Recovery gear recommendations

I’ll be wheeling on the beach this summer and next winter, also considering a couple of off-road camping trips on mild terrain. Will not be rock climbing.

What would you all recommend as a standard recovery gear package? I have the standard tow hook on front. Need a recovery point in the back. Hook that inserts in the receiver? Also need a strap and perhaps traction boards. Would consider making the boards. Don’t want to spend a ton of money as I won’t off road a ton. But I’m willing to pay for quality. What products do you recommend? Not looking to install a winch or high lift jack.

 

Harbor freight sells a 9 dollar shackle hitch receiver that has treated me well.

Arb snatch straps are good quality and are actual snatch straps. There are plenty of 20 dollar "recovery" straps out there but they are jarring instead of a smooth rebound pulling motion. Spend the 60-80 on a good strap.

If you're going to the beach you need to air down, no matter what, so a 99 cent tire gauge to deflate and check your psi before you hit the sand, and a viair compressor that hooks straight to your battery to reinflate your tires (cigarette lighter ones take forever due to low amperage, battery connector ones are a bit quicker) so you're not stuck driving around looking for a gas station that has a working tire air pump.

Don't really need traction boards imo. Bring a nice long handle shovel (also available at harbor freight) that can reach underneath your vehicle in case you get high centered.

Make sure fluids are good, driving in sand can cause things to overheat. And that your tires have something like 8/32nd tread at least

Edit:
Viair 00088 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

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ASY23I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3770CbY47JEHF

ARB ARB705LB Orange 30' x 2 3/8" Snatch Strap Recovery

$63 ARB 4x4 Accessories ARB705LB Recovery Snatch Strap Orange 30' x 2 3/8", Load capacity 17600 lb, NATA approved, 20% Stretch

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H5M6BM6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.870Cb3HB676H

 

Got the tire gauge, and have a small compressor and extension cord I can run from the bed outlet.

Too bad ARB’s recovery kits have extra stuff I don’t want like a snatch block. Appreciate the advice on the strap and shackle. I still think I ought to have recovery boards for non-sand, probably just wood boards with friction tape.

Great advice on the shovel, I was forgetting that.

 

Just posted a few links, the arb strap is available solo so no need to pay for things you don't need.

And you're right, traction boards is better than none. I have the bootleg maxtracs called X Bull and although they have been fine for me, a few friends have had bunk ones so I am hesitant to recommend them. Cheap traction boards seem like a gamble on what you get. There are tutorials out there on making some home made ones like you said.

 

Awesome thanks!

 

Get a 3/4 inch 12x12 piece of ply wood. It’s a base for your jack on the sand.

 

That’s a good idea, thanks. To jack up and put traction boards under the tires
If needed?

 

I was hoping there was a shackle/strap combo in a bag, but I’ll keep looking.

 

2 pieces of 12"x36" plywood boards can be simply placed in front of dug in rear tires and you drive right out - that shovel will help. You have a rear locker so be careful when you engage 4 lo and lock that up as you can dig in deep fast.

 

I once had a neighbor’s friend get stuck in the neighbor’s yard with his 2WD truck trying to pull an empty boat trailer out of the backyard. Yard was just too wet. He got dug in pretty well before I saw what was happening and came to help. I had some plywood planks and tried to use them but it just wasn’t helpful. Jacked up the read end on a wood base and hammered the wood as far under the tires as I could. Tires couldn’t get a grip on the smooth plywood. That’s why I figure I need to put some traction material on the plywood, just from that one experience.

 

are these any good or another recommendation? https://www.quadratec.com/products/92144_1101.htm