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Whether your vehicle is the king of 4×4 off roaders or a low range off road vehicle, one thing is for sure – mud sticks.  It does not matter whether you are an expert or novice driver, if you get stuck there is nothing you can do and it is nothing to be embarrassed about.  More often than not drivers who are more experienced are the ones who tend to find themselves getting stuck as they are far more adventurous.

When it comes to off roading there are no rules set in stone when it comes to vehicle recovery as no two recovery operations are the same.  However, skills required by the driver are common sense and the correct equipment for recovery situations.  It is imperative that safety remains paramount and the utmost priority.

Using tow bars for recovery of vehicle

The first rule of using tow bars for recovery is simple, never us a tow ball for winching or when using a snatch strap. Quite simply the tow ball is likely to snap during recovery when using a winch or snatch strap. Tow balls are constructed from mild steel not suitable for high stress pulling.

Using a spade in recovery

Instincts tell us that if you are stuck in mud, using a spade to dig out the vehicle will help the recovery. However, when out off roading there is a lot more to it. When in the field almost all recovery operations require some digging or clearing of the path directly in front of the vehicle. More often than not it is only a small amount of digging that is required. If you get bogged in on a beach then first you need to deflate air from the tyres to the required pressure. As long as the vehicle is not too deep and the axle is not buried underground, some digging with your spade can get the vehicle out.  Dig out around the wheels and attempt to reverse the vehicle. If this method fails then you need to use a winch.  Always clear a path with your spade before using your winch.

Over extended axles

Whilst out off roading the most common way of getting bogged down is where you find yourself in a situation where the wheel has no weight on it – known as over extending the wheels articulation.  The best way to get out of this situation is to place material under the spinning wheels.

Hung-up

When a vehicle attempts to traverse uneven terrain and exceeds its break-over angle and the chassis between. The recovery procedure in this situation is to dig away the round from under the vehicle or to raise the vehicle with a high-lift jack and place material under the wheels. It is important to never climb under a vehicle supported only by a high-lift jack as this can be extremely dangerous.

When off roading and your vehicle does get stuck then ensure you always take safety precautions before attempting any type of recovery of the vehicle. Only use recovery equipment that has been designed to recover your vehicle. If using winches then ensure they are in perfect working order before you go off on your adventure.

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Source by Perry Manku