Gordon
02-01-2007, 07:22 AM
Presented here is a checklist for equipment & procedure needed to execute a safe recovery. This is meant to give a quick overview, not to serve as an instruction. DO NOT ATTEMPT A RECOVERY WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT & EXPERIENCE! More experienced club members will share their knowledge, and from time to time, short familiarizations will be conducted. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE, STOP, AND ASK. Personal safety is far more important than nuts, bolts, & sheetmetal.
It is imperative to have the proper permissions in dealing with any recovery, whether it is just helping a buddy, or attempting a recovery from private or government property. All such events done under the name of 4X4Grace will have permissions secured by the leader prior to connecting to or moving any vehicle. It is highly recommended the same apply to any recovery done by any individual.
Checklist for Performing a Safe and Effective Recovery
Why the need for a recovery?
Recoveries are needed for a number of reasons, mostly unplanned, but, occasionally planned. Planned would be for something like the Toyota at Buffalo or the Jeepster at Bumpus. Helping clean up the trails and forests ? good stewardship. Unplanned would be anything from getting stuck in a mud hole, to carbed rigs getting too off-camber, to breakage of steering, axles, etc, and to careless wheelers driving mechanically unsound vehicles. There is an element of risk to any recovery operation. As conscientious wheelers, we must do everything we can to minimize the risk of needing unplanned recovery. We must drive according to our abilities & experience and we must not begin a ride with a vehicle in poor condition. And, there is a difference between vehicles maintained in poor condition and those being tested after undergoing a mod.
1- Task Team Leader - Mandatory
Who is in charge (one person leads, not a half dozen)
Assessment & Defining the Operation (make sure there is a consensus)
Briefing to participants (what?s going to happen & how)
2- Basic Tow Points ? Essentially Mandatory
Front (Closed vs. Open, Frame vs. Bumper Mounted)
3- Rear Tow Hitch/Tow Points ? Highly Recommended
Frame Mounted (CL3 Receiver)
Bumper Mounted (CL 1 or 2 Hitch ? do not use for recovery)
Bumper Mounted (D-shackle style, at frame locations on bumper)
Receiver D-shackle
Frame Mounted Tow Point(s)
Trailer Balls (do not use for recovery)
4- Portable Tools/Supplies/Stowage ? Essentially Mandatory
Attaching (Drop forged D-ring Shackles, other)
Strap (2? or 3? sewn-end Nylon recovery, prefer over poly - no hooks)
Gloves
Clothing (jacket, long sleeve shirt, boots)
Basic Mechanics Tool Kit
Fire Extinguisher
First Aid Kit
Jumper Cables
Flashlight
Bottled Water/Towel or Rags
Spare Tire & minimum jack/wrench to change out
5- Portable Tools/Supplies/Stowage ? Recommended
Additional number of and heavier duty straps & shackles
Lifting (Hi-Lift, other jacking methods) & Lug Wrenches
Snatch Block (change direction & multiply, scissor type or locking)
Choker Chain (length, clevis grab or slip hook ? not for snatching ? use for logs, etc )
Tree Strap
Chainsaw & fuel/oil
Shovels/Axes/Knives/Machete
Anchors (maybe no trees around)
Load Binders & Tie Downs (maybe gotta get it home on a trailer)
Other Portable Lighting
6- Winches & Winch Mounting - Optional
Initial Winch installation & setup
Mounting styles (Bumper, Frame, CL3 receiver)
Capacity
Fairlead (Fixed or Roller)
Wire Rope
Synthetic Rope
Spooling & Inspection
Cable Damping (old jacket or fancier)
Personnel Location During Pull
Poor Man?s Winch ? The Come-A-Long
7- Towing Rig - Mandatory
How to Operate (slow & easy ? only enough power & force to execute operation)
8- Towed Rig - Mandatory
How to Operate in order to assist (passive ? out of gear, no brake OR power-on assist)
It is imperative to have the proper permissions in dealing with any recovery, whether it is just helping a buddy, or attempting a recovery from private or government property. All such events done under the name of 4X4Grace will have permissions secured by the leader prior to connecting to or moving any vehicle. It is highly recommended the same apply to any recovery done by any individual.
Checklist for Performing a Safe and Effective Recovery
Why the need for a recovery?
Recoveries are needed for a number of reasons, mostly unplanned, but, occasionally planned. Planned would be for something like the Toyota at Buffalo or the Jeepster at Bumpus. Helping clean up the trails and forests ? good stewardship. Unplanned would be anything from getting stuck in a mud hole, to carbed rigs getting too off-camber, to breakage of steering, axles, etc, and to careless wheelers driving mechanically unsound vehicles. There is an element of risk to any recovery operation. As conscientious wheelers, we must do everything we can to minimize the risk of needing unplanned recovery. We must drive according to our abilities & experience and we must not begin a ride with a vehicle in poor condition. And, there is a difference between vehicles maintained in poor condition and those being tested after undergoing a mod.
1- Task Team Leader - Mandatory
Who is in charge (one person leads, not a half dozen)
Assessment & Defining the Operation (make sure there is a consensus)
Briefing to participants (what?s going to happen & how)
2- Basic Tow Points ? Essentially Mandatory
Front (Closed vs. Open, Frame vs. Bumper Mounted)
3- Rear Tow Hitch/Tow Points ? Highly Recommended
Frame Mounted (CL3 Receiver)
Bumper Mounted (CL 1 or 2 Hitch ? do not use for recovery)
Bumper Mounted (D-shackle style, at frame locations on bumper)
Receiver D-shackle
Frame Mounted Tow Point(s)
Trailer Balls (do not use for recovery)
4- Portable Tools/Supplies/Stowage ? Essentially Mandatory
Attaching (Drop forged D-ring Shackles, other)
Strap (2? or 3? sewn-end Nylon recovery, prefer over poly - no hooks)
Gloves
Clothing (jacket, long sleeve shirt, boots)
Basic Mechanics Tool Kit
Fire Extinguisher
First Aid Kit
Jumper Cables
Flashlight
Bottled Water/Towel or Rags
Spare Tire & minimum jack/wrench to change out
5- Portable Tools/Supplies/Stowage ? Recommended
Additional number of and heavier duty straps & shackles
Lifting (Hi-Lift, other jacking methods) & Lug Wrenches
Snatch Block (change direction & multiply, scissor type or locking)
Choker Chain (length, clevis grab or slip hook ? not for snatching ? use for logs, etc )
Tree Strap
Chainsaw & fuel/oil
Shovels/Axes/Knives/Machete
Anchors (maybe no trees around)
Load Binders & Tie Downs (maybe gotta get it home on a trailer)
Other Portable Lighting
6- Winches & Winch Mounting - Optional
Initial Winch installation & setup
Mounting styles (Bumper, Frame, CL3 receiver)
Capacity
Fairlead (Fixed or Roller)
Wire Rope
Synthetic Rope
Spooling & Inspection
Cable Damping (old jacket or fancier)
Personnel Location During Pull
Poor Man?s Winch ? The Come-A-Long
7- Towing Rig - Mandatory
How to Operate (slow & easy ? only enough power & force to execute operation)
8- Towed Rig - Mandatory
How to Operate in order to assist (passive ? out of gear, no brake OR power-on assist)