Lets discuss off road recovery gear

[Romer]

This has been a great discussion. I really loved the build of the Xtract Snatch Block. The ARB at substantially less money would have met my needs. As an engineer I really admire the Safe-Xtract Snatch Block design along with all the military testing they apply. Thanks again @Inukshuk and @Hulk for suggesting it.

So I bought it. Very pricey but buy once cry once
I also bought two of their 7/16" soft shackles. Liked the fact tags include lot numbers which support a comprehensive testing program.
Looking at their videos, I thought I might as well get their X-Lock. It definitly fills a need when your extension is too long..

With the X-lock I needed a winch extension, so back to custom splice for Amsteel Blue 7/16" 25 foot extension. Interesting how the 7/16" size is less $$ than the 3/8"

so for my 200 kit:

• ARB ARB710LB 3-1/4" x 30' Recovery Snatch Strap Minimum Breaking Strength 24000 lbs Kinetic Stretch 20% With Reinforced Eyes and Protector Sleeves
• ASR Tree Saver (2-ply, 3" x 10') 46,500 lb MTS
• 2 Max Trax Boards
• ARB Hydrolic Jack
• Warn M12 winch with 88 ft Synthetic AMSteel Bluee 7/16" Line
• 4 Hard shackles, Two of them are ARB and the other two were highly rated when I bought them.
• 2 Safe-Xtract Soft Shackles - SX-20000E 7/16x 10"
• Safe Xtract SX-20000G Pulley Block (Snatch Block) – Vehicle Recovery Hardware – Up to 20,000 lbs
• Safe-Xtract X-LOCK SX-20000H – Vehicle Recovery Hardware – Up to 20,000 lbs
• 25ft AMSteel Blue 7/16" Winch Extension

I don't feel like I need a Kenetic Energy rope

Hmm, I need another bag to carry this stuff and even the Safe-Xtract company recommends our own @BritKLR ATC bags so I ordered a
Rocky Mountain Recovery Bag.

An expensive day, but now I think I am all set.

I will research their site to make sure I know how to properly use the Xlock.

Another entry in the Ken Done Gallery, though we are never done

 

[Inukshuk]

I will research their site to make sure I know how to properly use the Xlock.

Happy to do a demo anytime. Maybe next RS meeting?

Another entry in the Ken Done Gallery, though we are never done

Noice!

 

[Romer]

Happy to do a demo anytime. Maybe next RS meeting?


Noice!

That would be great Daniel. Thank you

 

[Hulk]

Did you get the case? If so, would you recommend it or is it to bulky?

I did not buy the case. I have something that is less bulky. I'll snap a photo.

 

[Romer]

I did not buy the case. I have something that is less bulky. I'll snap a photo.

no worries. I ordered the ATC bag that will hold it

 

[jps8460]

no worries. I ordered the ATC bag that will hold it

Just catching up, fun thread. @Romer, the safe Xtract app is super handy, but also has great rigging and xlock tutorials.

 

[Romer]

Just catching up, fun thread. @Romer, the safe Xtract app is super handy, but also has great rigging and xlock tutorials.

Thanks Jackson. It was $10, but well worth it the bit I have had a chance to play with it

 

[mikedrom]

Nice choice of gear!! Of the almost 30 recoveries I’ve done since joining CO4x4RnR, where winching was involved, an x lock was used in some capacity in well over half of them. Super awesome piece of kit and has many more uses than just shortening line extensions.

As far as pulley blocks go, I’m trying to think of a more expensive piece of aluminum that I own and nothing immediate comes to mind lol.

Has anyone mentioned lifting slings (infinite loops) yet? If you are only planning on recovering your own vehicle and it has good recovery points all around, it’s probably not needed. However, we use these all the time to wrap around frames or other structural pieces on vehicles that may not have the best recovery points (or any recovery points). I’d say these come out of my box on near half of the recoveries I go on as well. We just used one last night to build a bridle at the front of a stuck Silverado.

Example of frame wrap

Example of bridle

 

[Romer]

Nice choice of gear!! Of the almost 30 recoveries I’ve done since joining CO4x4RnR, where winching was involved, an x lock was used in some capacity in well over half of them. Super awesome piece of kit and has many more uses than just shortening line extensions.

As far as pulley blocks go, I’m trying to think of a more expensive piece of aluminum that I own and nothing immediate comes to mind lol.

Has anyone mentioned lifting slings (infinite loops) yet? If you are only planning on recovering your own vehicle and it has good recovery points all around, it’s probably not needed. However, we use these all the time to wrap around frames or other structural pieces on vehicles that may not have the best recovery points (or any recovery points). I’d say these come out of my box on near half of the recoveries I go on as well. We just used one last night to build a bridle at the front of a stuck Silverado.

Example of frame wrap

Example of bridle

Good info Mike

I had not heard of lifting slings. Do you have a link for the one you use?

Why would this be better than a tree saver, weight rating?

 

[Romer]

@mikedrom This looks like it. What length would you recommend?

4' Polyester Round Sling | Endless | 13,200 lbs. Cap. - Red

Made in the USA 4' endless polyester round lifting sling is lightweight and resistant to water and UV rays. Meets all ASME B30.26 requirements.

www.uscargocontrol.com

 

[DouglasVB]

I don't really understand x locks. Can someone recommend a video or article that explains their use?

 

[mikedrom]

@mikedrom This looks like it. What length would you recommend?

4' Polyester Round Sling | Endless | 13,200 lbs. Cap. - Red

Made in the USA 4' endless polyester round lifting sling is lightweight and resistant to water and UV rays. Meets all ASME B30.26 requirements.

www.uscargocontrol.com

That’s the one! I have the 5’ length and it works well for general bridling and attaching to things.

They have different colors with different WLL, and the red one is great for general purpose but smaller ones also are very useful in tight spots where you can’t get anything else wrapped around. I plan to get a lighter-duty one for tricky, hard-to-reach spots on frames.

 

[mikedrom]

Good info Mike

I had not heard of lifting slings. Do you have a link for the one you use?

Why would this be better than a tree saver, weight rating?

A tree saver would generally have a similar or higher WLL than a lifting sling. The benefit of slings is that they are malleable, making them great options to wedge into tight spaces where a tree saver may not bend or flex enough.

 

[Romer]

Thanks Mike
I am typically with Land Cruisers with recovery points when I am off road. If I voluntered like you do for recovery (Thanks BTW) I can see a lot of use for the sling. Is my thinking my tree saver/strap would be OK for those rare situations I may encounter? A soft shackle I could see working depending on the attachmeent point. Thoughts?

This excersize did make me upgrade my Tree saver as it was well undersized. I had ordered this one in red. I had forgotten to mention that

ASR Tree Saver (2-ply, 3" x 10') 46,500 lb MTS

ASR Offroad offers a variety of 4x4 accessories including synthetic winch ropes, tow straps, kinetic vehicle recovery straps and snatch blocks for 4x4’s, ATV’s and UTV’s.

www.asroffroad.com

 

[mikedrom]

In most situations, a tree saver (or soft shackle like you mentioned) will be just fine in a pinch. Plus, if we carried all of the recovery gear for every fringe situation, we’d need a cargo trailer full to the top every time we go out!

 

[Romer]

I don't really understand x locks. Can someone recommend a video or article that explains their use?

I am not the one to be explaining this. But this write-up on Safe-Xtract web site is what got me interested. Plus there are several youtube videos maade by various folks you can find via google. Not sure they were the best ones is why I didn't link them. But I did find them interesting.

X-Lock Uses - Safe-Xtract®

www.safe-xtract.com