Off-Road Recovery Gear

Essential off-road recovery gear includes a recovery strap or tow strap, shackles, traction boards, a hi-lift jack, a shovel, and gloves. A winch is highly recommended for solo trips and technical terrain. Always carry at least the basics any time you leave paved roads.

Traction boards, also called recovery boards, are placed under a stuck tire to give it a grippy surface to drive out of mud, sand, or snow. They are one of the most effective self-recovery tools for solo overlanders and trail rigs.

A recovery strap is made from stretchy nylon that stores kinetic energy as it stretches, using the snap-back force to help pull a stuck vehicle free. A tow strap is non-elastic and is used only for towing, not for recovery. Using a tow strap for vehicle extraction can cause damage or injury.

A winch is not required but is one of the most capable recovery tools available, especially for solo trips where no other vehicle is present to assist. For group trail runs, a kinetic recovery strap and a hi-lift jack cover most situations.

Shackles are essential for safely connecting recovery straps, snatch blocks, and winch lines to anchor points. Always use rated, forged steel shackles and check the working load limit before use. Never use hardware store shackles for vehicle recovery.

Recovery gear is rated by working load limit and minimum break strength. As a general rule, your recovery strap and shackles should be rated for at least 1.5 times the gross vehicle weight of your truck. Always check the manufacturer's rating before use.

A hi-lift jack can lift a vehicle high enough to place traction boards under the tires, change a flat in the field, or winch a vehicle using the jack as a hand winch. It is a versatile tool that serves multiple recovery and trail repair functions.