Advice/Recommendations requested for tow straps and recovery points

Pardon the basic question, but I’m still a newb to off-roading...

A recent solo trip brought me to a harsh realization for preparedness in case I needed to help someone or needed the equipment for someone to help me.

I’m looking for recommendations on a combination of equipment for tow straps, hardware for front/rear recovery points, ect. I’m trying to stay on a budget while I’m acquiring the basics. I’ve read several other threads, but I’m having difficulty putting the overall picture together of knowing what works best with what. I understand the individual components, but it’s the correct or preferred combination that keeps throwing me off.

I have a 2018 Sport 4x4, all stock.

Links to recommend equipment or replacement parts would be greatly appreciated. I already know that using metal hooks on a tow strap is really bad idea.

Thanks in advance.

 

Two things... recovery strap (not a tow strap) and some max trax. A good idea is to add a third thing... an air compressor so you can air down and back up. You will quickly learn what else you need if you continue to go off road.

 

If you have a tow hitch you can use that and a hitch pin as a great recovery point. A few companies make a front recovery point that bolts in where the factory tie down loops are. The TRD Off Road models come with one recovery hook up front. If you don’t have a tow hitch worse case you can loop it around your axle. But having solid recovery points is a good idea. Unless you want to end up a meme where someone rips your bumper off . . .

 

Thanks. I have an air deflater and compressor for the tires.

 

Thanks. I’ll get under my rig to see what I have and see if I need a better hook and pick something up for my rear.

 

Just put a shackle in the hitch receiver

 

Not sure how heavy duty or good idea this is, but it is marketed as a recovery point for the front (if you dont have an aftermarket bumper...
https://www.bpfabricating.com/products/tacoma-recovery-tow-hook
Is a bit spendy for what it is, so i chose to just get a small bumper with spots to attach DRings.

Also, just saw this, but is even spendier...
http://store.arbusa.com/2005-On-Toyota-Tacoma-Recovery-Point-2823010-P22953.aspx

 

Or just use the loop on tow strap through the hitch pin . . .

 

Buy a shackle rated for recovery, expect to pay $15 - $25. Avoid a $6.00 shackle from your local hardware store.

 

Yeah for a few bills more you can get a lo-pro. I was looking into the ARB as an in-between but for the price I may as well just hold out for the bumper.

 

All,
Sorry for the long delay, but thanks for the advice and education. I've made my decision after a lot more reading and feel for the type of wheeling I'll be doing and where I'll be doing it.

At least one Maxtrax is on the long term agenda ( low on the list ) if a reasonably priced one shows up on TW or Craigslist. I'll need to figure out how to mount it under my tonneau cover behind the cab though. Thanks for the tip. I remember while growing up in Northern IL we would always get 2 or 3 bags of chicken grit for the winter, store it in the trunk to give the rear some more weight to work with, and if needed, rip open a bag to get some traction on ice or uncooperative snow.

Yeah, no axle wrapping for me thanks since I don't want to be "that guy." I'll eventually get a tow hitch/receiver combo per your recommendation and keep it locked in the storage cubbies in the bed.

Thanks for the suggestions, but those are beyond my budget for this project. Although my wife wouldn't argue with me getting them, I just can't justify it knowing our budget and the likelihood that I'll actually need it.

Thanks for keeping it simple and I believe, for my situation, this is the magic answer. After all of my research and reasoning, I kept coming back to this.

 

I prefer soft shackles vs the metal ones. Less dangerous and overall better in my opinion. I like the ones from bubba rope, goes well with the kinetic recovery rope. Not cheap, but good stuff never is.