We've all heard it before: If you have it, you won't need it, but if you don't have it, you'll definitely need it. This is especially true when it comes to recovery gear. There is a wide spectrum of recovery tools available, from straps and jacks to winches and welders. We've seen them all help get 4x4s out of a jam and on down the trail, and every year there are some new products for the market.
We thought a recap of some of the latest new tools and old standbys would be perfect for our Whoops! issue. Hopefully some of these will keep you from walking home in the rain, in the dark, with your truck stuck in a ditch behind you-though that would make for a great story and a good Whoops! photo.
'Lectric Line-puller
MileMarker unleashes its latest innovative winches, the V-10 (10,000-pound) and V-12 (12,000-pound) electric winches featuring solid-state controls (no solenoids), variable-speed line control, and waterproof sealing. This winch line is built to handle anything you can throw at it, with a durable, dual-compound black polyurethane coating and stainless steel hardware. Information: MileMarker, 800.866.8647, www.milemarker.com
Snatch Pack
ARB snatch straps have 20-percent stretch to create kinetic energy for recover. ARB also has extension straps available in 10,000 and 17,500 load ratings, and tree-trunk protectors that come in 10- or 16-foot lengths. The company also has snatch blocks in 15,400-pound or 20,000-pound working load, one has a solid billet pulley and greasable bushing, and the other has an aerospace-grade polymer pulley with greaseless bushing that is 30 percent lighter in weight for competition use. Information: ARB, 800.761.8158, www.arbusa.com
Ever-Ready Air
It's not unusual to blow a bead on a tire while four-wheeling, so the ExtremeAire Magnum from Extreme Outback Products is a valuable recover tool. It has a 1.5hp continuous-duty, fan-cooled motor for unlimited run time and the power to fill any size tire to any pressure. With 40 feet of hose, the kit includes an LED flashlight and pressure gauge. The powdercoated box and stainless steel fasteners ensure a long life in the worst conditions. Information: Extreme Outback Products, 866.447.7711, www.extremeoutback.com
Metal Mender
A Premier Power Welder mounts under your hood and uses a special alternator to power it. The welder has jacks for the welding leads as well as a 115V DC power outlet jack (maximum 2,300 watts, 20 amps) for nonfluorescent lighting and brush-type power tools, such as grinders, drills, and saws-not to mention blenders, frying pans, and blow-dryers. Information: Premier Power Welder LLC, 800.541.1817, www.premierpowerwelder.com
Vicious winch
Quality Gear introduces its line of Kodiak electric winches: the Grizzly (12,000-pound), the Bruin (9,500-pound), and the Cub (2,500-pound). Kodiak winches are designed and trail-tested to ensure they meet the rugged demands of serious off-roaders looking to claw their way out of anything. Information: Kodiak, 888.452.7979, www.kodiakwinch.com
Remote Winching
Control your winch with no strings (or wires) attached. The Warn wireless control system works up to 100 feet away and is available for virtually all Warn winches, from powersports winches to truck winches to the Warn Works line of hoisting and pulling tools. Information: Clemson 4 Wheel Center, 800.257.4294, www.clemson4wheel.com
Handy Headlight
The Saint is a virtually indestructible headlamp that overwhelms the darkness. It has a wide yet powerful beam optimized to match your field of vision, with a variable output dial designed for one-handed use. The Saint's head unit is cut from aerospace-grade aluminum and hard-anodized for extreme durability, and it's attached to a custom-fitting headband accented with moisture-wicking pads to provide comfort and dryness. Information: SureFire, 800.828.8809, www.surefire.com
No-Walking Stick
Some C-clip axles-such as the Dana 35, 7.5-inch, 8.8-inch, 81/4-inch, and 10- and 12-bolts-can have a disastrous issue if you brake an axleshaft. The axle and wheel will literally slide out of the tube and leave you sitting on the axletube on the ground. Off Road Trail Tool's Broken Axle Tool is a $110 bit of security to make sure you can get home. The tool straps to the frame and holds the tire and axleshaft in the axletube for a slow drive back to a trailer. Information: Off Road Trail Tools, 520.579.2079, www.offroadtrailtools.com
Rugged Rope
Viking Offroad is offering AmSteel Blue winch rope made from Dyneema, considered one of the world's strongest fibers. The ropes are spliced with Samson's Class II Lock Stitch splice and coated with Samthane, an anti-abrasion coating. The safety thimble is a billet CNC-machined aluminum piece designed to prevent the end from being sucked through the fairlead. To protect the rope from rock abrasion there is a 10-foot adjustable nylon line sleeve. The 3/8-inch by 100-foot Winchline with Safety Thimble weighs 4 pounds compared to 26 for steel cable with hook. Information: Viking Off Road, 818.506.9789, www.winchline.com
Shovel at Hand
Sometimes you just need to dig, but where did you put that shovel? Mount it on your rollcage or roof rack using the modular shovel or axe mounts from Fourtreks. These mounts feature a rubber clamp that is not affected by cold or hot climates and is UV resistant. They're combined with billet-aluminum clamp rings and adapters, making for a complete kit to mount your shovel or axe. All hardware is stainless steel and designed to be mounted on a vertical, horizontal, or angled tube of your choice. Information: Fourtreks, 818.517.6145, www.fourtreks.com
Plug and Go
Off-road tires are getting tougher every year, but Mother Nature can still find a way to punch holes in even the best of them. That's where Safety Seal comes in. Safety Seal offers a full line of plug kits. Its off-road kit is perfect for under the seat of your 4x4 and includes 30 4-inch tire plugs, the T-handle insertion, and spiral probe tools, as well as lube to make the job easier. Information: Safety Seal, 800.888.9021, www.safetyseal.com