Anyone have a recovery kit that they like? There are so many on the market - lots of mixed reviews. Any basics that you recommend?
Recovery Kit Options
- Thread starter YellowLab
- Start date
In my opinion, most recovery kits are overpriced. I've researched them and in every instance you could buy all the pieces for substantially less than the "kit" price....but I suppose maybe you're paying for the convenience.
At any rate, here's what I include in my recovery bag:
When I converted my old 2004 Land Rover from steel cable to synthetic winch line, I bought from Custom Splice and I've been shopping there ever since. Great products at great prices.
It's nice to be able to just grab a dedicated bag out of a garage cabinet and throw it in the back of the truck. That being said, I keep my winch remote in the truck at all times as well as a couple bow shackles, a soft shackle, and a 30' tow strap. So I guess half my recovery crap is stuffed in the truck already, LOL. If this GX550 had better storage capacity, I'd keep the fully-stocked recovery bag in my truck at all times.
At any rate, here's what I include in my recovery bag:
- Two or three 3/4" bow shackles
- A hitch receiver bow shackle adapter (this is the best rear recovery point in my opinion)
- A nice, long (30') recovery strap (I use static recovery straps instead of kinetic recovery ropes - I don't like to speed up and yank with the rubber band ropes, way too much scary energy building up there in my opinion)
- Tree strap if you're winching (or you can use your recovery strap around a tree but keep in mind you'll be abrading it)
- I always have a snatch block (old school pulley version) in my bag but I've never actually used one - I'm sure one day when I'm really bogged down I'll need the extra pulling power. I've never tried a recovery ring version of a snatch block - I've heard good and bad things about them (I've heard they can build up so much friction heat that they start to melt your synthetic winch line).
- I have a 20' or 30' synthetic winch line extension in my bag because all the winch suppliers now seem to only include 80' of synthetic line on the spool
- I recently picked up my first synthetic soft shackle but I haven't used it yet. These seem like a really slick product, much safer than steel parts like bow shackles. But bow shackles still have their place - you have to remember that you can't put a soft shackle in a hard-edged recovery point like they install on most of our aftermarket steel bumpers. See my recent update in my build thread, for instance.
When I converted my old 2004 Land Rover from steel cable to synthetic winch line, I bought from Custom Splice and I've been shopping there ever since. Great products at great prices.
It's nice to be able to just grab a dedicated bag out of a garage cabinet and throw it in the back of the truck. That being said, I keep my winch remote in the truck at all times as well as a couple bow shackles, a soft shackle, and a 30' tow strap. So I guess half my recovery crap is stuffed in the truck already, LOL. If this GX550 had better storage capacity, I'd keep the fully-stocked recovery bag in my truck at all times.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks - outstanding info - and like your views/experience with these as well. Do you know know if the front and rear lexus provided tow rings are even worth using for recovery - or pretty worthless from a weight rating?
I don't know off-hand how they are rated. I haven't even looked closely at the rear rings but I can tell you that the front rings, and their mounting method, are very beefy. I'd imagine the rears are too.
Front ring:
You also have to make sure you're looking at actual "recovery points" and not just tie-down points. My old 1996 Land Rover Discovery had little tie-down loops welded to the frame but these were only for strapping the vehicle to a delivery truck as opposed to actual recovery points. People used to use these wimpy rings for recovery and they'd bend and sometime rip right off. I have no idea if the GX550 has any tie-down points vs. recovery points.
Front ring:
You also have to make sure you're looking at actual "recovery points" and not just tie-down points. My old 1996 Land Rover Discovery had little tie-down loops welded to the frame but these were only for strapping the vehicle to a delivery truck as opposed to actual recovery points. People used to use these wimpy rings for recovery and they'd bend and sometime rip right off. I have no idea if the GX550 has any tie-down points vs. recovery points.
- Thread starter
- #5
Those are the same ones I'm looking at - and they do appear very beefy. There is a local vendor offering recovery points that I was debating about upgrading to. But I'm also in the market for an after market front bumper with a winch option that would defeat replacing the existing with an aftermarket to then replace the bumper. But then I'm a guy and our tiny brains say the only thing better than upgrading once is twice.
These are from nytop.com using the existing bolt locations
From what I understand, these are the best hand winches if you want to go that route. The More Power Puller®, Portable Winch, Cable Puller, Come Along Winches | By The Wyeth-Scott Company
- Thread starter
- #7
I want to go the route of integrated winch/bumper like you did - just need to get around to picking and ordering one
Those NYTOP front recovery points are very nice, but so are the stock ones. And $230 will buy you a lot of bright red spray paint.
I just grabbed one of the stock recovery points out of my growing pile of stock Lexus GX550 parts. You can see that the stock recovery point incorporates a delivery truck tie-down point that I mentioned before. I didn't even notice this when I took them off.
$230 for the NYTOP product is absolutely ridiculous. I don't want to knock their product but come on...I always look at a seemingly expensive product and think, "Could I make it for less?" The answer is almost always "no" but in this case, I'm pretty sure I could actually make those red recovery points for less than $230. Especially if I was paying a third party to churn out dozens of them at a time. Maybe I'll make some in bright blue and offer them for $225 a pair. Maybe they paid a fortune to have them tested and certified but when you get down to it, it's just a piece of 5/8" milled steel.
I just grabbed one of the stock recovery points out of my growing pile of stock Lexus GX550 parts. You can see that the stock recovery point incorporates a delivery truck tie-down point that I mentioned before. I didn't even notice this when I took them off.
$230 for the NYTOP product is absolutely ridiculous. I don't want to knock their product but come on...I always look at a seemingly expensive product and think, "Could I make it for less?" The answer is almost always "no" but in this case, I'm pretty sure I could actually make those red recovery points for less than $230. Especially if I was paying a third party to churn out dozens of them at a time. Maybe I'll make some in bright blue and offer them for $225 a pair. Maybe they paid a fortune to have them tested and certified but when you get down to it, it's just a piece of 5/8" milled steel.
- Thread starter
- #9
Agree - just add the word 'overland' to anything means kick up the price by an insane factor. I think of I did a bridle tie into these - they would be fine for recovery. Just less that funky red paint!
Good to see they look to be recovery points given the shipping tie leg with the hole.
The one recovery piece we also have found invaluable on our club runs and Overland routes is a small hand saw for cutting heavy branches that get pinned in the wheel well or axle. Also, I bring my small Makita battery chain saw for cutting things that get in the way or would otherwise possibly cause body damage.
Also a 10"-12" panel 1"-2" think to put you jack on in sand or dirt if needed. These are required for most national seashore sand trails on the east coast, as is a folding recovery shover and fire extinguisher. A low pressure tire gauge that reads 5-10 psi for airing down.
The one recovery piece we also have found invaluable on our club runs and Overland routes is a small hand saw for cutting heavy branches that get pinned in the wheel well or axle. Also, I bring my small Makita battery chain saw for cutting things that get in the way or would otherwise possibly cause body damage.
Also a 10"-12" panel 1"-2" think to put you jack on in sand or dirt if needed. These are required for most national seashore sand trails on the east coast, as is a folding recovery shover and fire extinguisher. A low pressure tire gauge that reads 5-10 psi for airing down.
That's greedy. I could probably get those waterjet cut for $15 ea. If anyone wants to send me their stock recovery points along with a return shipping label, I'd powdercoat them in your choice of a standard color (red, black, blue, silver, ...) for $5 each (beer money) with just a day or 2 turnaround. Send me a PM if you wish to pursue.
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- #12
Would that be the AEX-14TT-OL jack stand from Universal Amalgamated Industries? The normal price on that stand - which is currently used on the new B-21 Bomber costs roughly $395. Their 'Overland Edition" with its terrain sensing ground plate retails for $49,785 plus the annual maintenance contract valued at $940,000/yr
I'll send you a custom piece of 1" thick wood to use as your jack base for only $229.99 or only 4 monthly payments of $68.75. Plus shipping and handling fees to be calculated at checkout.
That's an awesome deal!
- Thread starter
- #15
Is the wood recovered from an antique/historic building or virgin - I want trees dropping for what I buy.
It's guaranteed to be harvested from old growth redwood in a protected forest. For an extra $50 I can make sure a protestor is camping up in the tree when we cut it down.
- Thread starter
- #17
Agreed - and extra $25 for each tree hugger that rides the tree down
I think a home Depot 2 x 12 from their special crooked forest in knotville would be fine.
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