Vehicle Recovery Techniques Flashcards

When recovering a vehicle that has rolled onto its side, which technique is typically used first to stabilize it before uprighting?

Answer: Crib and block the vehicle to prevent further movement

Cribbing and blocking stabilizes the vehicle and prevents it from rolling or shifting unexpectedly during the recovery operation, protecting both the vehicle and recovery personnel.

A 'go-devil' or snatch block is used in winching operations primarily to:

Answer: Increase the mechanical advantage of the winch

A snatch block redirects the cable and doubles the pulling force, effectively increasing the winch's mechanical advantage and reducing the load on the winch motor.

When extracting a vehicle from soft ground (mud or sand), the recovery operator should:

Answer: Use a slow, steady pull and place traction aids under the stuck vehicle's tires

A slow, steady pull combined with traction aids reduces the suction effect of soft ground and prevents cable overloading, making the extraction safer and more effective.

What is the correct procedure for a 'dead-man' anchor when no natural anchor points are available?

Answer: Bury a recovery board, axle, or spare tire horizontally in the ground

A dead-man anchor is created by burying a solid object horizontally in the ground, distributing load across soil to create a reliable anchor point when trees or fixed structures are absent.

During a winch recovery, the cable begins to jump off the drum and pile on one side. The operator should:

Answer: Stop immediately and re-spool the cable evenly before continuing

Improperly spooled cable loses mechanical strength, increases the risk of kinking or snapping, and can damage the drum; re-spooling ensures safe, even tension across the drum.

When recovering a vehicle from a ditch with a steep embankment, the recovery vehicle should be positioned:

Answer: At an angle no greater than 30 degrees off the pull line when possible

Keeping the pull angle within 30 degrees of straight maintains effective winch line tension and reduces side-load stress on the winch and recovery vehicle's frame.

A vehicle is submerged in water up to its door sills. Before beginning winch extraction, the operator must first:

Answer: Assess the depth, current, and structural integrity of the vehicle

Assessing water depth, current speed, and vehicle structural integrity determines safe attachment points and prevents pulling on a compromised frame that could collapse during recovery.