Recovery gear!

If you’ve ever been stuck in the mud, you have been in a situation where you need recovery gear. I’m not talking about all of those machines in the hospital that keep you awake with their incessant beeping. No, the recovery I am referring to is the one where you get your rig back after you discover that it’s a bad idea to try to dig a hole to the center of the earth with your wheels.

What you need will vary depending on what kind of machine you have. If it’s a dirt bike, congratulations, all you need to do is push it on its side and stand it back up outside of the glorious chasm you just dug in your attempt to re-create a scale model of the Grand Canyon. Most smaller atvs are similarly easy, but the real trouble comes when you start adding weight. That’s where you will need to have some extra equipment on hand along with a little trail side ingenuity.

A good winch is indispensable in a situation like this. Make sure your winch is rated for the weight of your vehicle, and that you have at least a good pair of leather gloves, and a heavy blanket. The blanket is to throw over the winch line in case it snaps.

Recovery boards are another good tool to have on hand, but in a pinch you can just use some thick branches or boards if there are any laying around. The goal of these is to provide something solid to slide under your tires so that you can get traction and pull yourself out of the hole. A sturdy shovel will be your best friend in this situation, and if you have a bigger machine like a Side by Side or a 4x4 truck, you should always keep one on board. You will be surprised by how often having a shovel will save your bacon.

There is a whole world of recovery gear out there, and most of it is purpose built for a specific environment or situation. The very best thing you can do is use your head, and try to stay out of trouble. If your buddies say “let’s go through that mud puddle!” And there are no tire tracks in it, just go around it. No matter where you are in the world, if you’re stuck in the mud, it will be a long walk home without recovery gear. Use your head, don’t get stuck in the mud, and stay swanky.