3rd Gen Recovery Gear Thread

My current recovery gear set:

Viair 88p portable air compressor

$77 VIAIR 88P - 00088 Tire Inflator Portable Onroad/Offroad Air Compressor for Car, Truck, SUV & RV | 12V On/Off Road Tire Pump Air Compressor Portable Heavy Duty 120 PSI, Alligator Clips, Twist Chuck

http://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-88P-Portable-Compressor/dp/B005ASY23I

EZ Tire Deflator, Captured valve stem. A copy of the ARB deflator, similar quailty

#1 4X4 EZ tire Deflator for Large Offroad Tires

http://www.amazon.com/tire-Deflator...168522&sr=1-3-fkmr0&keywords=ex+tire+deflator

Tooluxe Tire Repair Kit. This is a cheap version of the ARB kit, it's the only cheap one with the Sheath on the plug tool, different handles but same function.

$17 Tooluxe 50002L -35 Piece Tire Repair Universal Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit with Plugs, Fix A Flat Tire Repair Kit, Ideal for Tires on Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Tire Plug Kit (Pack of 1)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I52RG0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Smitty Built Receiver Bow Shackle Point

$38 Smittybilt 29312B Receiver Hitch D-Ring with 3/4" Shackle for 2" Receivers , Black

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CF1A7O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

$3 CURT 21510 Trailer Hitch Pin & Clip with Vinyl-Coated Grip, 5/8" Diameter, Fits 2" Receiver, CLEAR ZINC

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C6OBBC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

10k working load 4 inch recovery strap. This is from Home Depot. Best deal out there
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Raider-4-in-x-30-ft-Deluxe-Recovery-Tow-Strap-TOW-113/203655908


I also have these mud flaps, if you are interested in mud flaps. They are a great fit if you can install them on your own.

$34 PLASTICOLOR 000543R01 Black Off Road Scene Easy Fit Mud Guard 11" - Set of 2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002NIJS0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01

 

bump?

 

sub'd

 

I only see one recovery point on the front of my truck. And I don't see any points in the rear either other than using the hitch like you have.

 

I believe you are correct in your assessment. There are no recovery points in rear and best bet is a hitch shackle like you have.

On my TRD off-road there is one recovery point in the front, the hook on the passenger side. The loop on the driver side is not sufficient for the loads needed during recovery I think. Not sure if this is the same setup on other models, which may not have the passenger side hook.

For me personally, the hook was not good enough and I replaced it with a mount point for a shackle on the front (bp fab makes these).



Recovery straps are great, make sure to bring extra shackles! (Can never have too many shackles )

 

I'll add that while recovery straps are great, when you're alone and winchless, the greatest friends you can have are a shovel and some traction assistance like maxtrax (my preference).

 

@friendlywithbears

I'm interested in how you setup the front shackle. Do you have any closeups or pics of the parts you used?

Also, how much do you torque down the shackle bolt?

 

I had a Tundra in today that sheered the recovery bolt. The front hooks are meant to be used in tandem. It's why many true offroaders switch to a reinforced bumper with proper eyelets.

 

How about shackles on both hook points?

 

Really one shackle wont normally break, but they were engineered to be used at the same time. They sell straps that distribute the load.

I just don't like the idea of a hook acting as a missile. Only one of the 2 bolts were sheered on this Tundra, so they arent weak, but they aren't bullet proof.

 

I'm new to this recovery thing.. I already purchased shackle for the hitch and a 30' strap.. Can you advise on a recovery strap for use in tandem with the front hooks?

 

^It's not necessary, but I'm just sharing how its designed. They are mainly designed for tow recovery with even force distribution.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/6-Long-G70-W...arrier-Hauler-Tow-Truck-Wrecker-/191080520844


Tow truck drivers use the v bridles to safely move vehicles without doing damage to them.

It's a lot to ask two small bolts to take on thousands of pounds of force abruptly during an offroad recovery. Again, why lots of people buy a front bumper with proper recovery points.

I always prefer recovering from a hitch on a stock vehicle personally. The dshackle receiver is all most people need.

 

Don't torque down shackle bolts, ever. Finger tight and back a quarter. When you are done with recovery all of the stress you put on the shackle can weld it shut if you've got a bunch of torque on it. In fact don't leave shackles on your truck. If they get frozen/welded shut they are useless in recovery, unless your snatch strap has hooks, in which case it's not a snatch strap but a tow strap and a threat to the safety of everyone around when in use. Not as cool looking to keep shackles stowed away but at least they are guaranteed to work when you need them to.

 

Don't. A bridle connects to two points, a strap connects to one. Never connect to a strap anywhere other than the loops at either end.

 

Generally do NOT do this for an off-road recovery using a recovery/snatch strap.

It's only a reasonable idea to use a bridle and use both front/rear recovery points when it is possible to do a pull directly in line with the motion of the recovered vehicle ie a straight pull. And usually with a winch, not a recovery strap. If the pull gets off center by just a few degrees, then one side of the bridle is going to be taut and the other will develop slack. One side of the bridle will take the entire load, defeating the purpose of the bridle. The image I think is technically a sling, since the whole thing is one wire. but the attachment point can't move under load, so I just call it a bridle.

If a bridle has to be used for some reason then ensure that the length of each leg is at least double the distance between the attachment points. The shorter it is then the more load each line has to carry due to angles and geometry. Use a strong chain or a wire cable, not any kind of fiber strap. Chains and cables are tough and can take the abuse of a load like that. If a strap of some kind is going to be used, make sure its designed to take a goofy assed load on the center that may end up sliding around. But don't use a bridle unless absolutely necessary because if used improperly it adds more failure points to the system.

It is a bad idea to use recovery straps and do a dynamic/snatch recovery with a bridle mainly because the pull angle is hard to control. If the angle can't be maintained then the bridle is pointless. If it is your vehicle that is stuck, then you have to count on some bozo in a pickup truck to maintain a constant pull angle. They may be competent or they may have had a few or not understand English very well. Snatch recoveries in off road situations are not likely to be straight pulls and the terrain may make things complicated to maintain a pull angle regardless of driver skill. With a single point attachment small changes in pull angle don't matter.

It's possible to use a steel tow cable instead of the chain in the image, and put a block on the steel cable. In a floating block setup the attachment point is able to move as the pull angle changes. That will allow the rigging to distribute the load even if the pull angle changes. But that's making things extra heavy and complicated and adding another missile to the system for no real advantage.

For a snatch recovery it doesn't matter much which recovery point is used, if there is more than one option. On a plate bumper both recovery points are so close to the centerline of the vehicle that in most situations where a snatch recovery is safe it won't make any difference which point is used.

 

An off-road recovery bridle works fine and will distribute a somewhat off center pull just fine since the center floats through the looped end of the snatch strap. Of course I have my doubts that anyone here is purchasing actual off-road recovery gear so the point is probably moot.

 

I use this for mounting a shackle when needed: http://bpfabricating.com/products/tacoma-recovery-tow-hook

It replaces the existing hook on the off-road and uses 3 bolts to connect rather than 2. As others have said a front bumper with real recovery points or a front hitch receiver is much better but this is the best I found for an interim solution.

 

Those of us with a limited only have one point on the front if I recall correctly. I don't look down there everyday but when I was cleaning the truck a few weekends ago I recall only seeing one point to the side. Is this still sufficient to use for light duty oh shit moments? New to the whole towing/recovery thing since I've mainly driven performance cars in the past.

 

We're in the process of making our recovery bars for the third gens as well. Here is the link showing them on the second gens: http://mobtownoffroad.com/product/front-recovery-bar/ It is a nice option because it is somewhat hidden, sleek, doesn't effect approach angle and keeps you from reaching up under the truck to hook a strap to.

 

That is sexy. I really like to have a front receiver so sign me up