I'd like to hear some recommendations on good, basic recovery gear for mild trail riding and potential solo recovery. Obviously all solo riding would be done to keep risk minimized.
So far I'm thinking -
1) Hook-less tow strap. What length, width, load rating?
2) D-ring shackles for front recovery points and other vehicle. Again, what specs?
3) Receiver D-ring hitch. Specs?
4) Is a Hi-Lift safe for solo recovery? If so, what other gear is needed besides the main recovery strap?
5) Is a fire extinguisher necessary in a modern vehicle (5th gen)?
6) Is a matching 5th/spare tire needed or is the OEM okay if running 4 stock sized aftermarket AT tires?
I'm running a stock 2014 Trail with AT tires.
That seems like a pretty good list. Here are my thoughts.
1) Definitely a hookless strap. I tend to just get the highest load rating I can. I currently keep a 20' tow strap and 30' snatch strap in my vehicle at all times. Length is a tricky one because you never know if you might need a short one or a long one. I would probably tend to err on the side of long though.
2) A lot of shackles are good. I have some Warn Premium Shackles in my rig and I think they are rated for like 18k lbs or something really high. Again, a higher load rating can never hurt. I highly suggest getting a few of them though.
3) Again, I use a warn recovery tow point shackle mount. It has been great and I think it is rated for 10k lbs. I know a bunch of companies like Smittybilt and stuff make hitch recovery points too.
4) A hi-lift is a great tool, but it is only as safe as the person using it. If you know what you are doing, it can be a great tool for repairs and self recovery. If you don't know what you are doing, you could easily hurt yourself, injure someone around you, or damage your vehicle further. If you get one, take some time to watch some youtube videos and read up on the proper way to use one. It can be used as a winch, which is awesome and one of the primary reasons I want to get one. If you want to use it for repairs and stuff, make sure you have jacking points like sliders or bumpers.
5) Abso-freaking-lutely. I never go wheeling without one. Even if I don't think I need it, what if someone else's rig catches fire and they don't have one. They are stupid cheap for the kind of protection you can get from it. And some may argue that newer cars should always have one because there are more electronics to fail and/or catch fire. Another important thing is to HAVE IT ACCESSIBLE. I see so many people I wheel with have it mounted in their trunk. I don't really understand the point of that other than it looks nice. If your car or someone elses car is on fire, you really want the thing in reaching distance of the front seat. I put mine under the passenger side front seat and I can get it in about 2-3 seconds.
6) I would always try to have a matching spare but if it is the same size then you should be fine for the time being. Some may disagree. I would use it to get you off the trail but I wouldn't run it for a long time.
There are some other things you might want to add to a starting recovery kit. I have a small folding shovel in my kit. A full size shovel is way better, but it is certainly better than nothing. I also highly recommend a decent set of gloves (probably leather) and a tire pressure gauge. They have all been super valuable in recoveries and other repairs. Hope this all helps.
