What recovery equipment do I need to safely recover my 4X4 or Heavy Industrial Vehcile ?
RECOVERY
Note this article only covers off some equipment that may be used in a recovery. For advice on recoveries please consult with your Recovery Specialist.
Deaths involving recovery attempts is real and the level of risk is high.
This article shows some of the incidents that have occurred in Australia to raise awareness of the risks involved.
We will aslo outline some recovery solutions/equipment options which Absolute Lifting and Safety recommend when safely recovering a vehicle.
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS ARTICLE
- Can I use a Tow Ball for Recovery ?
- What is a recovery strop ?
- What is the difference between a metal and a soft shackle ?
- Can I use a Recovery Strop & Soft Shackle for an Industrial Heavy Vehicle ?
- What is an off road recovery block ?
- Heavy Vehicle Soft Shackle & Mongoose Recovery Strop Break Test
- Recovery Incidents
Using a 4wd tow ball for recovery.
tow ball
CAN I USE A TOW BALL AS A RECOVERY POINT ?
The answer is NO.
Why can’t I use a Tow Ball ?
Tow balls are intended to gently tow 2.5 – 3.5 tonnes of coupled trailer. The issue with tow balls are that they very in quality dramatically and can deteriorate through wear and rust even when towing a trailer. When towing a heavy trailer, its a solid connection between the vehicle and the trailer, with no stretch, yanking or jerking action in place. 4WD recoveries can easily apply over 2.5 tonnes of force, and when you use a snatch strap it relies on the build up of kinetic energy, which shocks the tow ball.
In 2011, a young mother of three was killed in Geraldton when the tow ball of a 4WD being recovered broke off, went through the windscreen and hit her in the throat. See the article.
what is a recovery strop?
recovery strop
WHAT IS A RECOVERY STROP ?
A recovery strop is a tow rope designed for industrial, light vehicle and 4×4 vehicle recovery.
Absolute Lifting and Safety recommends the Donaghys’ Mongoose Heavy Duty Tow Strop or Spanset’s Snatch Strap. This tow strop is a 12 strand UHMwPE tow rope designed for industrial and light vehicle and 4×4 vehicle recovery. Furthermore, the strop has an ultra high strength to weight ratio, is lightweight and flexible to reduce injuries.
All strops come fitted with a heavily protected soft eye splice in each end and feature a tight heavy duty HT Nylon cover to minimise ingress of dirt and assist cleaning.
WHY SHOULD A RECOVERY STROP BE USED ?
A recovery strop slowly builds up pressure until the strop tensions and the kintetic energy of the stretching strop and accelerating (in low-range at slow speed) tow vehicle helps pull out the stranded vehicle. The aim is to use the energy of the strap to assist in the recovery rather than just try and skull-drag the stranded vehicle out, as apposed to a fixed connection using a chain, which could break to cause serious or fatal injuries.
SPECIFICATIONS MONGOOSE RECOVERY STROPS
Strops available by BreakForce (tonne)
- 30 tonne to 350 tonne strops come with fully machine braided cover to body and eyes
- 400 tonne to 500 tonne strops come with HD Fire Hose cover to body and eyes
- Soft eye splice in each end
- Available on request complete with marine grade round thimble
- Colour coding by application available on request
- Ultra high strength to weight ratio
- Lightweight and flexible to reduce risk of back injuries
- Low elongation
- Minimal re-coil and kinetic energy at break
- Traceability (durable I/D tags)
- Reduced hand injuries (no fish hooking like steel wire rope)
- Heavy duty tight HT Nylon cover
- Highly resistant to wear and flex fatigue
- Certified to Tonnage rating
| Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DISTRESSED VEHICLES – GVW* | HILL OR GRADIENT TOWING – GVW* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mongoose Break Force (Tonnes) | Towing from general muddy, Slippery conditions | Towing from Medium bogged position in mud | Towing from Heavy to Extreme entrenched position | 6′ I ncl i ne lm Gradient over 10m distance (1:10) | 11 ‘ I ncl i ne lm Graident over 6m distance (1:6) | 18′ I ncl i ne lm Gradient over 4m dis t ance (1:4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 60 | 30 | 20 | 120 | 64 | 41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 50 | 100 | 50 | 35 | 201 | 106 | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 70 | 140 | 70 | 50 | 281 | 148 | 95 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 100 | 200 | 100 | 70 | 401 | 212 | 135 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 150 | 300 | 150 | 100 | 602 | 318 | 203 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 200 | 400 | 200 | 140 | 803 | 424 | 271 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 250 | 500 | 250 | 170 | 1004 | 529 | 338 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 300 | 600 | 300 | 200 | 1204 | 635 | 406 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 350 | 700 | 350 | 245 | 1405 | 741 | 474 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 400 | 800 | 400 | 280 | 1606 | 847 | 541 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 450 | 900 | 450 | 315 | 1807 | 953 | 609 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 500 | 1000 | 500 | 350 | 2007 | 1059 | 676 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Range | Eye Size (mm) | Approx. unit weight of completed strop (kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| BreakForce (tonne) | Finished Diameter lmml | 1-3m | 6m+ | lm | 3m | 6m | 10m | 15m | 20m | |||||||||||
| Fully machine braided cover to body & eyes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | 32 | 300 | 600 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 7.0 | 10.5 | 14.0 | |||||||||||
| 50 | 38 | 300 | 600 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 10.0 | 15.0 | 20.5 | |||||||||||
| 70 | 44 | 300 | 600 | 4.5 | 7.5 | 13.0 | 17.0 | 28.0 | ||||||||||||
| 100 | 48 | 300 | 600 | 6.0 | 12.0 | 15.5 | 29.5 | 34.0 | ||||||||||||
| 150 | 65 | 300 | 600 | 8.0 | 14.5 | 24.0 | 36.0 | 47.0 | ||||||||||||
| 200 | 75 | 300 | 600 | 18.3 | 30.5 | 45.5 | 61.0 | |||||||||||||
| 250 | 78 | 300 | 600 | 22.2 | 37.0 | 55.5 | 74.0 | |||||||||||||
| 300 | 82 | N/A | 1000 | 26.1 | 43.5 | 65.0 | 87.0 | |||||||||||||
| 350 | 86 | N/A | 1000 | 30.6 | 51.0 | 76.5 | 102.0 | |||||||||||||
| HD Fire Hose cover to body & eyes | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 400 | 92 | N/A | 1000 | 35.1 | 58.5 | 87.8 | 117.0 | |||||||||||||
| 450 | 102 | N/A | 1000 | 39.6 | 66.0 | 99.0 | 132.0 | |||||||||||||
| 500 | 108 | N/A | 1000 | 44.4 | 74.0 | 111.0 | 148.0 | |||||||||||||
SPECIFICATIONS SPANSET SNATCH STRAPS
SpanSet nylon recovery straps offer 20% stretch for smooth snatches in four wheel drive situations where winching is not a viable option.
| Break Strength (kg) |
Thickness Under Load |
Width Under Load |
Code/Length 2 metres |
Code/Length 5 metres |
Code/Length 10 metres |
Code/Length 20 metres |
Weight Per Metre |
| 7,000 | 6 | 45 | EP1000x2.0 | EP1000x5.0 | EP1000x10.0 | EP1000x20.0 | 0.40 |
| 14,000 | 7 | 48 | EP2000x2.0 | EP2000x5.0 | EP2000x10.0 | EP2000x20.0 | 0.60 |
| 21,000 | 8 | 60 | EP3000x2.0 | EP3000x5.0 | EP3000x10.0 | EP3000x20.0 | 0.80 |
| 35,000 | 10 | 75 | EP5000x2.0 | EP5000x5.0 | EP5000x10.0 | EP5000x20.0 | 1.20 |
What is a soft shackle ?
shackles
SHOULD I USE A METAL OR SOFT SHACKLE ?
You can use both with exceptions.
Firstly a metal shackle must be a Grade S Shackle. Absolute Lifting and Safety recommend the KITO PWB Grade S Bow Screw Shackle which complies with Australian Standards AS 2741-2002 (current at the time of publishing of this article).
A soft shackle will not rust or corrode and will not shatter if broken which could cause serious accidents.
WHAT IS A SOFT SHACKLE ?
Soft Shackles are the perfect replacement for the traditional metal snap shackle and screw shackles. Soft Shackles are a versatile tool with many applications. The shackles are adjustable and made to connect strops or slings to vehicles, blocks or sheets on a boat.
About the Soft Shackle :-
- Ideal to be used in conjunction with the Mongoose Recovery Strop
- Will not rust or corrode
- Light and easy to handle
- Soft so will not damage soft surfaces around it
- Do not need tools to use it
- Versatile
- Will not shatter if broken as with metal shackles
- Safe and easy to use
Absolute Lifting and Safety recommend the Donaghy’s Soft Shackles
what recovery can be used for industrial heavy vehicles ?
indsutrial heavy vehicle recovery
Can I use Soft Shackles and Recovery Strops/ Snatch Straps for Heavy Vehicle Machinery ?
Yes, Mongoose Recovery Strops and Soft Shackles can be used for light, 4×4 and heavy industrial vehicles. Depending on the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Environment and Gradient of the tow, will depend on which Mongoose BreakForce & Tonne rated Recovery Strop you will need. See the table under Mongoose Recovery Strops in this article.
The Spanset Snatch Strap should not be used for heavy vehicle recoveris and only 4w4 recoveries.
WHAT IS A RECOVERY BLOCK ?
recovery blocks
WHAT IS AN OFF ROAD RECOVERY BLOCK ?
Off Road Recovery Blocks are used to retrieve loads that are double a winch’s capacity by reducing the load on the winch by half, and facilitating winching from varying angles when an anchor point that is straight ahead isn’t the best option.
Absolute Lifting and Safety supply and inspect Off Road Recovery Blocks.
About Off Road Recovery Blocks:
- Specifically designed for most off-road vehicle recovery situations.
- For use with hand or power operated winches with a rope diameter of up to 11mm.
- The large diameter fixing hole also fits directly over tow-balls for easy operation.
- Sheave is fitted with bronze bush and grease nipple.
- Not to be used for lifting.
Industrial Heavy Vehicle Soft Shackle & Mongoose Recovery Stop Break Test Videos
incidetns
Incident alerts
This section will cover some of the incidents that have occurred in Australia to raise awareness of the risks involved recovering vehicles.
BROKEN STRAP
A 51 year old man north of Mackay was killed when a strap broke.
READ ARTICLE
Farm accident
A 15 year old School girl killed in a farm accident
READ ARTICLE
TOW BALL fatal
Lady killed near Geraldton when a tow ball broke off and hit her in the throat.
READ ARTICLE
Heavy Vehicle towing
In September 2018, a truck driver suffered severe abdominal injuries when a chain failed during a semi-trailer recovery operation.