4x4 Recovery Guide — What Every Overlander Should Know

Getting stuck is not a failure — not having recovery gear or skills is. This thread covers the basics every SA overlander should know.

## The Golden Rules

1. Never go alone in remote areas if you can help it
2. Kinetic rope, hi-lift jack, and shovel are the minimum recovery kit
3. Assess before you try — know what you're dealing with before spinning wheels deeper
4. Air down before you get stuck — lower tyre pressure increases footprint dramatically

## Tyre Pressure

| Terrain | Pressure (roughly) |
|---------|-------------------|
| Tar road | Manufacturer spec (typically 2.0–2.4 bar) |
| Gravel road | 1.8–2.0 bar |
| Sand | 0.8–1.4 bar depending on vehicle weight |
| Rocky | 1.4–1.8 bar (protect sidewalls) |
| Mud | 1.2–1.6 bar |

Always re-inflate before returning to tar.

## Recovery Gear Checklist

• Kinetic energy rope (snatch strap) — for vehicle-to-vehicle recoveries


• Bow shackles × 2 minimum


• Shovel — full size, not a folding toy


• Hi-lift jack + base plate for soft ground


• Maxtrax / traction boards — particularly useful in sand and mud


• Tree saver strap — never wrap a winch line directly around a tree


• Winch — valuable but not essential if you travel in groups

## Common Recovery Situations

Bogged in sand: Air down, dig out around wheels, use traction boards, gentle acceleration

High-centred: Use hi-lift to raise vehicle, fill under wheels with sand/rocks/wood

Stuck in mud: Winch or snatch strap recovery, consider going around on return trip

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Share your recovery stories and tips below. Hard lessons learned are the most valuable.