Basic recovery gear

I hate to start a new thread for this, and greatly appreciate links to threads answering exact same question. I searched, but most people here are buying $250+ Bubba Ropes and such.

I'd like to have basic recovery gear in the truck at all times, stuff that could help another vehicle extract a moderately stuck Raptor, and get cars out of ditches in snow (probably not living in socal much longer).

Don't want to spend a ton of money, not planning on trying to pull the Raptor over rocks or out of mud every weekend.

My current thought is I need a snatch strap, two D-ring shackles, and maybe one soft shackle (if I don't trust recovery point on other vehicle). Also want a small collapsible shovel. All of this is permanently riding in the factory (gen2) underseat storage in cab.

Currently only have a tow strap with hooks-of-death (have only used tied without hooks).

Is an ARB 705 strap with a 17,500lb rating too small for a Raptor? How quickly am I going to run out of 17,500lb with a 6,000lb truck (fully realize how that weight multiplies, but have no idea what rating is "enough")? Or is the ARB 710 at 24k lb a better idea?

Are there any less expensive than ARB/Bubba but reasonably good brands out there? All I see most of the time is the good stuff and then the knock off stuff that likely has arbitrary assigned ratings. The high-end stuff is rated to handle that use day-in and day-out. But I'm likely to use it a dozen times total at the absolute most. If that changes, I'd certainly upgrade.

Total aside...the only knock-off strap that I really trust to live up to its name is this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FJNDDY/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

Thanks again!

here are my personal guidelines. Please don't take these as gospel. It is merely what I do. I am not responsible for whatever happens based on my advice. I will be clear that I use recovery gear on a pretty regular basis and have not had an issue.

1. you want a static strap that is rated for at least 3x the weight that you'd be yanking. ( I bought a standard yellow 30 ft, 24K lb static strap without attached hooks from northern tool. I couldn't tell you what brand it is.)

2. you also want a quality kinetic rope, like a bubba rope. This is one of those things that I don't think it is a great idea to skip on.

would you go bungee jumping with a discount bungee cord? I wouldn't.

I use a 28,600 lb capacity, 7/8" x 30 ft. ( i like the extra 10 feet of a buffer when kinetic ropes are involved). The retail on it on amazon is 187.62

3. I carry 2 of the 47K lb soft shackles. these are $43 ea.

4. I carry 4 old school metal shackles. They are rated at least 30K lb.


Just like when using heavy machinery, these are one of those things that if it fails, someone could die. ( and not just from the flying debris. there have been a couple of times in my adventures that I was extracting a vehicle that was hanging on by inches with some pretty serious consequences if it slipped any more.)

As far as static straps, they are pretty hard to screw up. I think that it is okay to bargain shop on these.

Kinetic ropes, I won't scrimp on. When these things break, it is like a massive half rubberband/ half whip flailing for a second. I've seen one that snapped crack a 3/4" piece of plywood in half.

I think it is kind of silly to spend money on a winch line weight. so I made winch line weights from old jeans, 4 lbs of sand and some 100 lb test fishing line. I make a fairly similar contraption as a squeeze bag for long-distance shooting. I use this any time I'm yanking a truck.

you don't NEED a kinetic rope. you just need a static strap.

If I were on a budget, I'd buy 2 or 3 of the "attractively priced" 24K lb snatch straps.

I'm sure harbor freight has a perpetual coupon on something.

I would buy 2 quality soft shackles and 2 quality metal shackles. Use the metal ones to attach to the vehicle. Use the soft ones if you need to daisy chain tow straps together.

I'd just make sure that I had a heavy jacket that I didn't care about anymore in my truck to use as a line weight.

If you need more than that, raid the other guy's truck.

and as far as shovels, I prefer the Krazy beaver murder spork shovels for a whole bunch of reasons. that is my preference.

collapsible shovels have a tendency to break.

The only one that I've ever used that didn't fail me is the one that my dad gave me, which was issued to him by the US army when he was in SE Asia.

That's a pretty good strap, I'd get the all three option.

I have a 2" x30' that I keep in my truck all the time and have pulled about 15 to 20 vehicles even box trucks.
The one I use is rigging certified but the one your looking at is a 3" and looks beefier.

I have
a pos tow strap
"60k" snatch rope
A few D rings
Tire patch kit
Tire pump
Small shovel
And a few other things for when the recovery doesn't go as planned lol

check out freedom ropes. they are based near pismo beach ca. with the sand dunes there, they get used a lot and have great results. i personnally have their 1 1/8" 30ft rope which is rated at 115k lbs and 2 of their soft shackles. i also have an arb 30k lb strap and 2 3/4" shackles rated at 75k lbs. when i lived in colorado, i had to pull out a stuck schoolbus full of kids in the middle of a snowstorm. and with all my trips to the sand dunes, pull people out all the time. but both work really well. i think i paid just over $100 for the arb strap. i got these probably around 2014 so prices might have changed. but if you are looking for a kinetic energy rope, i have had great success with freedom ropes.

Black Friday Deal I just purchased.
I would think this covers the basics and all for less than $100.

Order summary
Recovery Tree Saver Strap × 1
$19.97

2PK D-Ring Shackle Isolators × 1
Black
$10.97

2PK D-Ring Shackles 3/4" × 1
Matte Black
$22.97

Recovery Gear Combo - 30' Tow Strap & Shackle Hitch Receiver × 1
$74.97

Discount (B3G25)

$-32.22
Subtotal

$96.66
Shipping

$0.00
Total

$96.66 USD

Winchester30 said:

Black Friday Deal I just purchased.
I would think this covers the basics and all for less than $100.

Order summary

Recovery Tree Saver Strap × 1
$19.97

2PK D-Ring Shackle Isolators × 1
Black
$10.97

2PK D-Ring Shackles 3/4" × 1
Matte Black
$22.97

​

Recovery Gear Combo - 30' Tow Strap & Shackle Hitch Receiver × 1
$74.97

Discount (B3G25)

$-32.22
Subtotal

$96.66
Shipping

$0.00
Total

$96.66 USD

Click to expand...

I have the EXACT same set up...mostly for emergencies...have used it once to pull someone stuck on beach with high tide coming in fast..LOL...worked just fine for me...and,well,HIM...

Droid said:

Are there any less expensive than ARB/Bubba but reasonably good brands out there? All I see most of the time is the good stuff and then the knock off stuff that likely has arbitrary assigned ratings. The high-end stuff is rated to handle that use day-in and day-out. But I'm likely to use it a dozen times total at the absolute most. If that changes, I'd certainly upgrade.

Total aside...the only knock-off strap that I really trust to live up to its name is this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072FJNDDY/?tag=fordraptorforum-20

Click to expand...

Trying to figure it out myself, one thing that sets the ARB 710 apart from that one is the ARB is nylon and the Stay There is polyester (nylon has more stretch). Thinking I'll go with this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07593BS2G/?tag=fordraptorforum-20
Along with a couple good quality metal shackles, and a receiver hitch mount for one of them. Good luck!

2 pieces of 1/2 dyneema for a bridle. Make them 10 feet long. Join to Kerr with a soft shackle.

Thanks everyone for the responses!

BenBB said:

Trying to figure it out myself, one thing that sets the ARB 710 apart from that one is the ARB is nylon and the Stay There is polyester (nylon has more stretch). Thinking I'll go with this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07593BS2G/?tag=fordraptorforum-20
Along with a couple good quality metal shackles, and a receiver hitch mount for one of them. Good luck!

Click to expand...

I was kidding about the "Stay There"..would consider that an example of a worst-case knock off brand (so clueless/careless even the name is a huge fail).

Problem is (not just in recovery gear) it seems like there are like two levels of items for sale these days:
1.) Really good really expensive name brands designed for constant repeated use.
2.) Absolute crap that is a bad copy of the expensive name brand, where someone with extremely limited engineering knowledge "designed" it.

It's like your options are Mac/Matco/Snap-on and Walmart-house-brand. I'm looking for a "Sears Craftsman" (of 20yr ago) level of performance at medium price. I'm using this only on occasion, but I don't want to occasionally die from using it.