Performing a Snatch Recovery

Ever actually seen the technique required for a snatch strap demonstrated?  Unless you do, you just won't believe an "eye witness" account - but it's true.  The towing vehicle doesn't gently drive off, as you would do for a standard tow using a tow rope.  When using a snatch strap, the towing vehicle drives off at about 20 kph, with  the snatch strap laid loose between it and the vehicle to be towed.  When the strap becomes taut, the strap starts pulling on the bogged vehicle as the strap stretches (think of it like a bungee rope or vary large rubber band).  The momentum of the towing vehicle plus the elasticity of the strap as it retracts act together to yank the vehicle out of the hazard.

A snatch recovery can not be used with a standard tow rope or cable.  Only the specially designed snatch strap with it's elastic properties can be used.  4WD Recovery kits usually come with both a tow strap and snatch strap which can look similar at a glance - don't confuse them.

The snatch recovery is more commonly used to tow bogged vehicles out of the hazard.  The method can also be used to help another vehicle up a steep incline if that vehicle is having difficulty making it up.  The set-up and procedure is the same for both scenarios.  However, on steep inclines, more caution should be made by drivers of the towing and towed vehicles, so that they do not slide backwards at any time - the more experienced driver should be in the towing vehicle, even if you have to "swap" drivers or get another driver from your party to drive the towing vehicle.

Position the towing vehicle so that when the strap is attached to it and the vehicle to be towed, there is about 2 meters (6 feet) of strap loose on the ground.  Make sure the strap is NOT kinked or twisted.  If the towing vehicle can not approach close enough so that there is 2 meters of slack, then two straps will have to be joined.

Never place the strap over a tow ball - tow balls have be known to break and cause fatalities - they are not designed or made to withstand the "shock" of a snatch recovery.  See the sections about connecting straps and people safety.

If the towed vehicle has 2 tow points at the front (or at the rear for a reverse snatch), then you can loop a tree trunk protector thru the snatch em' strap and connect the ends of the tree trunk protector to the two tow points (using shackles) - this will distribute the snatch load across the tow points. 

Have the towed vehicle in gear (clutch in, if a manual).  The towing vehicle accelerates away, up to about 20 kph.  As the strap becomes taut and the towed vehicle senses it being pulled, the clutch should be released if a manual, and enough accelerator applied to drive out of the hazard (or up the hill) without spinning the wheels.

A note of caution for up-hill snatching - remove any loose rocks as feasibly possible from the path of the towing vehicle, so they are not flicked up into the windshield of the towed vehicle.  If you have kids in the party, they should find doing this fun as the "grown ups" worry about the recovery set-up, but use common parental sense and clear the rocks around the towed vehicle yourself and have the kids clear the section above the vehicles only.

The towing vehicle should maintain the 20 kph until the towed vehicle is free of the hazard.  Once clear, the towed vehicle must be prepared to stop so that it does not drive over the strap.

If the recovery procedure fails to extricate the vehicle, try again with more acceleration from the towing vehicle, or increase the amount of loose strap to 3 meters (by having the vehicles start closer together).  If a few attempts fail, it should mean that you will have to do some digging, or other methods, to help the recovery attempts.

Extreme caution must be used in a snatch recovery, especially when extricating bogged vehicles, as it all happens very quickly.  Clear understanding of the procedure must be had by all people concerned, even spectators in case something goes awry.

The two drivers must have a clear understanding of the procedure, what is expected of them, and when to start and stop.  Clear hand singles, or the use a CBs in both vehicles, must be used.  When using a CB, the only time the towed vehicle should talk is to say that he is ready, then the towing vehicle should indicate when he's about to start and stop.  The towing driver will know when the procedure is not working (he wont be moving) so the towed driver does not have to worry about communication once started - that driver can concentrate on getting out of the hazard and leave his hands free to "work the wheel" (see techniques for extricating from bogs and tracks).