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New to 4x4 as a recreation. I’ve always just taken my old farm ute out and made do.
I know I’ll get a lot of different opinion but just after some basic ideas to keep myself from getting stranded.
What length snatch strap?
What size high lift Jack is the most practical?
I guess a compressor will be necessary as well.
A decent shovel is a good start
I carry a 6 and 9m snatch strap, and got rated hooks front and back to suit, and I don’t help people who don’t have hooks cos I’ll be the 1 to wear it when it rips off.
And snorkel is good cheap insurance, sometimes that hole is deeper than ya thought.
Winch is good if ya Guna do a lot of adventuring by yourself.
Maxx tracks are relatively cheap and a great tool for getting unstuck from mud to sand. A tire deflator and onboard compressor are the goods too. Plenty of d shackles ect.
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Get the mounting/tow points sorted first, need to be rates and preferable one in each corner. People cannot tow you out properly without them.
A good snatch strap and a shovel would be 2nd.
The vehicle I’ve bought, while older is setup with all recovery hooks winch ect. Well looked after and regularly serviced.
It’s really just the accessories that I’m in need of.
Id imagine the folding shovels, while convenient to store would be hopeless for any real work.
Give us a pic
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We sell and fit a lot of 4x4 accessories and like other people have said rated recovery points are super important , next is your snatch straps , shovel , soft shackles (toss the D shackles away) , compressor and tyre deflators.
Winch is a brilliant piece of kit if going out alone a bit.
Fit a snorkel as well , waaaay cheaper than replacing a engine if that puddles ends up not being a puddle!
If you’ve got the space a mid size shovel with a full length handle is a luxury compared to what most carry. Standard spade is also good for chipping out clay. 20m winch extension strap is handy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noswal
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My rig is well used and gets into a spot of bother on a regular basis (over confident driver, according to the co-pilotess). It has the following accessories:
Part 1 of 2:
Hi-Lift jack chained to the top of the bullbar, winch:
Attachment 237679
Rated recovery point and underbody protection plates:
Attachment 237680
(The rear rated recovery point replaces the tow hitch when required, carried in a box because I'm towing a trailer - never, EVER use a snatch strap or chain on a towball)
A box with Recovery written on it...... containing snatch straps, tree protector, pulley, aforementioned rear recovery point, a footplate for the Hi-Lift jack, rated shackles, sand bag for the winch rope.
Attachment 237681
Attachment 237682
A full length spade in an easy to reach location (unless of course I've rolled the bloody thing - don't do that):
Attachment 237683
Forget the hi lift unless you have compatible lifting points on the 4wd.
It is useful as a hand winch if you have the correct chains. You can debead a tyre too.(Is this a likely scenario in your 4wd activities?)
But I'd say you are better off with a tirfor, or a winch,
Max trax or similar are good in mud and sand, I carry a set but barely use them.
Full size spare tyre.
Puncture repair kit.
Spare tube or spare valve, etc. I carry tyre plugs as my tyres are tubeless. Swap valve stems to the shortest you can if you're tubeless, less likely to rip them off.
An air compressor is an essential.
A good haudraulic jack and a base plate to sit it on
Tarpaulin to lay on when repairing the 4wd or shelter at campsite.
Spade
Mattock or grubber
Saw, axe, or chainsaw. (Chainsaws not allowed in DOC areas)
Basics for your winch. Good.gloves, Tree trunk protectors, shackles, cable dampener if running wire, pulleys, extension straps.
Don't use chains with a winch in recovery scenarios.
Handheld lighting for trackside repairs in the rain and dark.
Non stretch tow rope, don't tow on road with a stretch strop.
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Part 2 of 2:
Very well abused MaxTrax - the stories these boards could tell - lifesavers, essential, must-haves:
Attachment 237686
Axe - priceless well it comes to clearing treefall. I also carry a small hatchet and a Husky that's already packed for the forthcoming trip. Being able to get trees out of the way with axe / chainsaw / winch is the difference between continuing or turning back.
Attachment 237687
Snow / mud chains. I use these with deflated tyres on the farms tracks. Much more effective than MT tyres in my experience, especially in the papa mud that's started to dry out a bit and is just thick clay that won't clear out of tyre treads.
Attachment 237688
A powerful onboard compressor. This is essential - airing down is one thing, you need to air back up. This setup also runs the front and rear diff locks.
Attachment 237689
Breathers - rear diff, gearbox and transfer case. The front diff breather comes up the other side of the motor (OEM), just by the fuel filter. Do not wade your vehicle without raised breathers. Ignore that advice at your (expensive) peril:
Attachment 237690
Part 3 of 2:
Recovery after an arduous recovery is important. Remember to stay hydrated, but strictly only once you pull up at the end of the day:
Attachment 237691
:beer:
I forgot to mention that packed in the Recovery box above is one of these:Quote:
Originally Posted by ROKTOY
Attachment 237692
This is an excellent tool that in some situations allows you to lift a wheel to get a MaxTrax under it. However, I only ever use the Hi-Lift with its foot:
Attachment 237693
We run a hi lift (ensure one in the group on a trip). We have steel running boards and barwork to lift off. Also, have a short length of chain and a shackle to tie the diff to the chassis so we can jack up to change a tire.Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyblown
Hilift and a chain kit is good to relocate logs in conjunction with the Winch.
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If going solo and money's tight, a shovel is essential. Next is a spade. (different jobs when stuck). The a saw of some sort. Then a hand pump and tyre guage. Then a high lift jack (with attachments), then a maxx trax or two.
That should get you out of the shite if you are by yourself and need to keep all your money for diesel and ruc:)
If you are going with mates then the recovery points and snatch straps come into their own.
If money is not too much of a problem then the electric winch, snorkle, electric air compressor can be entertained. Then diff locks, suspension upgrades yadda yadda yadda.
As a youngster I did some proper nasty 4wheel driving (Series I landy) with only spades/axe, a high lift jack and a hand pump. Takes more time to get unstuck but it certainly ensures the learning curve is nice and steep:omg: as digging gets old real quick. But it works.
Back in the day. if some soldiers radio'ed up saying they were stuck in their land rover in Waiouru we would go out, see they had taken no pioneer tools with them on the front of the Land Rover (shovel/axe/pick), throw them a couple of shovels and tell them if they were not out by dark, we would come back for them....:o
Smartened up their footwork next time...
A small chainsaw and a tubeless tyre string repair kit and a box of beers. And decent tyres
Lots of good stuff to wade through guys. Thankyou.
I’m getting a hard time from the wife because I’m looking at all the gears before I’ve even done my first trip.
Like I said to her, no point in finding I need something after I’m stuck in some random shithole.
Hadn’t even considered a puncher repair kit and tools. Figured that’s what the spare was for lol
The spare wheel is for turning into a deadman when there's no trees about to winch off. Dig a hole, then a trench for the winch rope, drop wheel in hole, attach winch cable to wheel, start winching (either hand or power winch).
The 'dog turd' (sticky rope) puncture repair kits allow you to mend more than one puncture. Driven on gently they will get you out of the shit. I have seen a side x side tyre sidewall slashed on rocks so bad, we were still able to get it to hold air with about a dozen of those dog turds pushed in alongside each other. Would have been a long haul out otherwise, as side x sides generally don't carry spare wheels.
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/bahco-94-...t-set_p0679433
These are the shit, can do most mechanical stuff with it, I have a set of pliers too.
I bought a set for staff on the farm. Great setQuote:
Originally Posted by dvk-kp
Attachment 237721Attachment 237722
These are the recovery hooks. Are they up to standard?
The one on the bumper, I wouldn’t use. There is a bracket the mounts the winch to the chassis, but the bumper is mounted using sacrificial brackets that give way in a frontal impact. So I’d be concerned pulling directly from the bumper might blow those out. My observations apply to a 2014 arb bar on my hilux.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noswal
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The whinge is bolted front and back to both the bumper and the chassis. The bumper is bolted to the chassis with 10 bolts. 5 each side. 2 each side off set and one top to bottom
Looks like auto correct has shafted me again lol
Another option for a winch anchor is a chain & drive a hole lot off pegs through it like larger tent pegs works real well
As for fold up shovels I've always carried one, some may think they are useless but better than no shovel at all. And its been good enough to get me out of the crap a couple of times...just get a decent one
The front one is likely strong enough, but there are considerations with using a hook in that location. It's about 3-400mm higher than the equivalent chassis point, which doesn't seem like much but can transfer a surprising amount of load in the form of down pull onto the front end which is adding weight to the front suspension components. My preference is to have that style hook down low, bolted directly onto the side of the chassis rail using some of those bolts that you identified in the photo. If access is a concern, you can get a keeper spring and fit a short (500mm long) 3 ton soft webbing link which means you don't have to go grubbing in the mud to hook up to it. Just leave it securely hooked up to the winch or something like that...Quote:
Originally Posted by Noswal
The one at the back is a nup for me, might as well just use the bloody towbar looping a tow strap around the towbar extension in front of the towball nut (not using the towball for safety sake). Relying on a pin and a wiggly piece of square tube for snatching is a recipe for doom and despair, as the forces can crack the tube at the corners or bend the side walls of the tube extension or even tear the walls of the tubes where the pin goes through. Better off hard bolting the recovery hook to the back end chassis in a similar method to the front end, as low as you can get.
Go join a 4x4 club, glean some knowledge off those that obsess with offloading and go from there
All of the points you’ve bought up are things I’ve considered but being a nubie just dismissed. I have a solid hook (4 bolt) that I could attach for recovery. I’ll have look at options for that front recovery attachment. Access through the bumper would be difficult.Quote:
Originally Posted by No.3
Thankyou for advice.
Low as possible, below the bumper. It causes a slight lifting effect which helps the front end ride up and over/out from whatever you parked in - the opposite of what the high mounted recovery point does. The high mounted recovery point tends to pull down into the obstruction that stopped you, acts as a 'magnifier' of the size of the obstruction and the parts of the vehicle that tend to take the load are the suspension components like the ball joints, tie rods, swivel bearings depending on which type of front end you have. That said, 99% of the time you get away with recovering from a high snatch point and don't notice the difference in pull point height but getting the vehicle out but finding you've immobilised it in the process - suckful. This risk is one of my reasons for preferring recovery to the rear if possible, i.e. pull backwards out from the way it went into the oops. There's a reason the thing stopped...Quote:
Originally Posted by Noswal
Attachment 237920
I’ll find a spot on the rear to mount this one.
Yeah mate, plan on joining the Sth Cantab club. Just want to be a little prepared before I show up lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Stump
And don't forget to take some cash, if you have a problem break down, fuel, key money for access,food etc in the middle of nowhere plastic card no use.
I'm part of them already, they are a good bunch of guys & do regular trip o/nights up avoca, wilverforce & west coat etc, they run a club training day once a year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Noswal
They'll give you a list of minimum kit before the trip & trg day.
Best of luck
