When it comes to recovery and self-rescue, having a winch onboard your 4×4 is just the beginning. Our recovery and rescue range goes far beyond winches and winch accessories to deliver everything a 4×4 or pickup truck owner could need to get out of the stickiest situations when exploring the toughest terrains.
A bestseller in our selection of top self-recovery products is our recovery boards. In this blog post, we share the dos and don’ts of choosing and using recovery boards.
DO be selective when shopping
Also known as ‘traction boards’, recovery boards are no doubt the ultimate accessory for vehicle extraction. But, as you’ll quickly discover, not all were created equal. The biggest issue with recovery boards is that the cheap products are brittle and snap or bend during use. This makes the initial selection of your recovery boards particularly important, especially if you off-road on a regular basis.
When selecting recovery boards for your next off-road adventure, construction is a vital factor to consider. Thankfully, you don’t have to search too far for premium recovery boards that get the job done again and again.
Here at 4×4 Works, we’re proud to stock TRED Pro Recovery Boards, a hard-wearing, innovative self-recovery system that’s made for most conditions and climates.
DON’T forget your tyres
To use recovery boards correctly, you have to lay the groundwork for better traction, and a big part of this is ensuring your tyres are at the correct pressure. The correct tyre pressure is integral to negotiating any terrain, with different 4×4 tyre pressures required for each terrain. Your chosen tyre pressure will make gaining traction simpler and more straightforward, especially when using recovery boards.
Mastering the art of tyre inflation and deflation is a must for off-roading as well as the key to simple and speedy recovery.
DO adapt to your surroundings
It’s not just your tyre pressure that needs to be altered in accordance to the terrain. Your technique should also be adapted with your surroundings in mind.
Extracting your vehicle from sand, snow or mud with recovery boards is vastly different than using them to gain clearance and escape from rocks or ruts. Unsealed 4X4 shares their tips for rescuing your vehicle from sand with recovery boards:
“Dig first, right down in front of and underneath the tyre. You need to get the tip of the board down low and just about jam it in under the tyre. Also, dig away any sand that’s touching the underbody. Then, super-slow, first-gear low-range till you’re on the boards, then a tiny bit of acceleration to get up and away. If you’re going to drop tyre pressures further (always a good idea), do so after the board is pushed under the tyre not before, so the tyre expands onto the board.”
DON’T just buy two
While two recovery boards are better than none, four is the magic number. Our recovery boards may be sold in packs of two, but having access to four recovery boards will make recovery even simpler. If you do just have two traction boards to work with, use them to prop up the front tyres, packing mud or sand underneath to offer further support if applicable.
DO drive carefully
Once your recovery boards are in just the right place, it’s time to drive out of there. Resist the urge to apply too much acceleration. Slow and steady wins the race when rescuing with recovery boards. Start in a low gear, keeping your speed slow and applying minimal throttle to improve success and keep your recovery boards intact.
