Do you remember your first recovery?

[Littlehouse]

Any good stories about your first recovery?

This weekend, I finally got to use the GX for a mini family getaway. My wife surprised me with a few days of glamping through Getaways in Running Springs. We had an amazing time with the two pups, and even though I didn't get to wheel it for the first time, I did get my first "recovery."

So I'm relaxing in the chairs above and I hear some commotion coming from the cabin below. A white 4 door civic missed a sign that said foot traffic only and tried to drive down to their cabin through a steep dirt path. Unfortunately, as the civic crested the downhill portion of the path the frame bottomed out and left the front wheels off the ground. The couple tried for a few mins to spin their way out of it on the loose dirt but only made it worse. Now, I've never done anything like this before, but I read a lot on mud and expedition portal, which makes me an expert, right? OK, not so much, but I'm not one to watch people struggle no matter how little I know. I headed down hoping this guy knew what he was doing and figured I'd help out by digging the frame out, pushing, or anything so he didn't ruin his weekend. My wife got a pic of me heading down, but not the recovery.

As I get down the guy starts shoving tree branches under the tires and I'm warning that they might puncture the tires. Luckily he stops before it does, and we start loading large rocks into the trunk to keep the rear weighted so we can easily put some large semi-smooth rocks under the tires.... We then begin to dig out the frame. This helped a little but the tires couldn't get traction on the rocks. At this point, I convinced myself to buy Maxtrax when I got home. We worked on this for about 15-20 mins when I called it and said we should use the GX, but I don't have any recovery gear. No straps, shackles, nothing. "Another light bulb to get my ass in gear and buy more stuff" I decided, possibly unwisely, and knowing what could happen to use a 2" ratchet strap. I pulled the ratchet off, threw a bowline knot on the end without a hook, looped it through the hitch, and attached the hook to the car. My biggest worry was the hook letting loose and coming through the back window, but I decided to risk it. I have a little more protection from the tire carrier at least. I had the husband clear out of harm's way, took out the tension, had the wife get on the gas a little, and pulled that little sucker right over the crest and onto the street. Nothing went wrong and I did my good deed for the day. I love this stuff and can't wait to get some real gear and be prepared next time.

Any good stories of your first time?

 

[r2m]

With all due respect, you should have guessed that anyone who gets themselves into a mess like that is not, as you put it, "... hoping this guy knew what he was doing...". Generally, when someone is stuck and you're helping, they will consider you the expert.
I'm truly glad it all worked out, and this has given you pause to reflect upon what kind of recovery gear you should always have on your rig. Maybe spend some time looking over this sticky post: Ultimate Tool Kit (carry on for off road) - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/ultimate-tool-kit-carry-on-for-off-road.1231281/
On my wife's Taco, I make sure she has a receiver/shackle and recovery straps. Had to pull out a Marine that tried to make a U turn on a narrow section and dropped the front end of his vehicle into a drainage ditch at the entrance to Camp Pendleton. I happen to be driving my wives Taco, so I just pulled over, pulled out the strap, attached the two vehicles, dropped it into low gear (for a slow and controlled pull) and just tugged it out!
This wasn't my first recovery but kind of recent.

 

[LINUS]

With all due respect, you should have guessed that anyone who gets themselves into a mess like that is not, as you put it, "... hoping this guy knew what he was doing...". Generally, when someone is stuck and you're helping, they will consider you the expert.
I'm truly glad it all worked out, and this has given you pause to reflect upon what kind of recovery gear you should always have on your rig.

Bingo.

I been flagged over to help & on most occasions the person expects by virtue of me wearing a winch, I know what I’m doing.

A couple times I got those guys who think they run the show, and I’ve had to bluntly let them know I’m the one with the winch & gear, I’m not pulling tension until I like the way things are going - you’re essentially a free “tow-truck” - do people question a tow operator unless you have say a FZJ80 where you need the rollback, etc for roadside pickup?

I’ve been in S&R, done rope rescue for refineries, etc - I have my way & it means I look at every shackle, pulley, and rope termination - I’m putting my junk & risking myself for someone else.

They don’t like my way, they can flag down the next person by with a winch hanging off a bumper , or call AAA.

You bring your gear to the party, you own the situation - my POV.

 

[VSPro9]

I took my GX to silver lake sand dunes a couple weekends ago, where getting stuck is a pretty regular thing.
I brought along some xbull traction boards, a 30 foot static rope, d-ring hitch mount and a couple soft shackles and a shovel.

Test Hill is the largest and steepest hill in the park and was pretty peaked when i got there. the trick to getting up (besides airing down) is to let off the gas at the right time so you dont launch off the backside but dont stop short.

my first run up the hill i stopped short of course and high centered it. using the traction boards and a push from a guy watching i was able to get it over.

I was able to return the favor to several people after i figured out the proper technique for getting over the hill, and pulled out a few side by sides and a couple jeeps. was a lot of fun!

edit: until i am able to get a proper wench, i have added more soft shackles, a couple more static tow ropes and a 4 ton power puller/come along. also added a saw to my kit.

 

[r2m]

But sometimes the guy with the winch or tow strap doesn't always know what they're doing either!
Go to the 2 minute mark unless you want to see the whole thing (warning, there's some poor language (firetruck words) used) :

 

[VSPro9]

But sometimes the guy with the winch or tow strap doesn't always know what they're doing either!
Go to the 2 minute mark unless you want to see the whole thing (warning, there's some poor language (firetruck words) used) :

good lord there was a LOT going wrong there

 

[Banandalorian]

My first "recovery" was going to pull my buddy's Tacoma out of a mud pit that he high centered into and realizing that a stock GX with no hitch does not appear to offer any recovery points...so instead we drove out and retrieved friend 2's Forester with a hitch.

On a related note: Does anyone know why the 2 pretty beefy looking loops under our front bumper (2017 GX), which appear to be pushed through then welded to the frame, are not suitable for recovery points and should just be used as tie downs? They certainly look like they would be true recovery points but the internet warns against it.

 

[r2m]

My best guess is they could be used only for a linear pull, meaning to pull it straight ahead. If you were to try and and pull sideways, like the video above, you'll probably bend and destroy the hooks and maybe something else. AND I' wouldn't try a recovery on anything stuck in deep mud or steep uphill incline. I'd be more likely to use it when stuck (not buried) in light sand or snow/ice where there's not a lot of stress.
But having steel bumpers front and rear with winch and shackles, it's a non-issue.

 

[VSPro9]

My first "recovery" was going to pull my buddy's Tacoma out of a mud pit that he high centered into and realizing that a stock GX with no hitch does not appear to offer any recovery points...so instead we drove out and retrieved friend 2's Forester with a hitch.

On a related note: Does anyone know why the 2 pretty beefy looking loops under our front bumper (2017 GX), which appear to be pushed through then welded to the frame, are not suitable for recovery points and should just be used as tie downs? They certainly look like they would be true recovery points but the internet warns against it.

i had the same question, here is the thread without aftermarket front recovery points, what should i use? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/without-aftermarket-front-recovery-points-what-should-i-use.1256645/#post-13924628

 

[Littlehouse]

With all due respect, you should have guessed that anyone who gets themselves into a mess like that is not, as you put it, "... hoping this guy knew what he was doing...". Generally, when someone is stuck and you're helping, they will consider you the expert.
I'm truly glad it all worked out, and this has given you pause to reflect upon what kind of recovery gear you should always have on your rig. Maybe spend some time looking over this sticky post: Ultimate Tool Kit (carry on for off road) - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/ultimate-tool-kit-carry-on-for-off-road.1231281/
On my wife's Taco, I make sure she has a receiver/shackle and recovery straps. Had to pull out a Marine that tried to make a U turn on a narrow section and dropped the front end of his vehicle into a drainage ditch at the entrance to Camp Pendleton. I happen to be driving my wives Taco, so I just pulled over, pulled out the strap, attached the two vehicles, dropped it into low gear (for a slow and controlled pull) and just tugged it out!
This wasn't my first recovery but kind of recent.

That’s a fair point, but I did fail to mention the wife was driving when it happened.

I’ve already started my research on traction boards, a shovel, metal and soft shackles, a tree saver, bottle jack, front recover points, trailer hitch recovery point, and either a kinetic rope or some sort of strap. That should get me/ anyone I encounter out of a lot of situations.

Another BIG thing is training. I’ll have to find one in So Cal.

Edit: I probably need to think about a compressor and something to inflate/deflate my tires as well.

 

[LINUS]

@Littlehouse - just a thought as a Warn fanboy (owning it / full disclosure) :

I like the idea of kinetic straps, but it’s a ‘head of steam & committed to whatever happens‘ -type thing to me.

I’ve no training in them, more truth.

But I’d sooner find a used Warn M-series on CL, rebuild it & be in a winch that parts are readily available.
(why I don’t like HF type winches)

Then you can use pulley(s) to either compound (my go-to for control) - or change of direction.

If you live/wheel in swampy areas, I think kinetic straps are great & would buy & learn them - OTOH winches esp on a single compound to slow to 1/2 load & speed - gives you control.

Warn bought Factor 55 just recently, maybe hit the winching subforum before you invest some ~$2 hundo in a kinetic strap - and I have the soft shackles & run synth line on both my ‘Yotas & have Warns on both quads/installing a synth line winch into my river sled.

I have a Warn on all my 4 wheeled land rigs, and soon even the boat to slide over downed logs in rivers.

If you go soft shackle, make sure whatever tow point you use is radiused - keep 1 hard shackle for ‘victim’ cars so you don’t cut a soft shackle on their chachi factory eyes used mainly to ship the Hondas on cargo ships

 

[Littlehouse]

@Littlehouse - just a thought as a Warn fanboy (owning it / full disclosure) :

I like the idea of kinetic straps, but it’s a ‘head of steam & committed to whatever happens‘ -type thing to me.

I’ve no training in them, more truth.

But I’d sooner find a used Warn M-series on CL, rebuild it & be in a winch that parts are readily available.
(why I don’t like HF type winches)

Then you can use pulley(s) to either compound (my go-to for control) - or change of direction.

If you live/wheel in swampy areas, I think kinetic straps are great & would buy & learn them - OTOH winches esp on a single compound to slow to 1/2 load & speed - gives you control.

Warn bought Factor 55 just recently, maybe hit the winching subforum before you invest some ~$2 hundo in a kinetic strap - and I have the soft shackles & run synth line on both my ‘Yotas & have Warns on both quads/installing a synth line winch into my river sled.

I have a Warn on all my 4 wheeled land rigs, and soon even the boat to slide over downed logs in rivers.

If you go soft shackle, make sure whatever tow point you use is radiused - keep 1 hard shackle for ‘victim’ cars so you don’t cut a soft shackle on their chachi factory eyes used mainly to ship the Hondas on cargo ships

Good advice. I'd love a winch, but I don't think I'll get that far on this build because I don't really want to invest in a front bumper. I probably won't put a lift on this thing until it's out of warranty, if ever. The next major mod will be a set of sliders and then skid plates. We'll see how far it snowballs from there.