into place)
Jate ring (preferrable 2) for front recovery
Warn reciever shackle for the rear.