Regular NZ4WD contributor Richard Soult of 4x4Explorer has learned the hard way about what Recovery gear Kiwi Overlanders need to carry. So who better to introduce our annual feature on the subject.

Story and photo by Richard Soult

When I started exploring the South Island I was driving a factory-standard Toyota Prado and my recovery equipment consisted of a tow rope. It’s probably safe to say that, in the early days, I got away with more than I should have done and the list of equipment that I carry has since grown.

If you’re going to drive anything more difficult than a Grade 2 gravel track, you should be prepared to get stuck. The minimum recovery gear that you should carry is a tow rope or snatch strap, a shovel and a set of recovery boards. 

Good points!

It’s also important to have recovery points on your vehicle that you can attach a towrope or snatch strap to. In my case, the Prado came with one recovery point at the front of the vehicle but nothing at the rear. 

A good starting point is to have at least one recovery point at the front and rear of your vehicle. These should be “Rated” recovery points and attached to the chassis. Any good 4x4 dealer will be able to fit these for at a minimal cost.   I now have  two recovery points at the front and the rear.

A big NO, NO!

Never, ever recover using a tow bar! The tow bar is designed to have the downward pressure of a trailer and not the horizontal pressure of a recovery. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that you can watch where this type of recovery has gone wrong.  With pressure, the tow ball will shear and become a missile.

Big difference

The difference between a tow rope and a snatch strap is that a snatch strap uses kinetic energy as opposed to a straight pull. If you’re really stuck, a good jerk on a snatch strap should get you out.

If you end up stuck and on your own, a shovel and recovery boards should get you out in most occasions. The trick with using recovery boards is to dig so that you can get them right under the wheel, reduce your tyre pressure as low as you can and drive very slowly onto the board to eliminate wheel spin. Wheel spin will dig you further in and ruin your recovery boards.

My first time

The first time that I got stuck, was on the Serpentine Road in Otago. My co-pilot (my father) took the wrong line through a muddy section and we ended up completely bogged. In this situation, I am reasonably sure that if I had had a shovel and some boards, we could have got out. In the event, it led to a three-hour walk and a recovery that cost over $500. It’s situations like these where your array of recovery equipment grows!

Winch time

I recently had a winch fitted, which allows you much more capability for self-recovery. 

Once you have a winch, I suggest that you buy a tree protector and soft shackle. The tree protector allows you attach the winch cable to something solid, like a tree or a rock to winch yourself out.

A soft shackle has the same strength as a metal shackle, but will not cause the same damage if something snaps and it becomes airborne! 

Winches are expensive, but look on it as an insurance policy. Something that you hope never to use, but once you do, it could pay for itself and maybe save your vehicle or your life.

Lan-cor time

On a recent trip with a friend, we both became bogged in a ditch. We both had winches, recovery boards and shovels. We spent most of the night digging and trying to  get ourselves free, to no avail.  We were on soft ground and my vehicle was nose down and no way of getting to the winch. 

My friend was nose up, but we didn’t have anything to attach his winch to. We tried to dig in a spare wheel to use as an anchor, but because the ground was so soft, it kept pulling out!

A new piece of kit needed! I went and bought a Lan-cor land anchor. This is light, well proven and folds away into a small bag. Next time that I get stuck, I should now be able to self-recover, hopefully!

The kit I carry

The Recovery equipment Richard now carries with him whenever he ventures off the beaten track is;

• Shovel
• Recovery boards
• Snatch strap
• Tree protector
• Soft shackle
• Snatch Block
• Winch
• Ground anchor

To read the full story in the May 2019 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (April 22) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.