Looking to more experienced members for a winter recovery kit recommendations? Looking for a quick grab and go kit I can use for surface road winter issues (i.e. neighbors stuck in a ditch etc.). Here in Grand Rapids we can get the occasional dump and two winters ago the 4runner was the only vehicle that could get out of our neighborhood for 3 days.
Recommendations for Winter Recovery Kit
- Thread starter VonMussa
- Start date
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jca21
New member
whats your budget?
if money isnt an option.
-curt front hitch receiver
-9000lbs+ winch
-winch plate with hitch receiver adaptor
-wheel chocks
-orange pylons
-road flares
-snatch strap
-recovery damper
-various sizes of d-shackles
-snatch block
-rear hitch shackle
-heavy duty work gloves
-tire chains
if money isnt an option.
-curt front hitch receiver
-9000lbs+ winch
-winch plate with hitch receiver adaptor
-wheel chocks
-orange pylons
-road flares
-snatch strap
-recovery damper
-various sizes of d-shackles
-snatch block
-rear hitch shackle
-heavy duty work gloves
-tire chains
Intruder
New member
Cars do not have proper recovery points, only tow hooks. Do not use your 4Runner to pull a car out, especially considering how much you folks down south like to sue each other. If you want to help your neighbours, get a plow for your truck or buy a shovel and some sand or salt.
shaftymcgee7
New member
what a bunch of dumbasses, all they had to do was dig out a little and push LOL
1engineer
Moderator
I personally will not pull anyone out unless it meets two criteria:
1. Family or close friend and
2. Their vehicle has a proper recovery point thats accessible.
I will gladly call a tow truck or give them a lift home or give them food, water, help shovel or anything else but no jerking a vehicle around. I have been there, done that and it is not worth the headaches of it.Towing companies have insurance to cover damages. Unless you have bought Dumba$$ insurance through your carrier then you are not covered for damaging someone else's vehicle because of stupidity and it WILL happen with the nicest old lady who really needs help until you pull her sideways into a pole because she turned the wheel the wrong way and you didn't see it because you are pulling forward. Then she expects you to pay for damages. Ask me how I know. That was a lesson 30 years ago I would not like to repeat.
1. Family or close friend and
2. Their vehicle has a proper recovery point thats accessible.
I will gladly call a tow truck or give them a lift home or give them food, water, help shovel or anything else but no jerking a vehicle around. I have been there, done that and it is not worth the headaches of it.Towing companies have insurance to cover damages. Unless you have bought Dumba$$ insurance through your carrier then you are not covered for damaging someone else's vehicle because of stupidity and it WILL happen with the nicest old lady who really needs help until you pull her sideways into a pole because she turned the wheel the wrong way and you didn't see it because you are pulling forward. Then she expects you to pay for damages. Ask me how I know. That was a lesson 30 years ago I would not like to repeat.
GrantK
New member
I carry just about everything possible to get ME unstuck and to keep ME alive in the truck in case I get stranded. I will not help a stranger get unstuck. I'll give them a lift to safety, if I don't think they're a serial killer, or stay with them until professional help arrives but that's all.
Hey VonMuss
With all due respect to the seasoned members of the forum I tend to be a bit more on the relaxed side. I have lived in the Colorado mountains (Aspen, Winter Park, Crested Butte, Vail Valley) for 18 years and have helped many a neighbor and stranger get their car unstuck, it's a way of life here and certainly we may have a different mentality living in small ski towns vs. a big city, but I've never encountered anything but gratitude from the people I've helped. Maybe I'm naive, but I think it comes down to positive karma and helping others out when you can.
That being said - use common sense. The video posted was obviously someone who had no experience, they were pulling the car from the completely wrong angle directly into the snow bank, I could have gotten that person unstuck in one easy tug.
-Don't force help upon anyone
-Know the limits of your vehicle and theirs
-Be safe, don't cause another accident by blocking the road or being a hero at night or in a blizzard
- Be realistic, if you need a winch to get them unstuck call AAA
- Always make sure they understand you are only offering to help and that they are aware that you are not responsible for any damage, let them hook up their own car if possible, unless they are disabled or elderly
In my 18 years in Colorado I have never used more than a 30" ARB tow strap, a D Shackle, a shovel, a pair of insulated work gloves, a flashlight and
some kitty litter or sand to get someone unstuck, even from deep drifts. A flashing warning light of some kind (I have one that plugs in the cig. lighter) helps too. Everything fits in a small gym bag I keep in the back.
If you need more than that - call a professional towing company, AAA or the state patrol for help, make sure they have a blanket to keep warm until help arrives and stay with them (if you can) if they are old or disabled. You should carry a blanket, water, snacks and such automatically if you live in a snowy or rural location.
I guess I think of what would I want person to do if my wife and daughter were stuck somewhere, luckily that's never happend, but I hope I have enough savings in my karma bank if it ever does.
Just my $.02
With all due respect to the seasoned members of the forum I tend to be a bit more on the relaxed side. I have lived in the Colorado mountains (Aspen, Winter Park, Crested Butte, Vail Valley) for 18 years and have helped many a neighbor and stranger get their car unstuck, it's a way of life here and certainly we may have a different mentality living in small ski towns vs. a big city, but I've never encountered anything but gratitude from the people I've helped. Maybe I'm naive, but I think it comes down to positive karma and helping others out when you can.
That being said - use common sense. The video posted was obviously someone who had no experience, they were pulling the car from the completely wrong angle directly into the snow bank, I could have gotten that person unstuck in one easy tug.
-Don't force help upon anyone
-Know the limits of your vehicle and theirs
-Be safe, don't cause another accident by blocking the road or being a hero at night or in a blizzard
- Be realistic, if you need a winch to get them unstuck call AAA
- Always make sure they understand you are only offering to help and that they are aware that you are not responsible for any damage, let them hook up their own car if possible, unless they are disabled or elderly
In my 18 years in Colorado I have never used more than a 30" ARB tow strap, a D Shackle, a shovel, a pair of insulated work gloves, a flashlight and
some kitty litter or sand to get someone unstuck, even from deep drifts. A flashing warning light of some kind (I have one that plugs in the cig. lighter) helps too. Everything fits in a small gym bag I keep in the back.
If you need more than that - call a professional towing company, AAA or the state patrol for help, make sure they have a blanket to keep warm until help arrives and stay with them (if you can) if they are old or disabled. You should carry a blanket, water, snacks and such automatically if you live in a snowy or rural location.
I guess I think of what would I want person to do if my wife and daughter were stuck somewhere, luckily that's never happend, but I hope I have enough savings in my karma bank if it ever does.
Just my $.02
Last edited:
axxman
Member
classic video, maryland jackasses. makes me embarrassed to be from that state. all they had to do was get the car forward a bit. Anyhow, I second the above post. keep blankets, water and the usual safety stuff, I worked out west in montana and colorado, only got stuck once, at macdonell pass, no tow truck companies would come up there, they were afraid to get stuck themselves, but I had seen others get stuck, usually the tow truck driver will show up with some blocks a jack and a shovel. I got by with just a shovel.
I would add one thing, something about the mentality of people, they just dont want to leave the car, it could be at night 20 below and snowing like crazy, and they could be 100 miles from home, but they would rather stay there and try something then get to a hotel and wait it out until morning.
I would add one thing, something about the mentality of people, they just dont want to leave the car, it could be at night 20 below and snowing like crazy, and they could be 100 miles from home, but they would rather stay there and try something then get to a hotel and wait it out until morning.
Intruder
New member
I don't think anyone was saying not to help others out, but pulling someone's Yaris out of a snowbank with a 4Runner can end badly in so many ways. Recoveries are the most dangerous part of off roading, and that's when everyone has the right gear including recovery points. Where are you going to attach a winch hook or bow shackle to a family sedan? Attaching a strap to something like a trailer ball can turn deadly.
http://ep4wdclub.asn.au/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Coroners_Report_Snatch_Strap.35135905.pdf
I keep a good shovel in the back and I have no problem helping someone dig themselves out.
1engineer
Moderator
Yep. This morning I helped a lady who had her Subaru stuck. I parked, set hazards on, got out, assessed the situation and pushed like crazy until she got "un-high centered" lol.
zidaro
New member
I think along the same lines as SNOMORE, in this case. I live in a mountain town and we have serious weather every year and tourists of all sorts. I have assisted countless people, every year in fact, out of sticky situations. I have never damaged a vehicle or had an individual upset after helping them, their always grateful.
You must know your vehicle and your capabilities, use solid recovery points on your vehicle, and dont assume you can get anyone out of everything. Sometimes a tow service is required. That said, 9 of 10 times people are stuck in 2" snow spinning their tires in an iced up depression and just need a little push, pull, or brains to get out. Original post said surface road recoveries, purdy realistic to be able to help most simple stuck vehicles in this case.
Always use a dynamic snatch strap if tugging someone and always be very gentle when pulling. Be sure to attach to a proper point on their vehicle. If you cant find a factory recovery point there are usually solid points available like frame rails and bumper horns to strap around- this is where YOUR risk and knowledge comes into play. Dont be that idiot that attaches to steering and suspension linkage, or the like.
My biggest concern is that after i tug them out of their little stick they will be so excited that they forget to stop before tagging me.
Definitely must make sure whatever your doing you are very comfortable with and safety is first. Ive given plenty of people rides to town when the weather is too rough, their too stuck (or im in a hurry) - getting them out of the elements so they can come back later to get their car.
ME, i carry a snatch strap and a few clevis', a strip of metal mesh to throw under a tire, and a nice shovel that works most of the time.
Recovery can be a blast, its like a little puzzle. always possible but sometimes it takes that perfect bit of finesse to figure it out. Education and Safety first, cover your ass, and have fun with it.
Self-recovery is a different topic. I can usually take care of myself.
You must know your vehicle and your capabilities, use solid recovery points on your vehicle, and dont assume you can get anyone out of everything. Sometimes a tow service is required. That said, 9 of 10 times people are stuck in 2" snow spinning their tires in an iced up depression and just need a little push, pull, or brains to get out. Original post said surface road recoveries, purdy realistic to be able to help most simple stuck vehicles in this case.
Always use a dynamic snatch strap if tugging someone and always be very gentle when pulling. Be sure to attach to a proper point on their vehicle. If you cant find a factory recovery point there are usually solid points available like frame rails and bumper horns to strap around- this is where YOUR risk and knowledge comes into play. Dont be that idiot that attaches to steering and suspension linkage, or the like.
My biggest concern is that after i tug them out of their little stick they will be so excited that they forget to stop before tagging me.
Definitely must make sure whatever your doing you are very comfortable with and safety is first. Ive given plenty of people rides to town when the weather is too rough, their too stuck (or im in a hurry) - getting them out of the elements so they can come back later to get their car.
ME, i carry a snatch strap and a few clevis', a strip of metal mesh to throw under a tire, and a nice shovel that works most of the time.
Recovery can be a blast, its like a little puzzle. always possible but sometimes it takes that perfect bit of finesse to figure it out. Education and Safety first, cover your ass, and have fun with it.
Self-recovery is a different topic. I can usually take care of myself.
