7 Must-Know 4x4 Recovery Steps! “The Hierarchy of Recovery” 

Hi Matt, I like your video's and it's great that you are educating us on the safe and multiple ways to recover bogged vehicles. I would like to see more content on reading the track, identifying what your vehicle is not capable of, bush care and track maintenance. There are so many pumped up rigs out there smashing the bush and ripping up the tracks in the 35" muddies that huge areas of the bush are just been closed and locked up.

Matt, does too much speed in a kinetic recovery deserve the term "Hyperkinetic"? Or is that just me off my meds ;)

Clever content as always. The pyramid is indisputable in terms of a logical order in which to assess a situation. Its skipping the first 2 at least which see's people get themselves into more trouble. While you dont know what you don't know- something as simple as your pyramid should be displayed in 4x4 accessory shops, at 4wd access areas, handed out with any recovery gear purchases through both physical and online retailers. Gotta get that info out there. Never too much info on safe recovery techniques.

Thanks Matt! I do a lot of wheeling and have been involved in a fair number of recoveries but I am always happy to learn more and your videos add to my education and thought process. It is much appreciated and I know that your efforts will save someone from being injured or killed some day.

Nope, didn't change my mind at all. That's the same recovery pyramid I and many that I know use. No injuries, no property or vehicle damage, everyone goes home. You need to be patient and deliberate to make this work.

Hi Matt, good video but I think you have slightly over stepped on the very first item. Yes you may not have engaged 4wd correctly but the first thing to look for is why or how am I stuck? Then everything elae can follow. Also good advice is - take a breath, slow yourself down and any passengers, look, observe then deploy what you need. Often the biggest issue is the adrenalin rush and things can go pear shaped for novice. Might be a good opportnity for a brew while you assess. PPE gear should also raise a mention too, if nothing else, gloves to keep the muddy hands off the steering wheel when you are underway. Just my thoughts 🙂 cheers John

yes I would have usually went with the kinetic right out the gate, something to think about next time, as always nice vid Matt, appreciate the work

Hi Matt, for those who didn't do or don't remember high school physics, energy from motion increases by the square of speed....so by doubling your speed, you are quadrupling your energy.....well worth thinking about in a kinetic rexovery.....

My cousin got my uncle's all wheel drive 74 suburban stuck in the back 40 acres and it took a 4x4 tractor and a bulldozer to get it out and 50 ft of chains this was in late 78 in the winter

Great video as usual Matt! I checked your website, and 2 things i've dreamed of getting since they came out is the Yorktown Tool Roll, and the Factor 55 UltraHook.... and you have both, yikes haha. Maybe you should throw up your website address in the video description of all your vids to generate more click throughs. Cheers Matt.

I always go for the winch because when I get stuck I’m alone and it’s stuuuuck. And it’s probably two wheel drive

Not a fan of the kinetic recovery. Way too uncontrolled, especially when you have someone inexperienced or young in the recovery vehicle. Am however a big fan of the snatch strap for boggings etc where you're combatting mud. Put it on the end of the winch rope as an extension and as the system loads up it provides a little additional energy to keep the vehicle moving when it does start to come free. Speeds the whole process up immensely.

Half the fun is trying to see how far I can get in just 2wd. Then once I’m stuck I lock it in 4x4 and creep out. If I can’t get out, winch out 🤷🏻‍♂️if you can’t winch out have your buddy yank your ass out

I've got myself unstuck before by jacking up the rear wheel and putting a few rocks under it. Didn't need much just a little traction and I was out. I always keep a snatch strap I'm the car and a 2t tow rope. A tow recovery is generally enough to get lost people out. A shovel is something that should be in all 4wds before heading off road along with a decent jack (doesn't need to be a high lift).

New outlook on recovery. I’ve always gone for the winch straight up for when I’m stuck. This video has changed my thoughts and made me go out to get recovery boards but also purchased all my recovery gear on A247 to eliminate anything metal/steel to make it far safer for everyone. Thanks Matt for all the content. I’m learning from your videos than anything else out there.

1st thing to do when Bogged? Listen to the Corb Lund (Canadian Country Singer/Songwriter)‘s Song “Truck got Stuck” and Laugh when he sings; “So we used a lot of our backs, a little of our brains We jacked up the jacks, and snugged up the chains, We all did our very best to refrain from shovelin! “

Good point about resisting the temptation to keep increasing the speed in a kinetic recovery until something happens. If you have seen a few successful kinetic recoveries you should be able to spot when the one you are trying isn't working. If there isn't some kind of progress happening as you increase the energy, such as rocking the vehicle forward a bit more with each hit, then it's time to rethink the plan.

Too bad I didn't see your video before. Once, I've got bogged down and used some sticks and branches to recover. One of the sticks cracked and pierced into ABS cable on the back of a wheel. Replacing the sensor afterwards was quite expensive

With the kinetic recovery rope/strap I was always lead to believe that you should wait about 1/2 hour between pulls to allow time for the rope/strap to Regain its Elasticity , is that correct?

Good video we constantly have to think of it how much to use during a recovery. Little story the uppermost platform or observation area of the Eiffel Tower in France is 900 ft above the ground. When I was about 16 /17 years of age I read an article about somebody tossing a dime, an American dime I guess off of that platform. It struck a woman walking past the tower in her head; the dime penetrated through her skull down her spinal cord and ended up following the bones in her body to her left foot were eventually stopped and yes she was killed by the dime. Something to think about.

Thanks Matt for all your advice do you think small 4x4 will become more popular as fuel prices increase I now have a Suzuki grand Vitara but having trouble buying recovery points can I use tie down points with a tree strap to join them instead don't want any danger

Hey Matt how are you I hope you're doing good you guys all be safe down there I just had a couple of things I just posted at Matt's in Utah, so if you're in the stuck vehicle Matt opened the hood so we can catch any broken straps and such and I popped in and said you also should consider if the guy driving the stuck vehicle doesn't have very far to go and it's pretty much in a straight line should consider leaning over the seat out of the windshield area out of the line of fire should a strap or cable break really simple extra layer of safety course if you're over a more complicated obstacle where you have to see what you're doing it won't work you have to sit up but it's also good to have people outside the vehicle keeping an eye on where you're going if the team effort sometimes

Hey I just thought of something else to add sometimes in certain situations unloading the vehicle of people and gear will lighten it up and help in the recovery of the stuck vehicle

Hey Matt, great video yet again! What are your thoughts on exhaust jacks/bags? I have one in my recovery box which I use mainly in soft sand to lift the wheels and backfill the holes.

Another educational video of things people should know. Suggestion for future video deep mud when you need to break the suction first in order to recover your vehicle. Always looking at new ideas! Keep them coming and thanks

Love you recovery do's and don'ts, could you offer some advice about vehicle capability do's and don'ts? I know that is a lot of info to obtain, but would enjoy a series of videos on the subject.

Some might think its odd for you to say “make sure you are in 4WD” first up, but its an easy mistake to whack the transfer case into high or low, only to then remember you forgot to engage the front hubs where applicable. We engage the hubs the minute we are off the bitumen, so we know they are set for when needed.

really nice good information. when i look back at some of the things i have done and didn't get hurt is amazing. you did a good job explaining never done a snatch recovery probably never will its like a soft shackel still scared of them saw on a video where one put a large dent in the side of a truck. i like my steel schackel feel the truck will never break one. but i will use a tow strap to pull with but never snatch. i prefer just hook the wench to it and gently pull it out seems to be the safest way to do it.

I always find it funny you just jump into Australian Bog holes. I’m just waiting for the croc to pop out! 😱

In your thumbnail it looks like you have a Mr. T starter kit made of recovery straps.

Well explained Matt. The kids love the Max tracks it’s one of the first items along with a long handle shovel packed when off on an adventure. Keep up the great work Matt. 👍👏👏👏

Aaron just bogged his car. We should’ve watched this video! 😆

I always air down First, if not already before getting Stuck. If alone, Straight to the Winch. But with Others/Vehicles then the Treds come out or a Tow Recovery. Then Winch if Needed. I've been a bit scared of Snatching or Kinetic Recovery. There's that uncertainty of the Recovery Hook or Shackle becoming a Missile.

What is the brand of the short, antenna-like extension on your bull-bar (as of 5'37") to which you attached the Factor 55 Ultrahook?

Thanks for this! Found what i was after

Always great Matt, thank you! Lake Havasu 🌞 Az

Alwas fantastic Matt! Gave the young drivers pointers stuck in snow (fluffy cold stuff) give the bumpers a bounce to see if they move or are you hung up underneath? No bounce, dig underneath, short street shovel is the tool

thank you for sharing this detailed video as great to watch every time tow semi out soft ground with my 2010 4x4 Isuzu 300/75 crew cab with two heavy chains

Great explanation of the correct hierarchy of what to try- in the right order!

Excellent and clear advice Matt. Thanks mate.

What kind of tires are on your Toyota in this video

Thanks Matt for your help will take your advice and continue to try and get recovery points

Max, I'm all in on your recovery pyramid, you didn't change my mind.

Great content 👌 What's the danger in using the kinetic recovery first , if that's all you have Thanks again for a learning lesson 🙂 Greetings from south africa 🇿🇦 😀

MadMatt first of all thank you for this great Video! I didn't know the pyramid of recovery, so i was in the last two years, where i started with 4x4 in my Suzuki Jimny (JB74) always looking for the easiest way to get out or to help other to get out. In case of not having the complete recovery tool kit, i was using a tow strap or my 2,5 ton winch and my decision of what i'm using ever was made about the fact "No damage to my car and minimize the risk of damaging the car i'm recovering. For my way i'm doing off road recoveries, is the reason of my theory learning by watching videos on YT of Matt's Off Road Recovery, Casey La Delle, Trailmater, the german Explorer Magazin and the videos of Ronny Dahl & MadMatt 4WD. I always look what they are doing and if i can do it the same way with my JB74 or do i have to do it an other way, maybe using the winch where they used a kinetic rope or snatch strap, do i have to anker my my car for using my winch. All this i have pack together in a decision how to recover another Car, when this is bigger than mine, as an example a Land Cruiser, Hilux, Defender, DMax or Navarrais lightly double heavier than my Jimny. So that's why i'm always happy to see another video from which i can learn to get better and being more effectiv in off road recovery! With greeting from germany P.S. this (up.picr.de/43962486rc.jpg) is a picture of my car and the number plate is a special plate created for picture shootings.

What are your thoughts on using a winch extension rope in a towed recovery where the towing vehicle needs extra distance to get onto firm ground?

Nice podcast thanks for all !

Well listed and explained.

What about when you are over matched? I came across a 1 ton diesel dodge in mud up to the differentials. My 07 cherokee doesn't have a winch on the front but I have a 6,000lbs removable one for my hitch. But we went right to kenetic recovery. Worked great but we did skip steps due to the difference in weight.

Great video and keep up the good work God bless from GA

Great informative video Matt

Nice film Matt!!!

good options ! 🛻😎🤙📹