Your Jeep recovery kit should consist of gear or equipment that can help you facilitate recovery of your Jeep from a stuck position or help you navigate obstacles during Jeep Overlanding or Jeep off-roading in your favorite Jeep Trails.
The Jeep is one of the most customized vehicles in the United States, Jeep has lots of aftermarket parts and accessories that you can purchase online and store; most beginners fall into the trap of buying any Jeep recovery gear they come across or find their friends using, we recommend purchasing and carrying with you Jeep recovery gears you are familiar with, use the correct tool for the Job by understanding your Jeep recovery accessories and equipment.
Due to the numerous emails and messages we have received from our readers, we have decided to write a Jeep recovery kit guide that will highlight all the accessories we use in our Jeep expeditions and how we use them when we want to recover our Jeeps.
When it comes to Jeep recovery, we have lived that life and have been stuck in some of the weird places you can imagine when off-roading and Overlanding.
One of the toughest situations we have been in is being stuck on a narrow passageway in the black bear road, as we were navigating the heights above Telluride to our campground which happened to be in Bridal Veil Falls, Colorado. We have also been stuck in Katemcy rocks in Texas while rock crawling, Our Jeep Gladiator long chassis got high centered on a boulder, with only the left wheel touching the ground, what about getting stuck in the snow in Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming and damage our Jeep transmission, battery, and drivetrain – Guilty as charged!
The point is, we have had our Jeeps stuck in sketchy situations, and successfully recovered our Jeeps with Jeep recovery gears highlighted in this post, and you can too as long as you have the right Jeep recovery gear in your Jeep Recovery Kit. We will list all the essential Jeep recovery gear that we use and recommend, making it easier for you to narrow down your research when deciding which Jeep recovery gears to purchase for your Jeep.
And now, on to our Jeep Recovery gear list!
In a Hurry? Here is our Essential Jeep Recovery Gear List
Here is a summary of our Jeep recovery gear we can’t hit off-road Jeep trails without. Beat the system, and get yourself out of a rut with these amazing battle-tested Jeep recovery gears.
- Jeep Recovery Points (Our Pick: Agency 6 Shackle Block)
- Jeep Winch (Best Budget: Smittybilt X2O GEN2 10K Wireless Winch with Synthetic Rope)
- Winch Hook (Durability: Factor 55 ULTRAHOOK Winch Hook with Shackle Mount)
- Safety Thimble (Heavy Duty: Smittybilt A.W.S Aluminum Winch Shackle)
- Winch Shackle (Best Quality: Agency 6 Billet Aluminum Winch Shackle)
- Jeep Fairlead (Agency 6 Hawse Fairlead for Hawse or Smittybilt Roller Fairlead for Roller.
- Pull/Winch Extension Strap (Best Quality: ARB Winch Extension Strap 17600 Lbs.)
- Synthetic rope splicing tool (Compact: Factor 55 Fast FID Rope Splicing Tool)
- Jeep Recovery Gear Bag (Heavy duty: ARB Large Recovery Equipment Bag)
- Winch Line Dampener (Durable: ARB Offroad Winch Cable Recovery)
- Snatch Block Winch Pulley (Heavy Duty: Proper Spec Factor 55 – Rope Retention Pulley)
- Off-road Recovery Board (Strongest Grip: MAXTRAX MKII Recovery Board)
- Recovery Shovel (Compact Design: Smittybilt RUT-Recovery Trail Shovel)
- Hi-Lift jack (Heavy Duty: Hi-Lift Jack XT485 48″ Hi-Lift X-TREME Jack)
- Recovery Gloves (Durability: ARB Recovery Glove (GLOVEMX))
- Recovery Rope (Heavy Duty: Bubba Rope Power Stretch Recovery Rope 30ft, 8,600 lbs.)
- Recovery Snatch Straps (Durability: ARB Recovery Snatch 30FT 17,600 lb.)
- Recovery Tow Strap (Heavy Duty: Rhino USA Recovery Tow Strap 30ft, 40,320lb.)
- Tree Saver Strap (Strongest: ARB 10ft Tree Saver Strap – 26500 lbs.)
- Locking Hitch Pin (Durable: MaxxHaul Hitch Lock)
- Jeep D-Rings (Overall Choice: Crosby D-Ring)
- Recovery Soft Shackle (Best Budget: Smittybilt Soft Shackle Rope)
- Tire Repair Kit (Best Bargain: Safety Seal Pro Tire Repair Kit 30 Repairs)
- Off-Road Anchor (Toughest: Smittybilt W.A.S.P. Winch Anchor)
- Loop Straps (Multipurpose: Rhino USA Tree Saver Tow Strap 31,518lb.)
- Trail Machete (Multipurpose: Trail Machete with Sheath)
- Tire Deflator (Best Value: Smittybilt Rapid Tire Deflator)
- Air Compressor (Durability: ARB’12V’ On-Board Twin High-Performance Air Compressor)
- Medical Kit (Portability: Surviveware Comprehensive Premium First Aid Kit)
- Automotive Tool Set (Compatibility: CARTMAN Automotive Tool Kit)
30+ Essential Jeep Recovery Gear for Jeep Off-roading & Overlanding.
Having the right Jeep recovery gear reflects your planning, preparation, and knowledge of your Jeep and its capabilities, you should be able to operate, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair every piece of recovery gear in your Jeep recovery kit.
Over time we have learned to use our Jeep recovery gear through practice and first-hand recovery scenarios and inherited plenty on the go, we have done our best to learn about each piece of equipment, and so should you be able to use each Jeep recovery gear to its maximum capabilities.
Each time we prepare our off-road expeditions, we include our recovery gears in the picture; this is because we always find ourselves venturing in off-road trails that are outside the range of our cell signals, and in case of an unexpected event calling for a recovery service provider is nearly impossible, this is why no matter how well we know the trails we will be off-roading; we ensure that we are well prepared.
Below we have summarized how we use each Jeep recovery gear we own!
Jeep Recovery Points
We recommend making sure your Jeep has front and rear recovery points taking into account all angles used in Jeep recovery situations; when deciding on the rear recovery points for your Jeep, we recommend installing a shackle block because of its mounting location, which takes into account load distributions on the vehicle, effectively protecting against damaging your chassis during a recovery.
One of the best Jeep recovery points addons is installing a Jeep recovery point at the rear of your Jeep, we have Agency 6 Shackle Block installed on the hitch assembly that is mounted on the Jeeps frame for added strength.
The Agency 6 Shackle Block will fit in all Jeep models with 2 inches receivers, they are made in the United States, and the block itself is compact and heavy and can handle up to 13,000 lbs. The shackle is rated at 9,500 lbs.
The Agency 6 Shackle Block doesn’t compromise the structural design of the OEM chassis system, the Agency 6 Shackle Block takes the variation on load angles during recovery, and the Agency 6 Shackle Block works well when attempting straight line recovery.
A rear recovery point is just as important as the front Jeep tow hooks recovery points – we use the rear recovery points when it’s impossible to use the front recovery points, mainly when it’s impossible to distribute the load half and half of the two front recovery points.
One thing we have noted about the Agency 6 Shackle Block is that the hitch pin provided with the Agency 6 Shackle Block after purchase is not one of the best ways to protect the Agency 6 Shackle Block from being stolen, you have to purchase a security hitch pin.
We recommend the CURT Hitch Lock, which fits perfectly on our Jeep hitch without rattling; it’s easy to lock and unlock; the benefits of grabbing one of these bad boys is that they are also multipurpose, and you can use them to protect anything mounted on your hitch assembly such as trailers, Jeep hitch racks, etc.
Hot Special [★★★★★ 5.0]
We recommend both the Agency 6 Shackle Block and the heavy-duty CURT Hitch Lock to Jeep off-roaders and Overlanders because of their design that fits their off-grid lifestyle perfectly, the Agency 6 Shackle Block is made from Aluminum that protects it from rust issues, and the CURT Hitch Lock comes with a dust and water tight cap that also protects the hitch lock from off-road elements that can cause corrosion.
Best Budget Winch for Jeep
The Smittybilt X2O GEN2 10K Wireless Winch with Synthetic Rope is the most functional yet budget-friendly Jeep winch that will get you out of almost any situation, it includes a Synthetic rope and hawse fairlead with forged hook all under one budget.
Battle-Tested Jeep Winch [★★★★★ 5.0]
The Smittybilt X2O GEN2 10K Wireless Winch will fit all Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiators stock bumpers and aftermarket bumpers, you will need a bit of modification to fit them on a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which includes purchasing a Hidden Winch Mount from Rough Country.
A Jeep winch is an essential Jeep recovery gear that will help recover your Jeep stuck in mud, snow, or ditches, you will need to install the winch in your front bumper and mount it securely and make sure the winch load is distributed to the Jeep frames/ Chassis to facilitate easy pulling of your Jeep back into a position that it can move, be towed or repaired without damaging your bumper and OEM frame.
To make maximum use of your Jeep Winch and learn more about winching techniques, we recommend going through Warn Basic Guide to Winching Techniques. This downloadable PDF file outlines your winch parts, how a winch works, accessories you can use with a winch, and how to maintain a winch. Winches are helpful Jeep recovery items but are extremely dangerous if not used properly.
Want more? Check out our Jeep Winch Related post: Badland ZXR 12000 lb. Winch Review
Jeep Winch Hook
We listed the Smittybilt X2O GEN2 10K Wireless Winch above because it comes with a Premium winch hook attached at the end of the synthetic winch rope; that’s enough for beginners to off-roaders on a limited budget; however, if you need to upgrade your Jeep Winch hooks one of the popular Jeep hooks are thimbles and Shackles.
Our Best Pick is a Winch Shackle: Factor 55 ULTRAHOOK Winch Hook with Shackle Mount (Read on to learn more on Winch thimbles and Shackles – and Why we choose the Winch Shackle as the best Winch Hook for Jeep off-roading and Overlanding).
No Hassle Winch Hook [★★★★★ 5.0]
Winch Safety Thimble
There are two types of winch safety thimbles available in the market, Safety Thimble I for 3/16″ to 1/4″ synthetic ropes, which are suitable for UTVs and ATVs, and Safety Thimble II for 3/8″ to 7/16″ synthetic ropes that you will find in most Jeep winches, like the one included with the Smittybilt X2O GEN2 10K Wireless Winch we recommended earlier in this post.
If you plan on upgrading your Winch hook with a Winch safety thimble, we recommend upgrading to Factor 55 PROLINK Winch Shackle Mount with a 16,000-pound load rating.
Cutting Edge Winch Safety [★★★★★ 5.0]
Unlike Jeep Hooks, Winch Safety Thimbles are designed to prevent them from being pulled into the fairlead (more on Jeep fairlead later) or damaging your bumper, especially when using automatic winches such as the Smittybilt X2O GEN2 10K Wireless Winch we recommended earlier if you are using any form of a self-recovery winch you will need a Winch Safety Thimble for safety reasons.
Winch Shackle
Unlike a Winch Safety Thimble, a Winch Shackle has more features, we recommend a Winch Shackle over a Winch Safety Thimble for Jeep off-roaders and Overlanders since Winch shackles are adopted for a variety of reasons, such as recovering your Jeep by connecting the end of the winch to a tree trunk, recovery strap, or hooking up a line.
One of the best Winch shackles that you can purchase today that we recommend and can attest to its usage is the Factor 55 ULTRAHOOK Winch Hook Shackle Mount with a conventional hook opening, or shackle mount, you can use the Factor 55 ULTRAHOOK Winch Hook with synthetic ropes or steel Winch cables. Factor 55 ULTRAHOOK Winch Hook with Shackle Mount has a rating of 31,000 pounds for the hook throat opening and 48,000 pounds for the shackle pin mount.
Proven Winch Shackle [★★★★★ 5.0]
We recommend a Jeep Winch Shackle over a Winch Safety Thimble or the Hook that comes with your Winch, this is because most shackles have high breaking strength and features that outclasses what hooks on your stock Jeep or other winch hooks can offer.
Winch Fairlead
Two types of materials are used to mold Winch Fairleads, aluminum, and steel; depending on your winch cable, you can use aluminum fairleads if you have synthetic winch ropes or steel fairleads if you have steel winch cable.
That’s not all you need to know when it comes to winch fairleads; you will also encounter two types of winch fairleads designs in the market, roller fairleads and hawse fairleads.
Hawse Fairlead
Same as your winch and winch cable, the hawse fairleads need to handle the strength of your winch and winch cable; we recommend buying a hawse fairlead based on the type of winch cables you have, for example, if you have a synthetic winch rope, you should make sure the hawse fairlead will not damage the synthetic rope if you have a steel cable as your winch cable, a heavy-duty Hawse Fairlead will be okay.
We recommend Agency 6 Hawse Fairlead; it’s a large enough Hawse fairlead for your Jeep Wrangler recovery needs, its 1.5” thick with a 10 inches hole spacing to fit your winch cable; you can use the Hawse Fairlead with a synthetic rope or a steel cable.
Agency 6 Hawse Fairlead is made from highly durable & thick 6061-T6 Aluminum; Aluminum is corrosive resistant and will handle offroading weather and abuse without rust issues.
Roller Fairleads
Roller fairleads are very common with Jeepers, you will find most Jeeps with winches rocking a roller fairlead; the most common Roller fairleads feature two verticle and two horizontal rollers; they minimize the wear and tear of your winch cable, whether you have a synthetic rope or a steel cable.
When it comes to roller fairleads for your Jeep, we recommend Smittybilt products, this is because the fairleads are compatible with most Jeep winches and their accessories, and you will also be able to mount them on your Jeep Wrangler or Jeep Gladiator easily.
Two roller fairleads products are in the market: Smittybilt Low Profile 4-Way Roller Fairlead and Smittybilt Roller Fairlead; links are provided below.
Two Unique Roller Fairleads [★★★★★ 4.9]
You should consider upgrading your winching accessories by including a roller fairlead, we find them useful when winching at extreme angles. Smittybilt roller fairleads above can be used for synthetic ropes and steel cables.
Compared to other fairleads rollers that tend to wear out on the two verticle and horizontal rollers and later start wearing out your winch synthetic rope or cable, Smittybilt roller fairleads last long, and their rollers are made from high quality that doesn’t overlap your winch cable and last long without a tear.
Pull/Winch Extension Strap
If you are into Jeep offroading, Overlanding, or Camping, you will need a winch extension strap that will be used to extend the length of your winch cable, whether you have a steel or synthetic winch rope. They are normally attached at the end of your winch cable to extend the length of your Jeep recovery distance.
We recommend the ARB Winch Extension Strap, which is made from polyester. Two types of materials are used to make winch extension straps nylon and polyester. We recommend polyester as it provides a more stable, safe working load than nylon winch extension straps that tend to be elastic and might cause issues when winching.
Check out the ARB Winch Extension Strap specifications and pricing in the link below:
You can use the ARB Winch Extension Strap for towing, lifting, or recovery. Every serious Jeep offroader, overlander, or camper should have a Jeep extension strap in their Jeep recovery kit. ARB winch extension strap has a 17600 lbs capacity, enough to pull your Jeep from stuck situations, tow trailers, or vehicles that are not moving and use it to lift heavy loads such as logs, rocks, and other equipment.
Synthetic Rope Splicing Tool
We don’t recommend knotting your winch rope, especially for Jeepers with synthetic ropes; this is because knotting your winch cable will reduce the strength of your cable by 20 to 40% while using a synthetic rope splicing tool will able to retain your synthetic winch rope by its full strength.
The splicing tool we recommend is a Factor 55 Fast FID Rope Splicing Tool which is stronger than most synthetic inch ropes available in the market today, it includes two materials that are pieced together synthetic and aluminum, making it stronger than your synthetic rope.
Premium Splicing Tool [★★★★★ 4.9]
Factor 55 Fast FID Rope Splicing Tool is perfect for extending your Jeep winch rope. By using the tool to splice two synthetic winch ropes, you will be able to extend the length of your winch cable, especially when you need a longer winch rope for recovery, lifting, or pulling.
We have used our Factor 55 Fast FID Rope Splicing Tool for many applications, such as repairing our synthetic winch rope and creating termination points of the winch rope to maintain and extend the life of our winch rope.
You can also use the Factor 55 Fast FID Rope Splicing Tool to create eyes or loops in your Jeep winch rope that you will need to connect winching accessories such as Jeep hooks and nimble.
Jeep Recovery Gear Bag
So many Jeep recovery bags are available online, but the number one Jeep recovery bag we recommend is the ARB Recovery Equipment Bag. The ARB Recovery Equipment Bag will be able to fit your small Jeep accessories such as straps, pulleys, dampers, gloves, and shackles.
Value Add Recovery Bag [★★★★★ 4.9]
ARB Recovery Equipment Bag is essential for Jeep offroaders who have or will shortly purchase recovery equipment. You will need a Jeep recovery bag to store winching and towing resources. We recommend a large bag that will be able to stock as many accessories as you can for your Jeep offroad recovery, emergencies, winching, and towing needs.
Winch Line Dampener
The winch line dampener is also called by other Jeepers you will find recovering their Jeeps as a winch line snubber, the winch line dampener is an essential Jeep recovery gear that will reduce the stress and wear of your winch and fairleads whether you are using synthetic ropes or steel cables, roller fairlead or Hawse Fairlead.
You should use the winch line dampener by placing it over your winch line during recovery, lifting, or towing, this is to prevent the winch line from flying when the rope or cable breaks.
We recommend the ARB Winch damper due to the brand reputation of manufacturing high-quality, durable, and reliable products, including the winch line dampener.
Effective Winch Line Dampener [★★★★★ 4.8]
The ARB Winch damper is easy to use and big enough to cover your winch line or cable; it also includes storage pockets that you can use to store winching accessories or use the bags to place heavy equipment that will weigh down the winch line when using it.
Snatch Block Winch Pulley
If you have a steel cable or synthetic winch rope, we recommend getting yourself WARN Snatch Block. It’s a 6-tone snatch block (12,000 lbs). The main purpose of a Snatch Block Winch Pulley is to improve the winch’s mechanical advantage by redirecting the winch cable. The WANR snatch block will double the pulling strength of your Jeep winch and is also useful when creating an anchor.
Powerful Snatch Block [★★★★★ 4.8]
Using a snatch block requires a very good understanding of how to use a winch, and we only recommend using a snatch block after learning your winching techniques; this is because snatch blocks not only do their increase your winching strength but can also be very dangerous in case of the snap when pulling, you will need to read your winches safety recommendations.
We use a spotter to let us know the direction of the rope and the positions, and also make sure the snatch block and the winch are properly in position before winching.
Off-road Recovery Board
Buying a recovery board should be determined by the types of tires you have on your Jeep and the type of terrain you frequent, such as snow, mud, or sand.
For example, you might have big all-terrain tires such as KO2, Snow tires which tend to be narrower, or Mud Tires, which tend to be much wider – for these reasons, you will need an offroad recovery board with a surface area that will be able to support the width of your tires and improve on their traction based on the types of tires you have installed on your Jeep.
It’s also important to consider the type of materials that make up the recovery board, we recommend more durable materials such as high-density polyethylene, which is resistant to wear and tear and will last more, even after heavy use recovering your Jeep Wrangler.
When it comes to traction boards, we always recommend sticking with companies we all know, such as MaxTrax, ARB, and ActionTrax, some of the offroad recovery boards we recommend from these companies include Maxtrax MKII FJ Blue Vehicle Recovery Board, ARB TREDPROMGO Vehicle Recovery Boards, and ActionTrax AT1O Pair of Self Recovery Vehicle Track System, links provided below:
Top Of The Line Recovery Boards [★★★★★ 4.8]
You can get creative about how you recover your Jeep with the above recovery boards, they are also easy to transport in your Jeep with lots of mounting options and accessories available for known brands, such as the ones provided in this post.
Jeep Recovery Shovel
There are two Jeep recovery shovels that we have used in our offroad recovery, camping use, and digging out fire pits for our campfires.
They include Agency 6 Adventure Mini Shovel and Bond Mini D Handle Shovel, we only recommend tools we have used, and we have used these two Jeep recovery shovels to dig out trenches, level out overland, camping, and offroading grounds, and make fire pits.
Here are the links to the Jeep Recovery shovels:
Amazing Recovery Shovels [★★★★★ 4.8]
The Agency 6 Adventure Mini Shovel is a premium Jeep recovery shovel made of all aluminum materials while the Bond Mini D Handle Shovel is made of metal and fiberglass handle, making it cost-effective for beginners.
When looking for a Jeep recovery shovel, the type of material that makes p the recovery shovel is our top consideration; you will want a recovery shovel made of long-lasting materials that will withstand heavy use and resist corrosion and rust.
Other factors to consider include the recovery shovel’s size and shape, how ergonomic the handle is for heavy use, the blade design, some are serrated while others are sharp, and finally, the portability of the shovel and its versatility.
Jeep Hi-Lift Jack
The first type of Jeep recovery gear that we ever bought for our Jeep Wrangler was a Hi-Lift Jack, we love the multiple uses and the cosmetic look it gives your mall crawler when mounted in strategic places on your Jeep. Specifically, we own the Hi-Lift Jack XT485 48″ Hi-Lift X-TREME Jack, and this is the Hi-Lift Jack we will highlight and use as a benchmark for Jeep HiLift Jacks in this section of Jeep Recovery gear.
Battle Tested Hi-Lift Jack [★★★★★ 4.8]
For starters, you should look for a hi-lift jack that is made from high-quality materials. Our top consideration for a hi-lift jack was alloy steel, which gives our hi-lift jack a load capacity of 50,000 lbs and makes it long-lasting and a good hi-lift jack for heavy use when jacking up our Jeep in the Trails.
We also recommend a hi-lift jack that is the right size for your Jeep; considering most Jeeps have big tires and lift kits that give them a high ground clearance, you should consider the height and weight of the hi-lift jack that will be able to lift the heavy loads of your Jeep, especially if you own and Overlanding Jeep.
We use our Hi-Lift Jack XT485 48″ Hi-Lift X-TREME Jack for multiple uses, including Jeep recovery, winching, towing, lifting, spreading, prying, and breaking through obstacles.
Hi-Lift Jack Tips:
- Keep your hi-lift jack lubed to protect them from corrosion.
- Mount the hi-lift jack in a stable mounting position, evenly distributing its weight.
- Always ensure the locking pin is secure to prevent unnecessary movements of the parts when the hi-lift jack is not in use or when mounted in your Jeep.
- If mounted outside your Jeep, make sure to lock your hi-lift jack, as they tend to be attractive to thieves.
Check out our guide on Mounting a Hi-Lift Jack on a Jeep & Find the Best Jack mount for a Jeep
Recovery Gloves
We recommend owning a pair of recovery gloves in your Jeep recovery kit if you own a winch, are into serious offroading, Overlanding, or own a trailer you tow with your Jeep.
We recommend ARB Recovery Gloves and Mechanix Wear Gloves for Jeep owners looking for Jeep recovery gloves, this is because both the ARB Recovery Gloves and Mechanix Wear Gloves are made of sturdy synthetic materials (ARB Recovery Gloves ) and Leather materials (Mechanix Wear Gloves) that will be able to withstand recovery operations, thanks to their strengthened wear points and abrasion pads.
Secure Recovery Gloves [★★★★★ 4.7]
We recommend the ARB Recovery Gloves and Mechanix Wear Gloves because of their protection designs, the recovery gloves should be able to protect your fingers from getting cut by steel cables or synthetic cables that we normally use as our winch lines, with steel ropes leaving you with serious cuts from metal splinters and synthetic ropes leaving you with rope burns.
A good pair of recovery gloves should be waterproof. They should have adjustable straps that will allow you to fit them perfectly in your hands so that they don’t get in your way when towing, winching, or recovering your offroad rig by providing a strong grip when working with your Jeep recovery gear.
Recovery Rope
There are two main factors that we look for when buying a recovery rope from a reputable brand, the first one is the breaking strength of the rope and the length of the rope. Our number one brand for Jeep recovery ropes is Bubba Ropes, there are two ropes we will recommend that we have in our Jeep Recovery Kit.
They include the Bubba Rope RENEGADE recovery rope, which has a braking point of 19,000lbs and is 3/4″ x 30′ ft, and the Bubba Rope RENEGADE recovery kit with a 19,000 lbs breaking pint and a 3/4″ x 20″ the main differentiating factor between the two recovery ropes is the length.
Amazingly Strong Recovery Ropes [★★★★★ 4.7]
The reason we recommend Buppa Recovery ropes is because of their designs and materials, the ropes are made from 100% double-braided nylon that is durable and can be used in extreme Jeep recovery situations; they have also added Gator-Ize protection vinyl polymer coating that adds to the Jeep recovery ropes overall strength and durability.
We use the ropes for recovery of our Jeep, nylon ropes are good in swamps, snow, mud, and Jeep trails recovery situations since they don’t get affected by wet conditions; you can attach recovery ropes to your winches, towing points and d rings when recovering your Jeep. You can also use them alongside your other Jeep recovery gears to get you unstuck in off-road situations.
We recommend following proper Jeep recovery techniques when using recovery ropes. They can be very dangerous when in the wrong hands and easily snap, damaging you and your vehicle when not used properly.
Recovery Snatch Straps
We also do have a recovery snatch strap in our Jeep recovery kit; the main reason we do have a recovery snatch snap as part of our Jeep recovery gear is that we needed a strong, elastic strap that is between a tow strap and recovery rope, and uses it when we need to use a strap with a rubber band like capabilities.
Specifically, we own the ARB 30-foot Snatch Strap; the ARB recovery snatch strap is made of durable, durable materials with reinforced joints and eye loops at each end that handle the most stress when towing or recovering our Jeeps. Being 30ft with a load capacity of 17,600 lbs, the ARB recovery snatch strap is the perfect choice for Jeepers looking for elastic straps that will be able to stretch and absorb the energy from sudden pulls.
Proven Snatch Straps [★★★★★ 4.7]
To effectively use the ARB 30-foot Snatch Strap, we have found that making sure you use it when the recovery Jeeps are in stable and level grounds and making sure the ARB recovery snatch strap is properly stretched with a little slack before attempting recovery. You should never use a recovery snatch strap by accelerating fast or jerking your Jeep, but slowly accelerate, creating a steady recovery using a recovery snatch strap instead.
Tip: You should avoid buying snatch straps with hooks on the ends because of the elasticity of the snatch straps. If the snatch strap breaks or detaches from the recovery hooks, the hooks become projectiles that can cause accidents.
Recovery Tow Strap
On our Jeep recovery kit, we also have recovery tow straps; unlike recovery snatch straps, our recovery tow strap is not elastic; we have tried three recovery tow straps on our Jeeps, Rhino USA 30-foot Tow Strap (40,320lb), GearAmerica 30-foot Tow Strap (45,000 lbs) and Sunferno 20-foot Tow Strap (35000lb).
There is not much difference between the Rhino USA 30-foot Tow Strap and the GearAmerica 30-foot Tow Strapexcept for the load capacity, they are both made from polyester materials which make them very durable and ideal for Jeep recovery, however, there are more options available for GearAmerica Recovery Tow Strap in terms of the size of the tow strap you need depending on your recovery and towing requirements.
Sunferno Recovery Tow Strap (35000 lb), on the other hand, is available in 3 inches only, compared to Rhino USA’s 30-foot Tow Strap and the GearAmerica 30-foot Tow Strap, which have 4’ options.
All the recovery tow straps include a carrying bag that protects the tow straps when not in use and makes it easy to store them in your Jeep recovery kits.
We recommend the Rhino USA 30-foot Tow Strap, GearAmerica 30-foot Tow Strap, and Sunferno 20-foot Tow Strap because reputable brands make them, and they are all reinforced, especially on the eye loops. They have proven to be ideal for Jeep recovery and towing operations.
Tree Saver Strap
For Jeepers with a winch, a tree saver strap should be included in your Jeep recovery kit, a tree saver strap is a Jeep recovery gear that is used to recover your Jeep and is normally used to anchor your winch to a tree or any other anchor point that you might have near your stuck Jeep.
There are three tree saver straps we have tried, all from reputable brands that we have mentioned in this Jeep recovery post, they include ARB 10-foot Tree Saver Strap, GearAmerica 8-foot Tree Saver Strap, and our personal favorite Rhino USA 8-foot Tree Saver Strap. Check them out below!
Stunning Tree Saver Straps [★★★★★ 4.7]
We recommend ARB 10-foot Tree Saver Strap, GearAmerica 8-foot Tree Saver Strap, and Rhino USA 8-foot Tree Saver Strap because of their reinforced designs, especially on the loops, and they are all made from durable polyester, except the Rhino USA 8-foot Tree Saver Strap which is made from silk.
For the weight ratings, the ARB 10-foot Tree Saver Strap has a rating of 26500 lbs, the GearAmerica 8-foot Tree Saver Strap 35,000 lbs, and the Rhino USA 8-foot Tree Saver Strap has a rating capacity of 31,518lb.
In terms of their length, tree saver straps are normally shorter than other recovery straps such as tow straps, however, they are thicker to protect the tree from cust, which can occur if you are using a steel cable from your winch or a synthetic rope from your winch.
Recovery Bridle Strap
As serious Jeep offroaders, we also have a special Jeep recovery gear called a Jeep recovery bridle strap, which looks similar to other types of straps, however, they look similar to a recovery rope and have loopholes at both ends.
We have two Jeep recovery bridle straps X MONSTER Kinetic Recovery Bridle that we use for Jeep recovery and VULCAN Alloy Towing Chain Bridle that we use for towing purposes.
The main purpose of using a recovery bridle is to distribute the weight of your load across multiple recovery points that you might have on your Jeep, however, we normally use of Jeep recovery bridle strap to connect two recovery ropes or snatch ropes.
Recovery Soft Shackle
Another type of recovery rope that we have on our Jeep recovery kit is a recovery soft shackle; we prefer soft shackles made from synthetic ropes, which have a high breaking point, especially when it’s short, and weaves for reinforcement purposes; some of the top brands of soft shackles include Bubba and Smittybilt, with their Bubba Rope 7/16″ and Smittybilt 7/16″ soft shackles.
Cutting-Edge Recovery Soft Shackle [★★★★★ 4.7]
Soft shackles can be used if you don’t have d-rings and have hooks installed in your Jeep, they are common with offroaders, and you will find most Jeepers using them when recovering their Jeeps in various Jeep trails since they are easier to use and budget-friendly.
We also use recovery soft shackles to hook two or more Jeep recovery ropes or when we want to extend the length of the winch line, which is impossible to do when using D-Rings installed in your Jeep bumper.
Jeep D-Rings
We have talked about recovery soft shackles, which can be used if you don’t have D-rings installed in your Jeep; however, having D-Rings in your Jeep not only do they add up to the exterior looks of your Jeep, but also help in recovery, using them as recovery and mounting points for various Jeep recovery accessories such as recovery ropes.
Some Jeepers refer to Jeep D-rings as anchor shackles; they resemble the shape of a D, that’s why they are called D-rings, mostly mounted on your Jeep front and rear bumper, and made from steel or aluminum, making them durable and good recovery mounting options due to their loopholes or eyes.
If you are looking for Jeep D-Rings we recommend buying D-Rings from popular brands such as GearAmerica and our personal favorite, which we have mounted on our Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator Crosby D-rings (Made in the USA); the links to our top picks Jeep D-Rings are available below:
Super Strong Jeep D-Rings [★★★★★ 4.7]
Jeep D-rings are very effective and a must-have Jeep recovery accessory for Jeep offroaders and Overlanders; some of the most common mistakes people make with their Jeep D-rings during recovery is sideloading their d-rings which makes them weak; the recovery should be made from a straight recovery position which allows the D-Rings to maximize their load capacity.
Locking Hitch Pin
We also recommend purchasing a locking hitch pin as part of your Jeep recovery accessories; a locking hitch pin is a multi-purpose accessory that is most helpful when protecting your hitch-mounted gears and accessories such as Jeep trailers, bike racks, Jeep hitch racks, and cargo racks. They protect your hitch-mounted accessories by containing a locking mechanism like pins and key combinations.
However, you can use your locking pin as a temporary solution to secure your Jeep recovery accessories to your hitch recovery and prevents the recovery accessory from being accidentally released during recovery.
We recommend purchasing the Rhino USA Shackle Hitch Receiver + Locking Hitch Pin Combo
The Rhino USA Shackle Hitch Receiver + Locking Hitch Pin Combo is made from alloy steel, making them perfect for heavy load requirements needed for Jeep recovery; the locking pin prevents the shackle and hitch recovery or any other recovery accessory such as D-Rings mounted on your hitch from accidentally being released when recovering your Jeep or during transportation.
Jeep Tire Repair Kit
When stocking your Jeep recovery kit, you should invest in a tire repair kit which are tools that you will use to repair your Jeep tires, they mainly include tire patches, a gauge, a rasp, and a needle that you will use to repair the tires with by inserting the patch into the punctured section.
Like all other Jeep recovery accessories in this article, we recommend buying tire repair kits from reputable companies specializing in recovery gears and accessories, such as ARB, Smittybilt, and Safety Seal Pro. Some of the tire repair kits available from these companies that we have tried and included in our Jeep recovery kit include ARB Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit, Smittybilt Tire Repair Kit, and Safety Seal Pro Tire Repair Kit.
Instant Value Tire Repair Kits [★★★★★ 4.7]
ARB Speedy Seal Tire Repair Kit has up to 40 vulcanizing repair cords and some rasps tools that you can use to roughen the area near the puncture, it also includes a needle that you can use to insert the repair cords inside the tire to seal the tire punctures. Safety Seal Pro Tire Repair Kit has enough cords to repair up to 30 repairs.
Jeep tire repair kits are essential for emergency tire repairs when in remote areas and are not a permanent solution to your tire punctures; after using your tire repair kit, you should have a professional inspect your tires and the extent of the tire damage to repair or suggest a tube or tire replacement.
Tire Deflator
Mostly Jeepers buy a tire deflator to deflate their Jeep tires off-roading to increase the traction of their tires when off-roading; however, a tire deflator is an essential Jeep recovery tool that can still be used for the same purpose but to help recover a Jeep stuck in mud, snow or sand by deflating your tires to increase the tires traction.
Some of the tire deflators we recommend based on compatibility, ease of use during recovery, and how fast they deflate your tires based on their designs include ARB E-Z Tire Deflator, Slime Valve Core Tool, and Smittybilt Rapid Air Deflator, which are all from reputable brands.
When it comes to tire deflators, we prefer brass tools because they can withstand the harsh conditions of off-road use; some of the tire deflators we have recommended are based on brass materials, such as ARB E-Z Tire Deflator and Smittybilt Rapid Air Deflator.
For the sizes f Jeep tires, we have made sure only to include tire deflators that are fast and will deflate your tires quickly and efficiently because they have a high flow valve that will release air from them quickly.
Air Compressor
An air compressor is also a Jeep recovery accessory that you will need in your Jeep recovery kit, we use our Jeep air compressor after repairing punctures with Jeep tire repair kits and also inflating tires after deflating them with a tire deflator to increase the surface area of our tires for improved traction during recovery.
Two air compressors top the list of the best air compressors for Jeeps, they include Smittybilt Air Compressor and ARB On-Board Twin Air Compressor.
Smittybilt Air Compressor and ARB On-Board Twin Air Compressor are some of the recommended air inflators you can buy for use during emergencies when you want to inflate your tires. We recommend them based on their CFM ratings and PSI Ratings. They are also very portable and can inflate all four tires without overheating.
We don’t recommend buying cheap air compressors for use during recovery; this is because they have a high noise level, and their PSI and CFM ratings are slow; not only will they frustrate you during recovery situations, but they can also breakdown and fail to operate when you need them, that’s why we have recommended Smittybilt Air Compressor and ARB On-Board Twin Air Compressor based on the features and dependability during recovery situations.
Jeep Off-Road Anchor
An off-road anchor is an essential Jeep recovery accessory that you should include in your Jeep recovery kit, they are mainly used by Jeep off-roaders, overlanders, and campers for various uses such as recovery, winching, or anchoring Jeep tents or Jeep Awnings when camping.
Having used various Jeep off-road anchors, we recommend Smittybilt Winch Anchor Support and Red Rock 4×4 Land Anchor, they are both from reputable Jeep recovery gear manufacturers, and the two off-road anchors are made from heavy-duty materials that will withstand the heavy load capacity required for winching and grounding.
Proven Off-Road Anchors [★★★★★ 4.7]
Both of the recommended Smittybilt Winch Anchor Support and Red Rock 4×4 Land Anchor have a foldable shovel design with a front sharp edge that makes it easy to anchor them to the ground, they also have a winch anchor point that you can hook up your Jeep winch during recovery.
Trail Machete
When Jeep off-roading or Jeep Camping you can get stuck in an area that will need you to clear the surrounding bushes to have a working area to recover or repair your Jeep; for this reason, we recommend having a trail machete, an axe, or a chainsaw that will help you clear the surrounding area to have a working area for you to recover your Jeep.
We recommend a trail machete over an axe or a chainsaw because they are lightweight, compact, and easy to transport; they also serve the same purpose as an axe or a chainsaw; for us we have a Smittybilt trail machete that comes with a sheath that makes it handling, transporting and storing easier.
Razor Sharp Trail Machete [★★★★★ 4.7]
Not only can you use the trail machete for clearing your grounds when recovering your Jeep, but you can also use it to clear short bushes, and trees for camping grounds, chop firewood for cooking when Overlanding or camping, and many other things you can do with a traditional machete.
About the Author: James Ndungu
James Ndungu is a seasoned automotive professional with a deep passion for Jeeps. With 40 years of experience in owning, testing, and reviewing various Jeep models, James has gained extensive first-hand knowledge and expertise. He shares his insights, tips, and advice through his engaging writing, helping fellow Jeep enthusiasts navigate the exciting world of Jeeps.
Last update on 2024-12-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
