Tips from last years Recover Team

[yogi]

My top tips after being one of the recovery vehicles last year are as follows (we all learned a lot so hopefully this is of some help to everyone going this year).

- get to know the members in the recovery vehicles (they may just have to save your bacon)

- Recover teams get to know each others calls and have a good understanding of what is expected of each other during a recover.

- have a set UHF channel dedicated to recoveries and only use this channel if your are directly involved in the recovery (several hand held's seem to work the best last year)

- during a recovery stay a safe distance away from all vehicles involved in said recovery and offer any assistance if required it could be you stuck next. (we had a classic last year where impatient people waiting to cross Palm Creek were walking over winch cables trying to set up there own recovery points while we were trying to recover vehicles. Not only was it extremely dangerous for them it was also slowing down the recovery process and ultimately slowing them down from attempting the crossing them selves.)

- if you don't know anything about recoveries or are not certain what to do ask questions prior to undertaking the recovery. It is often vitally important to be in the correct gear and apply or not apply throttle at a specific point in time during a recover weather it be winching or snatching ect(a quick rundown on the first night from the recovery team would go a long way to helping out people who are not that familiar with such techniques as well as align peoples thought processes whom maybe familiar with such techniques with the members doing the recoveries ..... everyone does thing slightly differently)

- advise the recovery team prior to tackling an obstacle if you are worried about getting stuck. This is to allow the recovery team time to setup equipment and vehicles as required. (if you drive into water and get stuck it is only a matter of seconds before water will start to enter your vehicles cabin ..... this is not a pleasant experience)

- prior to any obstacle have your recovery gear ready and any D shackles already setup on your vehicle. Not only will it save valuable time while stuck it's often very hard / dangerous to attach D shackles ect once bogged or stuck in a precarious position. (a tip when leaving D shackles attached to the vehicle for any extended period of time use a small zip tie through the eye of the bolt and the D shackle to stop them unwinding and getting lost. Remember once you have tighten up your D shackle bold give it half a turn to loosen the bold and prevent it from binding up and becoming a permanent fixture to your 4x4 )

- during a recovery or prior to attempting an obstacle take directions only from the recover team members (they can advise once a recovery has been completed and the track is now clear)

- follow the spotter's directions as they are in the best position to advise of wheel placement, wheel direction, how much throttle to apply and in the event of issue advise to stop or reverse back ect.

- a simple thankyou goes a long way and is all that is needed. (I believe XXXX says it the best though )

There are plenty more so as I think of them I will update .... Timmy got any more to add ?

yogi

One of the most important tips for any trip .........

"NEVER NEVER EVER WHAT EVER YOU DO LEAVE THE TRACK"

[Chippy76]

Yogi,
All VERY good velid points for safe recoveries.
As an Ex-army driver I know the importance of a swift, but safe recovery.
My only suggestion is that maybe before departure a kind of "how to guide" that covers snatch and winch type recoveries could be emailed out to all participants. This would allow them time to read and digest any information, and would avoid you missing out on anything before the trip. Forewarned is forearmed.....
I think the biggest problem is when people assume that because someone owns a snatch strap or winch they know how to use them (recent TV shows seem to have debunked that theory)

All the best for a safe trip  (and pending recoveries)
If I can be of any help please let me know.

Cheers Chippy

[TOY80ST]

I good tip that we used in our 4wd club was to duct tape a snatch strap to the bonnet of each vehicle. In my 80 it was easier as there is a spot to srore it  behind the LH headlight under the bonnet in front of the battery. I used to coil it up with one end attached to the recovery point and put it inside a plastic bag to protect it from a chance of battery acid becoming into contact with it. Some early 80series have the aircon accumulator there so it is not an option.

During recoveries lift the bonnet, pull out the plastic bag, thread the strap back through the bullbar (it was better to come up behind the bar, because when I went over the top it used to catch on sticks etc and eventually unravel) and then throw the strap out in the direction of the recovery vehicle.

Here is another we used to do I know it sounds odd but we had a $4000 radio under the passenger seat. We had 2 big boat bilge pumps wired up with cigarette lighter plugs and we kept them on the floor behind the front seats. they had a 1.5 meter plastic hose on them. If we went into water we made sure they were at the ready and the windows were down. When/ if we got stuck we would throw the pump on the floor in the front passenger side first (radio was there) and then the drivers side. chuck the hoses out the window and then plug them in. I plugged it in once before putting the hose out. Lets say my wife was not happy after that. If we were facing up hill we would throw them on the seat floor.

We would never wind our winch in after using it for a recovery. We would just wind the excess cable around the bullbar and leave it ther until our trip was finished. We never knew if we were going to get stuck in the next 5 minutes or 5 days. Your vehicle does not have to look pretty by winding the winch in. you are just waisting tme and battery power that you have to put back into it.

One of my friends has made up relective arrows pointing to his recovery points. I have them also but have never put them on the car.

[Symon]

The couple I would throw in are -

1. Get to know where your recovery points are, and make sure they are actually recovery points, not tie down points.  At a pinch tie down points can be used but it is highly dangerous.

2. It is always nicer to use your own recovery gear.  Snatch straps in particular have a limited life so it isn't fair on the recovery vehicle to always be using their gear.  Before going into an obstacle get your winch ready, hook up your straps if need be and double check to make sure they are properly attached.

3. If doing a water crossing and you don't have a fancy car bra that has a pocket for your snatch strap (like me) and you are just using a tarp (like I do), loosely wrap the strap around your snorkel so you can get to it quickly if needed.  Don't just throw the coiled strap on top of the bonnet and hope it stays there.  What can (and does) happen is the strap falls off and gets caught in your wheels, which is not only dangerous but very embarrassing.....

4. With water crossings the designated winch bitch will be standing in the water marking out the correct line and giving directions, so please follow them.  Also the giving of beer to the winch bitch as you pass is greatly appreciated.

[McGirr]

Yogi, you and Tim were legends on the last trip and made the trip the best.

Symon also offered help along the way and very much appreciated.

Palm Creek as Yogi mentioned was the hardest and alot of people were cued up and were a little sarcastic. Not from our group.

With Yogi positioned on the other side winching members up I was in the creek guiding members in and using a differnet channel on the uhf so as to not confuse the recovery teams. This worked well and we got 11 cars across very quickly.

As mentioned have all your recovery gear ready and easily accessed. It does not matter what experinace you have or have not listen to the recovry team and they will get you through. Make sure you have proper recovery points on the vehicle and you have all your own gear.

At the end of the day please reward all recovery team members with  as this is how we accept gratitude.

If you do not feel confident in tackling a crossing other members can assist in taking your vehicle across.

I will have a full rundown sheet that will be given out at our first stop over so you will know what to expect and be ready.

Mark   

[yogi]

Chippy76 .... I am no expert and have no formal training in this area but if you have maybe you could start up a "My Swag Recoveries for Dummies" type book. Then we could have it added as a technical resource here on My Swag for all members to utilise ?

I usually refer new comers to 4x4ing to the 4WD Action Recoveries DVD as a first point of call.

yogi

[singo-26]

Another point to consider, Although it looks like Tim filled the role last year, Is for want of a better term a coordinator who gives the call on all recoveries. There is nothing worse than sitting in a vehicle about to be recovered or doing a recovery, and having directions fired at you from many different people, All with a different viewpoint on what is happening and what should happen.

[Symon]

"My Swag Recoveries for Idiots"

Nice idea, but why is there a photo of me on the cover???

[Beachman]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned having the camera handy at all times so the images can we shared with your fellow myswag members

[McGirr]

Another point to consider, Although it looks like Tim filled the role last year, Is for want of a better term a coordinator who gives the call on all recoveries. There is nothing worse than sitting in a vehicle about to be recovered or doing a recovery, and having directions fired at you from many different people, All with a different viewpoint on what is happening and what should happen.

Could not agree more.
One great thing last year was that we had a great team that just clicked. Yogi, Tim, J.K and Symon that all worked together assisting the vehicles. Although Tim would not stop playing in the mud even when the recovery was done

I'm surprised no one has mentioned having the camera handy at all times so the images can we shared with your fellow myswag members

We had over 3000 pics to share but the good ones were posted.

[jetcrew]

Do recoveries include "from your wife"

So like if I have a few and get a bit lippy and think I own my car ,house and camper and the MRS starts to give me a decent ear bashing to which i will be helpless to defend ,is there a special word or phrase I should yell out to advise the RECOVERY TEAM that I am in need of urgent assitance .?

I will have my strap out ready , however it may be wrapped around my head for storage and protection , but just hook up and get me out of there.


on a serious note fully agree with everything yogi and others have said .
Jetcrew

[McGirr]

Theo

You will need a note from your wife giving you permission to come over to the men's section during the trip... For 2 beers per person we will advise your wife we are talking about solar panels!!

Mark

[yogi]

Nice idea, but why is there a photo of me on the cover???

You and me both brother ...... There is nothing to be ashamed about being recovered ..... It just means you are having fun and most importantly learning something

All you have to do is follow jk's advise at Cannal creek if your looking for an easy track ..... Only two trucks busted cv's trying to get up the track following that line yesterday Oh and nothing else even came close to making it

yogi

[jk]

          .........................If your in doubt about which line to take ask me, I'm good at that sort of thing........apparently 

[yogi]

          .........................If your in doubt about which line to take ask me, I'm good at that sort of thing........apparently 

I can feel the love brother

yogi

PS(if your after a more technical line follow JK ..... If your after a simpler line ask JK  )

[Symon]

You and me both brother ...... There is nothing to be ashamed about being recovered ..... It just means you are having fun and most importantly learning something

All you have to do is follow jk's advise at Cannal creek if your looking for an easy track ..... Only two trucks busted cv's trying to get up the track following that line yesterday Oh and nothing else even came close to making it

yogi

As they say, if you have never been bogged you haven't been trying.

That line you took was rather easy, it was just the saggy bottom that was the problem

[Rowanb]

Good topic, for those that may be interested this is what I have been doing for the past 22 years

http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/army/jobs/MechanicRecovery/

and as an instructor at the school (currently) I can, if required provide all of the info plus how to work out the breaking strain on chain, steel wire rope etc, loads they can safely take and best (only) place to buy your recovery equipment.

PM me if interested, its all mostly in PowerPoint.

[Chippy76]

hey rowan,
Is there any chance you have a copy of the most recent driver precis? I had a copy of mine, but I think SWMBO threw it out.

Id love  copy of any recovery info you have, I'm seriously considering writing some sort of manual.

Cheers Chippy

[Rowanb]

Thats Truckie crap lol. Will have a look when get back to work on Mon to see if I can find it.

[SteveandViv]

They are all great tips guys. We also had a bank up at Palm and were lucky to be called through as we were two and they were ten. In those situations though you have to have a thick skin. There were plenty there to give advice and this is where my tip is.

For those that are asking for help. Take advice from those who are there to guide you. Don't be swayed in lots of directions, stay with the team or those you have decided are best to help out. I'll bet a case (of Cold Gold) you'll be at some crossing either having a  look or setting up water blinds or straps etc. Others will then come along and be full of advice. The two that comes to me was being told by one in Palm that I was an idiot for stopping as I came to the accent, well another fellow was talking to this dude and my wife over heard. At the end of the day I was in low first and locked so there was no need to go 100KPH and we made it up quite easy. point being others were tackling it way to fast IMO and things can break.

The other great one was at Nolans and Frostd and I walked the different lines deciding which way to go and a fellow on the bank started telling us all the facts. we found out he got stuck, spent 40 minutes waiting fr help and his camper was still draining when we got there.

Anyway, point is once the recovery is under way stick with the agreed recovery strategy and you should be right.

[yogi]

Rowanb ......... that would be very kind of you ...... if could you put something together and let me know what size it is so I can work out the best way to send it through the internet to me

SteveandViv ..... so true .... everones an expert when there not doing it

Thanks
yogi

[jetcrew]

Theo

You will need a note from your wife giving you permission to come over to the men's section during the trip... For 2 beers per person we will advise your wife we are talking about solar panels!!

Mark

Ahhh very good point mate about 3 weeks before the trip I'll start talking about "low light re-fraction panels" these panels work north of the tropic of capricorn and are especcially suited to the cape .An that I sold a few to you.

So that should give me out to test the performance after dinner ,and spend some time with the big dogs , I'll have to work on my bark though, it's a little wimpery at present.

Back on track, I agree with the comments about knowing who you trust.

Any idiot can get a vehical recovered , but the real people know how to do it safley and with little or no damage to the vehical or persons.

I always apply the rule that if the guy giving me directions ect is the one who will be towing me home or sitting there with me for days then he's the one I listen to. cause he has as much invested in the situation as me. Everything else is just white noise to me.

Jetcrew

[Chippy76]

I always apply the rule that if the guy giving me directions ect is the one who will be towing me home or sitting there with me for days then he's the one I listen to. cause he has as much invested in the situation as me. Everything else is just white noise to me.

Good point u make there Jetcrew!

Cheers Chippy

[idlegossip]

Well being one off the group from last year, all I can say is the myswag recovery team definitely know what they are doing from my point of view. Yogi, Tim, Simon, JK and Mark had it down to an art, one directing traffic into the creeks safely, one through the harrards and the rest ready to do what is needed to get everyone out safely without hesitation. You can't ask for a better team.

You will all be in very capable hands that is for sure.

[barraboy]

I agree with Theo, Last years recovery team were exceptional and I wouldnt have made it without them. With Mark conducting and Yogi's beast supported by Symon Tim and JK it was fantastic. Also a special mention for Duggie and the chainsaw at gunshot. I was concerned that the smoke dangling from his lips would burn out before the log was cut.  Looking forward to this year but sad to see that Yogi's name is not on the list.  Who is going to cook the pizza??