Recovery Mod Help

Yeah idk, all I know of I’ve watched my dad do it for years on the ranch lol

 

i've heard it before as well.

i suspect it's a difference between a home-gamer and a job. someone at their job has the tools and expectations to loosen it, where a home gamer isn't as likely to be carrying a wrench to loosen it.

 

I've spent a few years working with cranes and shackles and both soft and steel chokers. Myself and other workmen have always tightened the threaded pins. When one gets stuck - it usually has some wounds on the threads, or rust, or its been stressed beyond the WLL either deliberately or incidentally. On the agricultural equipment I've had occasion to use - the shackles more often than not had straight pins with clips or cotters. Not as convenient as the threads - but they always work.

One thing I've seen is kids with "decorative" bow shackles on the front of trucks - and the threaded pins have rusted in place so badly I had to lend them a spud wrench to get'm off. They may not screw back in just hand tight.

 

We call em truck nipple rings around here when ppl run non functional (or barely functional/sketchy af Amazon/alibaba) recovery shackles permanently on the front of their rig

 

so much good info in here, glad to see everyone doing recoveries the safe way. soft shackles all day!

 

Former ironworker.

I always tightened my shackles just snug. A quarter turn is way too loose and not recommended by the manufactures themselves. Doing so to prevent breakage makes no sense. If the pin becomes too tight after a lift or recovery it's nothing a spud wrench or screw driver can manage.

Backing off a quarter turn is something a ton of guys I work with still do but you'd never catch me doing it. They're still hanging onto that breakage or overtightening myth.

 

I make them hand tight as well. But that is also when lifting items that are no where near the rated capacity of the equipment.

 

Safe to say you want at least 3/4" to 7/8" Kinetic rope with "soft shackles" for your midsize Taco. A winch dampener (blanket) in the middle couldn't hurt either.

Lots of videos on YouTube to guide you....

 

I have a Curt with the D-ring in both our Tacos. Provides a (relatively) safe point to both help and be helped. Most common time I’ve been in either position is when black ice leads to someone being nose-first into a snowbank, and their front tires are just sunk in enough that they’re stuck. A straight backwards pull is usually all that’s required. In that case, connecting two hitch points together with a strap works well.

The D-ring allows for a much more secure attachment than (shudder) just dropping the end loop over a 2” ball.

 

I 100% agree with the recommendation to use a winch cable dampener. In fact, depending on the length of the pull, having a dampener near(ish) to each end of the cable is highly recommended, as that will help to better control each end of the cable from flying around should something go amiss.

Ronny Dahl in Australia has done quite a bit of testing on the topic of winching. He has several videos on YouTube that are well worth watching...it will be quite an eye opener if you haven't seen what a snapped winch cable can do to people or your vehicle. Here is a link to one of his tests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97XqNX3yFTk. And here is another video that covers recovery techniques that includes the use of two cable dampeners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcUDgmSMhWk.

 

Please don’t use a chain for vehicle recovery. Almost lost a friend years ago from a broken chain.

 

That guy got what he had coming to him, let's not use his stupidity to stoke fear. He was standing directly in the path the stuck vehicle would take if it came unstuck, and didn't step away from the strap, huge mistakes.

Using a rated receiver hitch is clearly more reliable than some aftermarket bumpers and how some people choose to attach them.

The reality is that taking a serious approach to recovery brings safety for the most part. And don't rush a recovery. OP, watch Trail Mater and Matt's Off Road Recovery on YT, you'll learn a lot.

Forged steel D-shackles are extremely strong, I just try not to use them to join 2 nylon straps together, because if 1 strap breaks, you have a steel missile. Keep them at the vehicle hard points. I still have to buy a couple soft shackles

 

That was an extreme example but a good warning example.

That truck was incredibly stuck in the mud, and the worst possible "drop-hitch" drawbar was used, putting torque/ bending force on the receiver tube, instead of a straight tension:

 

It’s not stupidity that causes these types of accidents, it is lack of understanding of how to safely do a recovery and the proper use of different types of recovery equipment. You have made some good recommendations on both posts.

 

Great point. As with anything, safety is paramount, but especially with recovery ops. You should never ever stand between the vehicles (tree, etc.) involved. Always stand far away and clear of the recovery site. The video is a good example of what NOT to do. Hopefully the guy was not seriously injured...he could have been killed. Notice they are not using a dampener. Clearly these folks had no clue on how to properly recover a vehicle.

 

I've done a lot of rigging as well as skidding logs in my 68 years. This is what I always did. Shackles snug.

 

I picked up a few soft shackles, rated for 60k. 30' generic flat recovery strap, Factor55 "The Splicer", and Hitch Link 2.0, as well as a couple rope pulleys. Most from Amazon, but not amazon brands. DIY'd a couple line dampeners, and all for under $400 CAD. I also have a few smaller straps collected from here n there still in good shape, used mainly for pulley points as required. Everything but the Splicer rides in a seatback organizer. Have used most of it a few times helping others out, and once in self recovery. Cheap insurance against ego made decisions!

 

That sounds perfect...looks like you have all of the bases covered.

Good idea on the DIY dampener. No need to buy.

 

Red is nice and all, but I like stealth as you mentioned. Did the same to the TRD skid inboard of it. The paint was still drying here:

 

FWIW I don't leave anything in the hitch receiver until I need it. That way you're not thrashing on the recovery gear as you wheel. Same can be said for the "nipple ring" shackles that some people leave on the front of the truck. It's just my opinion, but keeping that gear as clean, dry and free of hazard will pay off when it comes time for you to count on it.