What does everyone carry for chains and stuff when you’re off road. I’ve got a winch and a tow ball on the Sportsman, a six foot length of chain, a three foot length of chain (each chain has small hook one end and a large one on the other), ****** block and an extra 50’ of winch cable. I want to be prepared to pull friends out if they get stuck because I’m the only one that has a winch. Am I missing anything? Is it worth getting a tow strap?

 

along with a warn 2000 winch,at least one of us carries the following.. 1 15 ft. tow strap hook on both ends..1 8 ft. strap to wrap around trees.. a ****** block..and 2 d rings to tie straps and cables or what have you together.never needed anything else

 

In my opinion, good "basic loads" of extraction equipment have been mentioned.

Additionally, I've found clevis shackles (aka "D-ring" ?) useful--besides linking line segments as mentioned, a shackle can provide a pull point conveniently almost anywhere on a chassis; also, the pin can fit in the towbar hitch ball hole if necessary.

Nylon tow straps are versatile and useful, as "tree savers" and in many applications in lieu of chains; nylon straps are lightweight and easily stowed and carried--they don't rattle around and try to knock the top off your toolbox when you hit the bumps. Auto-style tow straps are a little excess in size and capacity; I had a custom 1"-wide nylon sling, 8' long with loops on each end, fabricated at a local rigging shop. I carry chain also, with grab hooks on each end, although a slip hook on one end would be as useful and even more convenient in many cases.

A really useful accessory is a polymer sling, available at the riggers. These devices consist of a seamless circle of polymer strands sheathed in nylon. These slings can be easily looped over the handlbars and around the steering head to tow a four-wheeler, three-wheeler or even a two-wheeler out of a jam or for miles back to the truck.

I'm almost developing a prejudice against "safety clips" on slip hooks--my winch cable hook has one; although designed to prevent the load from dropping from a slack cable, the doggone spring-loaded little beast interferes with rigging and with uncoupling, especially in the dark and the wet and the cold and the mud. A more prudent solution might be to get a bigger hook, but I'm seriously considering deep-sixing this "safety" device--if only standardized rigging packages were available, the safety clip makes sense--in the ad lib world of ATVing, I'm not so sure.

Tree Farmet

 

Arrowhead,
I use only nylon straps. Tree Farmer covered it all when he mentioned "Tree Saver", the straps will protect the tree. Please purchase one for this reason and pass the info along.

Sincerely....BC

 

Arrowhead:
Most of these guys have already mentioned the basics. BadCat and TreeFarmer are right about having a nylon strap for a "tree saving" device. Those are the best thing for anchoring yourself to a tree, without causing damage to it, or the environment in any other way those damn eco-***** could think possible.

Anyway, here's what I've got for recovery equipment that I carry in my front mortar box alone, with the exception of the shovel:

1-100' length of winch cable with hooks on both ends, 1-2"x30' nylon tow strap, 1-2"x20' nylon strap-both have loops on each end, 1-2"x6' tow strap with loops, 1-3/8"x16' choker cable with loop on one end, hook on the other, 2-3/4"x3" clevis hooks, 1-3/4"x3" twisted clevis hook, axe, shovel, three pairs of leather gloves (one pair is insulated, other two are in case one gets wet), first aid kit w/T.P. (very important), extra ****** block. I've also got a 2" ball on the hitch, with clevis tabs as well so I've got the option of using the ball, or the clevis hooks any time I want. Works great. Some may say I have too much in straps or cable, but I say you can't have enough when you're trying to pull a rolled atv up out of a canyon, or drag a huge bull elk up off a hillside. Better to be overly prepared than be without I think.

I also carry a 15" deep rear rack bag filled with extra clothes, survival type stuff, sleeping gear, etc. on the back. Granted, you only asked for what to carry in case you get stuck, but I've had a few times where my buddies and I have been so stuck that it required an "over-night" stay just to get us out. Tons of work and in the cold and rain or snow, or dark of night is not a friendly place to be without the proper necessities. Just my opinion though.

Hope we've given you at least a decent idea of what to carry for emergency type situations. Others would suggest a GPS unit I believe, and I intend to pick one of those up, just don't have the money yet!

Good luck,

Mike