Off Road 4 x 4 Recovery Gear

During Women’s Wheeling Day I attended a recovery class with NORA 4x4. It was an advanced winch and hi-lift class. I learned some really helpful tips about recovery.  

Jon, our instructor, was an awesome teacher. He’s is an I4WDT 4WD certified trainer. He gave us many tips. One of the tips he recommended was to check our recovery gear.  He said, we need to make sure the equipment is properly rated, and in serviceable condition.  

Most of your recovery straps and ropes come with warning tags that include information such as strap type, rated capacity, material type and precautions. 

Like here on my ARB Recovery tree trunk protector. I wasn’t quite sure what the 12000 KG meant. Jon explained, "A tree trunk protector can be used with a winch and pulley block. So a 10000# winch can potentially pull 20000#. That's why the 12000kg (26000#s) protector is good. So double you're winches capacity in general is safe."

There is quite a bit of recovery gear you can get… Shackles, Recovery Straps, Tow Straps, Tree Savers, Snatch Strap, Winch Extension Strap, Soft Shackles, Snatch Block to name a few. You should check all of them for warnings and load ratings.




Only shackles AKA D-rings that are load rated should be used for vehicle recovery. Load ratings are stamped onto the shackle. It will be in the form of WLL (working load limit) or SWL (safe working load). 



Shackles with a rating of at least 3.25t should be the minimum, and are suitable for attaching one end of a strap.  4.75t rated shackles have a larger eye and are more suited to applications such as tree trunk protectors where two ends of the strap are fitted in the shackle.

Never over-tighten the shackle pin. Forces exerted on the shackle by vehicle recovery can cause the pin to seize. The correct method is to tighten the pin until it seats, then back off the pin approximately ¼ turn. 

My Shackle's rating WLL 4 3/4

Recovery straps are accessories that every off roader should

have in their recovery kit. When making sure your gear is right, it is important to consider the weight of your vehicle. All recovery straps are rated according to their breaking strength, which at minimum should be approximately twice as much as the maximum vehicle weight that it can safely tow. So, if your Jeep weighs 5,000 pounds, you will need recovery straps that can pull at least double that amount, or over 10,000 pounds.

I learned quite a bit of good recovery information in this class, but have a lot more left to learn. 

A Cool Jeep Tip Jon shared.

Keep your recovery strap underneath the drivers seat. That way if you get stuck in the mud or water you don't need to get out of your Jeep to look for your gear in the trunk. It will be right there for you to get. 

New Decals

I decided to re-work all the decals and stickers on my Jeep. I would like to get rid of some, but I need to do some research on the removal process. 




I really, really want a purple Rubicon sticker. But that will cost some bucks. I am pretty impatient when it comes to getting new Jeep Stuff. So in the meantime, I found an awesome decal company. They made some pretty cool decals for my Jeep.   

 A fellow Jeep Girl had a cool decal on the cowl of her Jeep which inspired my two new decals. I got these from TNA Decal Designs. A great local company in Pennsylvania. AND they are fellow Jeepers. 

  

Project 100

As I get older I find having stuff is not really that important in my life. As a matter of fact I don't like having a lot of stuff. Well, except Jeep Stuff of course.




Several years ago, I began a life journey. I was searching for something but I didn't know what it was. My kids were older, and there need for me changed. I was left with an emptiness I needed to fill. So a new life journey began. Along the way I began to share what I found helpful for me. 

I have discovered so much about myself. I am more confident and self assured. I have re-discovered passions I had long ago, that I hadn't realized were my passions.  

After awhile that just wasn't enough. I actually enjoy de-cluttering my life with challenges like Project 100 or simplifying your life. It gives me more time to enjoy the things I love.  

It really gets you thinking about what you need and don't need to be happy. I have begun to embrace life by living with less things, and simplifying my life in general. It's an ongoing process for me. 

One example is Christmas time. Every year I would decorate seven Christmas trees in our house. Most of them only sat about four feet tall. It was a very time consuming task. One that I used to enjoy, and would love the outcome. Now it is just another chore as my goals in life have changed. 

Last year I didn't put up as many trees. This year I will simplify even more. It is hard to give up the tradition, but when the tradition isn't fun why continue it.  

Many things in our lives are just clutter. They get in the way of experiences. So my goal is to get rid of my stuff that isn't necessary. Life should not be about accumulating things. Life should be about accumulating memories and experiences. 

A fellow Jeep Girl inspired me as she too was de-cluttering her life beginning her version of Project 100. As I started my research on the Project, I found several folks are also challenging themselves each person with there own set of rules. 

Project 100 is trying to live your life with just 100 items. Each person making their own rules. Some are dwindling all there items to just 100. Some are just paring down just their personal items to 100. 

As I began my own Project 100 this summer I started with my personal items. It is a continual work in progress. My personal items are down to 60. 

However, I am counting my yoga mat, foam roller and stretch bands as one for example. Or my Computer and desk as one. My shoes and coats are counted in this number of 60, but as individual numbers.  

I have not included my clothes in this 100, but have reduced my clothes to under 100.  Nor have I included our household items that are shared by everyone in the family. Those household items are on their own list as I try to figure out how to minimize the stuff we have in our house, and continue to bring into our house. 

My Project 100 continues to evolve. It has started with a de-clutter that actually earned me about $400 as I sold my items at a yard sale and online.

Removing items from your life can lift a load off your shoulders and actually reduce unnecessary stress. For me it's cathartic.   

Simplify Ideas Click Here

How to get started:

Start simple with a drawer or a cupboard. Then move to a closet or room.

If trying to live with only 100 things is too hard, try the Reverse Project 100. It challenges you to dump 100 things before the end of the year. If you believe living with only 100 things is extreme giving away (selling) 100 things should be a breeze.