This is def what we need in the overlanding community in between actual overlanding trip vids. This is great marketing when you not only say this product is good for x,y, and z while it sits on a table in front of you but the experts who test and build these products for us can actually say here they are set up right in front of you so you can learn exactly how to properly use everything provided and what not to do as well. Kudos to these guys for making great products and demonstrating proper use and thanks to you for bringing all this information to us bro!
I'm a crane operator, so I'm very familiar with Working Load Limit, Minimum Breaking Strength, and Safety Factor ratings. I really appreciated Justin's explanation of those terms, but I was SHOCKED to discover that every piece of Factor55 gear I looked at on Amazon listed the maximum breaking strength which, as Justin explained, means absolutely nothing.
Thank you for pointing this out! There's an issue with incorrect info on Amazon which they are working to fix. It's also why they prefer folks to go the website (geni.us/Factor55recovery Save 10% with V2R10 ). You won't see maximum breaking strength listed there...and if you do, let me know so I can give Justin a hard time for it! Cheers!
I agree on Justin, he's so good. That's a huge compliment on the ego thing, thank you. I'm intentional about showing the fact that I don't know everything in hopes other people feel the same way and learn with me.
Humility has its place in growth!! None of us are perfect or know everything and realizing that and being open to learning allows us to further our knowledge and become better each and everyday and its so important. It also allows us to help others that are willing to learn so we all end up having better experiences on the trails and easier recoveries which allow us to have more time enjoying these trips and less time stuck and not knowing what to do
9:45 they should make the bags in neon colors so they can be seen/not overlooked/forgotten... who cares about a black bag getting dirty... i wanna see the bag in any terrain/light if im scrambling around/set the bag down to get something else
I didn’t realize that Factor 55 is made in the U.S.A. It makes me second guess that budget kit purchase I made on Amazon. Lots of great tips in this video. I don’t have a winch yet, so these tips are perfect for my current setup.
You are right to second guess the Amazon kit. My first recovery gear was all Amazon..and then Justin showed me just how bad and unsafe it was..from then on I've been using F55.
I bought a bunch of RhinoUSA recovery stuff. Now I’m hearing it’s not really made in the USA and I’m seeing a lot of videos hating on it. What do I do with brand new recovery gear that I can no longer send back? And should I send it back or keep it?
Great video. I think Justin missed an opportunity to point out another key factor. When he showed a better way to hook to the pull vehicle, he moved along the cross member near the center of the jeep. This is critical for the pull vehicle because an off-center hook up will siphon off a good amount of kinetic energy when the pull vehicle jerks sideways due to off-center pull point. Not as important for the stuck vehicle (in fact off-center can help the stuck vehicle if you’re trying to steer it away from a hazard as you pull it). But it can be very important for the pull vehicle imho.
Good point. That energy doesn’t just disappear, it goes into the frame. Pulling from one corner only can diamond the frame, or tear off recovery points. Bridles and slings are really important.
@@phillipbrown8620 Next time I'm in this situation, I'm going to use a harness...I had one in my bag, I just didn't take the time to stop and think about it.
I was WRONG! I thought that the last video of yours that I watched with Justin teaching was the best recovery video ever. Now I realize that it was tied with this one. What a pleasure to watch such a knowledgeable pro, with great teaching technique lead us through these scenarios.
This was an absolutely fantastic video. Justin did a great job explaining stuff. I had no idea the limitations or how kinetic rope really was to be used. I thought it was basically just a tow someone out rope, and they could be used as a tow rope. I'm very glad I watched this video before trying an actual recovery. Thanks for the succinct info, but still being detailed. Great job both of you
Thank you, thank you, thank you - although in retrospect a lot of what Justin shared is simply using a little common sense (some was definitely eq specific knowledge, thank you Justing for that) - however without these nuggets of information while being under stress due to the recovery situation our common sense may not be as intuitive as in normal situations - which brings me to the following: Every spring and fall I let my winch cord out - use a little dish soap in a 5 gallon bucket rinse it then recoil it by pulling up the drive making sure it is wound properly and ready to go. Now I will add a little practice time and familiarization with the recovery gear. Anything as serious as recovering in remote areas should be practiced - this is not something most of us do every day so why wait to figure it out when you need it the most? Thanks, Will great video at the right time.
you vs the soft shackle she told you not to worry about LOL honestly tho this is so freaking useful after getting my 4Runner stuck in mud, exploring alone, with no cell reception (YES I'm an idiot) and hiking out a few miles in mud-soaked clothing - right as it started snowing, no less - to try calling three different tow companies w/ crackly reception until one finally came got me out for $450... let's just say I've gotten much more serious about recovery skills & gear (particularly safe self-recovery) with no one in my life that's ever gone offroading before me, it's only the internet and youtube videos like this one that help me get things figured out really makes a difference to my life ed: the "TRD Amateur" decal at 24:57 is so awesome XD
Nice catch on the Decal!!! I love that one - it was super ironic in the moment lol...but honestly those are good guys, who just don't recover much...so basically like most of us out there! Great story, thanks for sharing your story!
Reguarding soft shackels I would personally say: look at the wear marks on the neck of the braids and move it around to distribute the tear on the 2/3 length of it. That should prolong the life cycle of the material.
I'm late to the 'game'; fine video, both of you, good reminders & tips. I made a call to Factor 55 & ordered some more product, I've ordered a good deal in the past. I was reminded almost a decade ago with my Jeep, I got front and rear metal bumpers & the holes and ports were for metal shackles (soft shackles were not popular then). But when I shifted to soft I realized that half of my soft shackles would not fit in the holes & there were stiff edges that would damage the small shackles if a heavy pull was made on them. In some cases, in a pinch, I'll put in a hard shackle & then attach a soft shackle to that. The rear attach hitch mechanism has holes plenty big for the shackles as does the prolink on the front of the winch cable. I only mention this for any that may be new to the process - soft shackles come in various sizes & shapes & metal shackles might work in a pinch if the soft don't - but be safe when using them.
Factor 55 needs a larger diameter snatch block. I had to go with an Australian brand to find one. Larger helps in certain applications where smaller won’t. Can’t wait for future products. Been using F55 products since the beginning.
Great observation. I cut out the part where we talked about that…because we’re talking about one type of OEM Hook, but showing another…it was a bit confusing. On that Wrangler hook, directly connecting the rope would have been better. On the Gladiator hook, it’s debatable…but that was too much speculation to include, so I cut it right to Justin showing us the Velcro strap tip, which I think was really useful.
At 15:14 when talking about knot up or knot down, there isn’t anyway to assure the knot stays up because of the nature of the kinetic rope that may and probably will twist. More importantly the right and left of the hitch link is sideways. If we want to ensure the knot stays pointing up why not manufacture the hitch link with the holes up and down, instead of sideways?
Great collaboration and I bet a follow up regarding comments (mine included) could justify another video completely. My approach to mud and rocks is that you’re much better off winching vs kinetic being that it is much slower and controlled. The suction in mud and hanging points on rocks or buried debris can break rigs if not careful.
Watching Justin go through the manual booklet, I got frustrated as he clumsily scrolled through the pages with his gloves on. Good gawd man, take your gloves off!!! ...then I realized!... genius!!! PAPER CUTS!!!
24:52 - It sounds like the recovery described was an attempt at a tow, not a pull/yank. Which from what I've learned is the appropriate thing to attempt before going for something more forceful like a kinetic pull. Instead it was used here as an example of what not to do, when it is often a great, safer option to try first.
I bought a Factor55 Shorty Strap based on this video. Looks to be perfect for threading through a lower control arm on a vehicle that doesn't have a good recovery point. However, I do question the reinforcement of the strap though. It seems like the ends of the shorty strap near the loops are reinforced and rigid. However the middle where it folds is not reinforced. I worry that middle un-reinforced section could get cut on a lower control arm.
I have Factor 55 recovery gear and the main selling point for me was Made in the U.S.A. I had looked at some company called Rhino USA. I emailed them to find out if their priduct was made in the U.S.A. as the name implied. Boy was that a mistake. They seemed so pissed I asked but in the end told me their products were made in china. They proceeded to try to convice me it was made to their specs but for me it was still a no-go. It's impossible not to buy something that has parts made in china, but when I can, especially buying aftermarket Jeep parts, I always buy U.S.A. made priducts. 🇺🇸
First question with the "stuck jeep recovery"; What is the towbar rated to? There is no point in having all the fancy high load raings on the recovery gear (although you should have that, but it's not the point in the question), and you're recovering from an unrated, unchecked recovery point! Yes it's rated for towing, but not for recovery. Yes Justin covered this a bit, but not fully for the actual bar itself. Question 2; Why use the soft chakle on the hook, why not just put the recovery rope over the hook? One less thing to break/damage. As per usual, great advice from Justin.
When you say tow bar, do you mean the hitch link in the tow hitch or something else? The soft shackle on the hook has been covered a few times in the comments here…there were reasons to use it on the Gladiator hooks, but I could have also just used the rope loop. In either case using the Velcro straps would have solved the problem I was trying to avoid.
G'day mate. Driven most of Australia solo and am a Rigger by trade (hook up loads for cranes). They lose kinetic energy with every pull. By 5 pulls they are definitely less effective (noticible) and by 10 it's a good idea to let the sit for half an hour to get their strech back. Also most people use them wrong ( they pull slowly like any other straps) the idea is to drive fast and get a good strech and sort of sling shot them out. ( you will be amazed how much more effective it is this way.)
Thanks Gari! @offgridadventure sorry I forgot to reply. Justin says that depending on use these ropes can last a long time…but improper use and careless storage can shorten their life to only a few years.
This is a great video. I learned a couple of things. The Factor 55 gear looks awesome. The discount code helps. Their military and first responder discount is another sign of American pride. I'll be investing in some recovery gear soon.
22:01 - I was ready for the advice to just eliminate the soft shackle from the equation and hook the kinetic rope directly around the open hook. That would have been even better, right? Or is it not advisable to connection a kinetic rope to a rounded metal hook in this situation for some reason?
In the video, yes - just put the rope around the hook. In the actual event I was describing the hook was a bit different so I thought the soft shackle would have less recoil to come off...but in general ya you can just put the rope on the hook.
When connecting to the factory hook as they did in this video, is it necessary to use a soft shackle or is it ok to connect the kinetic rope directly to the hook? And what the reasoning?
Assuming it's a good hook, It's ok to connect to the factory one - you may still want to use the velcro straps though...just to help keep it from jumping off the hook. In our example, we were using a Rubicon hook, which is much different than a Gladiator hook..it would have probably worked better to just connect the rope directly to the Rubicon hook...and maybe the Gladiator hook too, but since we didn't have one there, I didn't include it in the video. In my recovery example, I used soft shackles on both rigs, which may have been unnecessary, but I also think it was a decent approach as the soft shackle has more flex with recoil than the fairly stiff Kinetic rope loop - so the likelihood of recoil pushing the Kinetic loop off the hook was higher IMO. This is not hard science though, it was a judgement call.
Justin's tips are so good. I've used them multiple times since we filmed this. That sawtooth bag is great I have one in each of my rigs now. I added a hitch pin to both as well..just so I never have to look for one in a recovery situation.
Thanks! That was very informative for a newbie to off-roading like me, well explained and the demos were great - thanks again. Just a pity that it's so difficult to get hold of Factor 55 products here in the UK ☹
Great informative video, I wish there was some more info on D rings vs soft shackles, as in that scenario where you were feeding a soft shackle thrugh that eyelet on a rear bumper, looks like a D ring could have been a better option?
Best Boise State Bronco team ever this year! Can’t wait for the season to start! 5 star QB Malachi Nelson and WR Chris Marshall! Plus expanded CFB playoffs! Broncos are ready to roll!
One thing about Factor 55, is that they seem to follow the rules of heavy industry. The labels and how to use it (basket, choke it straight)... And watching this video it looks like they do the testing on the solid goods as well... Like scanning them. So it's pretty cool to see. You pay a bit more, but I would have a lot more confidence in their stuff ... But! Don't be over confident.
I agree with all of this comment...especially the "don't be over confident." No matter the gear, be cautious, go slow, and live to recover another day!
So I have a question. Why not just go straight to a recovery point in the vehicle with the kinetic rope vs using a soft shackle? Is it strictly to protect the end of an expensive kinetic rope and have the soft shackle be the sacrificial link of a less expensive part? I've always gone straight to the recovery point with the old yellow straps -snatch 'em straps we used to call them back in the day. Those old straps were pretty tough.
It's a great question that's been asked a few times in the comments here. I cut part of the video out where we talked about it..because it was confusing...with the Wrangler hook, it would have better to just put the rope loop on the hook. With the Gladiator hook (which we didn't have there) it was more debatable which would stay on better...but either way works...generally speaking the least connectors involved, the better - as long as all of the connections are solid and safe.
@@Venture2Roam Thank you for the reply Will. I'm 55 now so I've done things differently over the years. Plenty of recoveries for other people and of myself. Open to new tricks though. The soft shakles do appear to be pretty convenient vs the old hard shackles.... I'm sure safer too. Appreciate your videos and certainly the reply. Many thanks, Matt
@@Venture2Roam I've purchased from them before. Great guys there and it' always nice to support someone close to home, but NOW I HAVE TO BUY THAT BAG?? Just don't tell my wife. Tell her that is just snuck into my Land Cruiser. 🤣
Solid choice Caleb!...I was texting Justin about your vid and some other questions that came up in the comments here...and honestly those books on recovery they produce are incredible. Like almost every question you can think of is already answered in those things. I hope more folks get them and use them...I know I've had them and not used them...now I know how useful they are and am pulling them out all the time.
This was a great video, full of great information. You answer many of the questions I was pondering. FYI - If you haven’t watched the video of his wife pulling him out of the mud bog, go watch that video, then come back to this video. Thanks for the great video. Travels of Red Rover ( Shawn and Corinne).
justin. What good does a Minimum Breaking strength of say, 30K LBS... When the consumer is not going to understand how that load applies in a given situation..... In that case maybe Co. should require the customer to state what rig weight is and then the Co can give them the correct diameter rope and soft shackles to purchase ?? Just a thought
Winching is often in neutral, although there are times when you can be winching and driving at the same time. Kinetic pulls you can have the car in neutral, or in D/R depending on the situation.
I have been in situations where I needed at least 2X the length to recover the stuck vehicle. I have used 2 kinetic straps to good effect for this, but I am wondering what the "best practices" are in such a situation? Thanks. Excellent video by the way!
Well let me tell you how we did it in the old days. We would pack an old pickup tire and a couple of long chains. Hook to both vehicles with the chain then through the old tire. Then give er. Really cushioned the jerk. Without the tire you usually pulled the bumper off.
I can’t get over midsize truck prices. Ended up getting a v8 f150 for $5000 more than a frontier. More power more payload more towing more space better ride and better fuel economy
Please don't wire them that way. Running power through the switch into 30 is a bad idea unless your switch can carry the full current of the draw. Those switches max out a 15A I believe and two lights are probably right on the edge of that. Folks running smaller switches should ABSOLUTELY run two relays with a fused power to the battery on pin 30. You're instructing good folks on how to burn their rigs down without some serious clarification or disclaimers.
Just saw another youtube vid showing through a drone view, the issue of soft shackles on a kinetic rope pull. Pull attempts are 7min to 12+min to where the kinetic rope repelled back to the Bronco. Caleb talks about the ratings of the soft shackles and the kinetic rope near the 32min mark. Appears that the soft shackle was previously weakened or that the soft shackle had poor quality of rope. It appears the choke portion of the shackle tore. This soft shackle was in the eyelet which a d-ring would set. The soft shackle had its sleeve in the eyelet hole. ua-cam.com/video/NrIR_4IPIbk/v-deo.htmlsi=qbISyKMBsMDh2wzU
That video is a great example of what Justin was talking about with using a soft shackle through a shackle tab on a bumper. The hard edges and very small hole violate the bend radius of the soft shackle and tear right through it. It's also a fantastic reminder to go slow in a recovery situation. The guy was in a hurry (as we all have been at some point)..and that's when it's really easy to pass over important information. This guy got so lucky, I'm so glad he's alive..it goes to show just how dangerous even a snow pull can be.
@@popo_patty That's so funny. I'm so glad you're OK man...and a massive tip of the hat for putting that video out there..it's already done so much good. I'm sure you're getting all kinds of advice/critique/etc...from every angle...but that video is driving a really important conversation in our niche right now...so thank you! We've ALL probably had close calls that we don't even know about...and if we can get past our own egos, we can continue to learn from each other so cheers for leading an important convo!
Yes you can do it that way on that hook. We were re-enacting a scenario where I was connecting to a different type of hook...one that the rope could slip off easier with recoil, which is why we showed it that way.
cool vlog. if Factor55 doesn't have training vids on UA-cam on how to use their stuff they should make a few . since i know time is money , charge to watch !!! or free for customers . and i mean talk in a way that someone with 0 recovery gear experience can understand . manual is cool , but be honest ( who the hell reads manuals ??lol )
Well that’s kind of what I’m getting at with Justin. Making videos is hard and they are a small company…so I have more vids like this planned to help everyone out.
Use Code V2R10 for a discount on Factor 55 Gear! geni.us/Factor55recovery
Nice thank you very much!!
buying a recovery kit that is huge!
So glad I get to help folks save a little $$$
This is def what we need in the overlanding community in between actual overlanding trip vids. This is great marketing when you not only say this product is good for x,y, and z while it sits on a table in front of you but the experts who test and build these products for us can actually say here they are set up right in front of you so you can learn exactly how to properly use everything provided and what not to do as well. Kudos to these guys for making great products and demonstrating proper use and thanks to you for bringing all this information to us bro!
Thanks for this comment. The intent of these videos is add real value to the viewer, not just showcase products!
I'm a crane operator, so I'm very familiar with Working Load Limit, Minimum Breaking Strength, and Safety Factor ratings. I really appreciated Justin's explanation of those terms, but I was SHOCKED to discover that every piece of Factor55 gear I looked at on Amazon listed the maximum breaking strength which, as Justin explained, means absolutely nothing.
Thank you for pointing this out! There's an issue with incorrect info on Amazon which they are working to fix. It's also why they prefer folks to go the website (geni.us/Factor55recovery Save 10% with V2R10 ). You won't see maximum breaking strength listed there...and if you do, let me know so I can give Justin a hard time for it! Cheers!
I love all the little tips Justin dropped in this video. Also love that your ego doesn't get in the way from you, and us, learning how to be better.
I agree on Justin, he's so good. That's a huge compliment on the ego thing, thank you. I'm intentional about showing the fact that I don't know everything in hopes other people feel the same way and learn with me.
Humility has its place in growth!! None of us are perfect or know everything and realizing that and being open to learning allows us to further our knowledge and become better each and everyday and its so important. It also allows us to help others that are willing to learn so we all end up having better experiences on the trails and easier recoveries which allow us to have more time enjoying these trips and less time stuck and not knowing what to do
9:45 they should make the bags in neon colors so they can be seen/not overlooked/forgotten... who cares about a black bag getting dirty... i wanna see the bag in any terrain/light if im scrambling around/set the bag down to get something else
Or even strips of reflective material sewn into the bag.
@@doughaven-rf8id yep might as well... charge and extra 10-15$
I didn’t realize that Factor 55 is made in the U.S.A. It makes me second guess that budget kit purchase I made on Amazon. Lots of great tips in this video. I don’t have a winch yet, so these tips are perfect for my current setup.
You are right to second guess the Amazon kit. My first recovery gear was all Amazon..and then Justin showed me just how bad and unsafe it was..from then on I've been using F55.
I bought a bunch of RhinoUSA recovery stuff. Now I’m hearing it’s not really made in the USA and I’m seeing a lot of videos hating on it. What do I do with brand new recovery gear that I can no longer send back? And should I send it back or keep it?
I like Justin. He knows things.
He knows stuff and things.
Great video. I think Justin missed an opportunity to point out another key factor. When he showed a better way to hook to the pull vehicle, he moved along the cross member near the center of the jeep. This is critical for the pull vehicle because an off-center hook up will siphon off a good amount of kinetic energy when the pull vehicle jerks sideways due to off-center pull point. Not as important for the stuck vehicle (in fact off-center can help the stuck vehicle if you’re trying to steer it away from a hazard as you pull it). But it can be very important for the pull vehicle imho.
Great point! Thanks for sharing!!!
Yes. And the pull vehicle should also be in a direct line to the other vehicle so as to avoid the loss of energy and traction from a whipping vehicle.
Good point. That energy doesn’t just disappear, it goes into the frame. Pulling from one corner only can diamond the frame, or tear off recovery points. Bridles and slings are really important.
@@phillipbrown8620 Next time I'm in this situation, I'm going to use a harness...I had one in my bag, I just didn't take the time to stop and think about it.
Thanks for sharing this. Good tip
I was WRONG! I thought that the last video of yours that I watched with Justin teaching was the best recovery video ever. Now I realize that it was tied with this one. What a pleasure to watch such a knowledgeable pro, with great teaching technique lead us through these scenarios.
I agree, he’s really great to learn from. Hoping to do more with Justin soon!
Do all USA made it might be expensive but just support American Made.👍👍👍👍
🙌🙌👍
This was an absolutely fantastic video. Justin did a great job explaining stuff. I had no idea the limitations or how kinetic rope really was to be used. I thought it was basically just a tow someone out rope, and they could be used as a tow rope. I'm very glad I watched this video before trying an actual recovery. Thanks for the succinct info, but still being detailed. Great job both of you
So gald you found it helpful!
Thank you, thank you, thank you - although in retrospect a lot of what Justin shared is simply using a little common sense (some was definitely eq specific knowledge, thank you Justing for that) - however without these nuggets of information while being under stress due to the recovery situation our common sense may not be as intuitive as in normal situations - which brings me to the following: Every spring and fall I let my winch cord out - use a little dish soap in a 5 gallon bucket rinse it then recoil it by pulling up the drive making sure it is wound properly and ready to go. Now I will add a little practice time and familiarization with the recovery gear. Anything as serious as recovering in remote areas should be practiced - this is not something most of us do every day so why wait to figure it out when you need it the most? Thanks, Will great video at the right time.
I'm gonna start doing the winch line maintenance now. Great Tip!
you vs the soft shackle she told you not to worry about LOL
honestly tho this is so freaking useful
after getting my 4Runner stuck in mud, exploring alone, with no cell reception (YES I'm an idiot) and hiking out a few miles in mud-soaked clothing - right as it started snowing, no less - to try calling three different tow companies w/ crackly reception until one finally came got me out for $450... let's just say I've gotten much more serious about recovery skills & gear (particularly safe self-recovery)
with no one in my life that's ever gone offroading before me, it's only the internet and youtube videos like this one that help me get things figured out
really makes a difference to my life
ed: the "TRD Amateur" decal at 24:57 is so awesome XD
Nice catch on the Decal!!! I love that one - it was super ironic in the moment lol...but honestly those are good guys, who just don't recover much...so basically like most of us out there! Great story, thanks for sharing your story!
20:50 you can put the shorty through the hitch receiver. Then you don’t rip off the rear bumper.
Reguarding soft shackels I would personally say: look at the wear marks on the neck of the braids and move it around to distribute the tear on the 2/3 length of it. That should prolong the life cycle of the material.
I'm late to the 'game'; fine video, both of you, good reminders & tips. I made a call to Factor 55 & ordered some more product, I've ordered a good deal in the past. I was reminded almost a decade ago with my Jeep, I got front and rear metal bumpers & the holes and ports were for metal shackles (soft shackles were not popular then). But when I shifted to soft I realized that half of my soft shackles would not fit in the holes & there were stiff edges that would damage the small shackles if a heavy pull was made on them. In some cases, in a pinch, I'll put in a hard shackle & then attach a soft shackle to that. The rear attach hitch mechanism has holes plenty big for the shackles as does the prolink on the front of the winch cable. I only mention this for any that may be new to the process - soft shackles come in various sizes & shapes & metal shackles might work in a pinch if the soft don't - but be safe when using them.
Great info, thanks for sharing.
I like this guy and he explains everything and knows it. Not fake or just selling stuff. I’ll buy the big kit and a rope.
👍👍
Factor 55 needs a larger diameter snatch block. I had to go with an Australian brand to find one. Larger helps in certain applications where smaller won’t. Can’t wait for future products. Been using F55 products since the beginning.
22:20 why use a soft shackle on the open hook when the rope is less gear? I mean it seems like a “more product gimmick” 🤔
Great observation. I cut out the part where we talked about that…because we’re talking about one type of OEM Hook, but showing another…it was a bit confusing. On that Wrangler hook, directly connecting the rope would have been better. On the Gladiator hook, it’s debatable…but that was too much speculation to include, so I cut it right to Justin showing us the Velcro strap tip, which I think was really useful.
Love this video. Great learning opportunity. Thank you for sharing.
Everytime I see Justin I learn a ton. Hope others see this and learn too!
At 15:14 when talking about knot up or knot down, there isn’t anyway to assure the knot stays up because of the nature of the kinetic rope that may and probably will twist. More importantly the right and left of the hitch link is sideways. If we want to ensure the knot stays pointing up why not manufacture the hitch link with the holes up and down, instead of sideways?
Good points.
Factor 55 team is super knowledgeable. Thanks for making this video with them.
Agree 100% More to come with V2R and F55!!
Great collaboration and I bet a follow up regarding comments (mine included) could justify another video completely. My approach to mud and rocks is that you’re much better off winching vs kinetic being that it is much slower and controlled. The suction in mud and hanging points on rocks or buried debris can break rigs if not careful.
Watching Justin go through the manual booklet, I got frustrated as he clumsily scrolled through the pages with his gloves on. Good gawd man, take your gloves off!!!
...then I realized!...
genius!!!
PAPER CUTS!!!
😂😂😂👍
You don't need gloves handling synthetic rope. Maybe in mud it could spare your vehicle some mud transfer to handles, shifter and steering wheel
Always wear gloves. For so many reasons.
24:52 - It sounds like the recovery described was an attempt at a tow, not a pull/yank. Which from what I've learned is the appropriate thing to attempt before going for something more forceful like a kinetic pull. Instead it was used here as an example of what not to do, when it is often a great, safer option to try first.
Guys, watching from the uk and this is without doubt, the best explanation of how to use recovery gear I’ve ever seen……..kudos brothers #useyourshit 😊
This is a very high compliment. Thank you! We're creating more content like this soon.
I bought a Factor55 Shorty Strap based on this video. Looks to be perfect for threading through a lower control arm on a vehicle that doesn't have a good recovery point. However, I do question the reinforcement of the strap though. It seems like the ends of the shorty strap near the loops are reinforced and rigid. However the middle where it folds is not reinforced. I worry that middle un-reinforced section could get cut on a lower control arm.
According to F55 - The whole strap is 2 ply and covered in Cordura.
I have Factor 55 recovery gear and the main selling point for me was Made in the U.S.A.
I had looked at some company called Rhino USA. I emailed them to find out if their priduct was made in the U.S.A. as the name implied. Boy was that a mistake. They seemed so pissed I asked but in the end told me their products were made in china. They proceeded to try to convice me it was made to their specs but for me it was still a no-go.
It's impossible not to buy something that has parts made in china, but when I can, especially buying aftermarket Jeep parts, I always buy U.S.A. made priducts. 🇺🇸
I love supporting USA made products whenever it makes sense…and F55 is an easy choice because I know how high quality their manufacturing specs are.
27:00 the key word is momentum, moving mass is the key.
Great interview and I definitely learned a few things. Justin is the man! Your questions and points were spot on. Thanks
So glad you liked it. I'm a fan of what you guys are doing over there at 74 Weld!
Great video. I kearned soo much. I definitely would have used it wrong. I need a short strap and recovery hitch adapter to my kit. Thanks!!
So glad you found it useful!!
First question with the "stuck jeep recovery"; What is the towbar rated to? There is no point in having all the fancy high load raings on the recovery gear (although you should have that, but it's not the point in the question), and you're recovering from an unrated, unchecked recovery point! Yes it's rated for towing, but not for recovery. Yes Justin covered this a bit, but not fully for the actual bar itself.
Question 2; Why use the soft chakle on the hook, why not just put the recovery rope over the hook? One less thing to break/damage.
As per usual, great advice from Justin.
When you say tow bar, do you mean the hitch link in the tow hitch or something else? The soft shackle on the hook has been covered a few times in the comments here…there were reasons to use it on the Gladiator hooks, but I could have also just used the rope loop. In either case using the Velcro straps would have solved the problem I was trying to avoid.
This was great. I learned a lot of little things that I hope I never have to use, but I’m glad I know now, just in case.
Same here!
So, is there a rule of thumb for how many pulls one of these kinetic ropes can support before losing elasticity, or breaking?
Great question. I don't know. Will ask Justin to comment.
G'day mate. Driven most of Australia solo and am a Rigger by trade (hook up loads for cranes). They lose kinetic energy with every pull. By 5 pulls they are definitely less effective (noticible) and by 10 it's a good idea to let the sit for half an hour to get their strech back. Also most people use them wrong ( they pull slowly like any other straps) the idea is to drive fast and get a good strech and sort of sling shot them out. ( you will be amazed how much more effective it is this way.)
@@garyhost1830 thanks for the info. Makes sense that they lose elasticity quickly.
Thanks Gari! @offgridadventure sorry I forgot to reply. Justin says that depending on use these ropes can last a long time…but improper use and careless storage can shorten their life to only a few years.
Thanks Will great video and great gear we all could learn each time we do things like this Don and Donna
Thank you!!
Justin is such a wizard with this stuff! I’m always learning something new! Cheers Will!
He is a wizard...now he just needs a cool staff...
This is a great video. I learned a couple of things. The Factor 55 gear looks awesome. The discount code helps. Their military and first responder discount is another sign of American pride. I'll be investing in some recovery gear soon.
So glad the video was helpful. I always pick up tidbits from Justin when we hang out.
Love Factor 55 equipment. I have several pieces and just bought the Retention Ring this morning.
Right on! I love their stuff too. Hope you used the discount code to save a little!
22:01 - I was ready for the advice to just eliminate the soft shackle from the equation and hook the kinetic rope directly around the open hook. That would have been even better, right? Or is it not advisable to connection a kinetic rope to a rounded metal hook in this situation for some reason?
In the video, yes - just put the rope around the hook. In the actual event I was describing the hook was a bit different so I thought the soft shackle would have less recoil to come off...but in general ya you can just put the rope on the hook.
When connecting to the factory hook as they did in this video, is it necessary to use a soft shackle or is it ok to connect the kinetic rope directly to the hook? And what the reasoning?
Assuming it's a good hook, It's ok to connect to the factory one - you may still want to use the velcro straps though...just to help keep it from jumping off the hook. In our example, we were using a Rubicon hook, which is much different than a Gladiator hook..it would have probably worked better to just connect the rope directly to the Rubicon hook...and maybe the Gladiator hook too, but since we didn't have one there, I didn't include it in the video. In my recovery example, I used soft shackles on both rigs, which may have been unnecessary, but I also think it was a decent approach as the soft shackle has more flex with recoil than the fairly stiff Kinetic rope loop - so the likelihood of recoil pushing the Kinetic loop off the hook was higher IMO. This is not hard science though, it was a judgement call.
Outstanding video. Thanks gentlemen.
Great tutorial video ! Thanks for the lesson.
Hope it was helpful!
Great video thanks! I have the f55 sawtooth kit, but have been lucky enough to not use it yet. I love the tips!
Justin's tips are so good. I've used them multiple times since we filmed this. That sawtooth bag is great I have one in each of my rigs now. I added a hitch pin to both as well..just so I never have to look for one in a recovery situation.
Thanks! That was very informative for a newbie to off-roading like me, well explained and the demos were great - thanks again. Just a pity that it's so difficult to get hold of Factor 55 products here in the UK ☹
I wonder if there is an equivalent to F55 over there?
Great video! The guys at Factor 55 are so cool and their products are the best.
They are great products…but regardless of what folks buy, this info is really helpful I think.
Great informative video, I wish there was some more info on D rings vs soft shackles, as in that scenario where you were feeding a soft shackle thrugh that eyelet on a rear bumper, looks like a D ring could have been a better option?
Noted. I'll put this on the topic list.
Excellent video!
Just getting into overlanding this was very helpful!
Love the channel and Factor 55!
Boise Idaho! Go Broncos!
Right on! Go Broncos!
Best Boise State Bronco team ever this year!
Can’t wait for the season to start!
5 star QB Malachi Nelson and WR Chris Marshall! Plus expanded CFB playoffs!
Broncos are ready to roll!
Dude! Fantastic information. I really need to get a kinetic rope, I've never used one but between you and watching DirtLifeStyle...they are phenomenal
I use mine all the time now. They are really excellent to have around.
Great video. I am on Factor 55 now. Even seasoned offroaders could use a refresher.
Thank you! Couldn't agree more on the refresher comment. We can all keep learning.
Great video. We love our factor55 gear!
🙌👍🤘
I wish I had found this video a few months ago when I was buying recovery gear. I know where I'm buying any future recovery gear.
I did the same thing. Bought a bunch of stuff..then realized I should have looked harder at the labels.
One thing about Factor 55, is that they seem to follow the rules of heavy industry. The labels and how to use it (basket, choke it straight)... And watching this video it looks like they do the testing on the solid goods as well... Like scanning them. So it's pretty cool to see. You pay a bit more, but I would have a lot more confidence in their stuff ... But! Don't be over confident.
I agree with all of this comment...especially the "don't be over confident." No matter the gear, be cautious, go slow, and live to recover another day!
Excellent video Will! Great information and I love my Factor 55 Ultrahook! Simply the best quality you can buy. 👍
Thanks Mike! I agree they are the best.
So I have a question. Why not just go straight to a recovery point in the vehicle with the kinetic rope vs using a soft shackle? Is it strictly to protect the end of an expensive kinetic rope and have the soft shackle be the sacrificial link of a less expensive part?
I've always gone straight to the recovery point with the old yellow straps -snatch 'em straps we used to call them back in the day. Those old straps were pretty tough.
It's a great question that's been asked a few times in the comments here. I cut part of the video out where we talked about it..because it was confusing...with the Wrangler hook, it would have better to just put the rope loop on the hook. With the Gladiator hook (which we didn't have there) it was more debatable which would stay on better...but either way works...generally speaking the least connectors involved, the better - as long as all of the connections are solid and safe.
@@Venture2Roam Thank you for the reply Will. I'm 55 now so I've done things differently over the years. Plenty of recoveries for other people and of myself. Open to new tricks though. The soft shakles do appear to be pretty convenient vs the old hard shackles.... I'm sure safer too.
Appreciate your videos and certainly the reply.
Many thanks, Matt
You connected to bumper loop / cross-member on the tow vehicle. Is it wrong to use the center tow hitch? Can you go tow hitch to tow hitch?
100% yes as long as you have two hitch link recovery points. In my scenario we only had one (we have one for each vehicle now).
What an outstanding video for where I am in my learning curve.
So glad you found it helpful!!
Excellent video. Learned a lot. Thank you. Love my Factor55 gear.
Glad to hear I!!!
Justin is the recovery gear guru!!
Fine. Now I need to drop by Factor 55 and spend $$... again. Thanks a ton. (Love the fact that you guys are right here in Boise.)
😂😂😂. I know how you feel.
@@Venture2Roam I've purchased from them before. Great guys there and it' always nice to support someone close to home, but NOW I HAVE TO BUY THAT BAG?? Just don't tell my wife. Tell her that is just snuck into my Land Cruiser. 🤣
@@jonathanjackson669 🤣
Will, awesome video!!, really enjoyed visualizing the proper technique. I would like to see a similar video on winch use. Thanks
Coming up!!
Good stuff, thanks. Love the channel and content.
So awesome to hear. Thank you!
Be right back, buying all the Factor 55 stuff on their website. Good stuff here, ya'll listen up!
Solid choice Caleb!...I was texting Justin about your vid and some other questions that came up in the comments here...and honestly those books on recovery they produce are incredible. Like almost every question you can think of is already answered in those things. I hope more folks get them and use them...I know I've had them and not used them...now I know how useful they are and am pulling them out all the time.
Great info dude. Also, the soft shackle size comparison made me LOL. 😂
Looked like a soft shackle from Space Balls 😂
Lol. That thing was enormous.
That's what she said... 🤣@@Venture2Roam
😂 @AllThingsOverlanding
This was a great video, full of great information. You answer many of the questions I was pondering. FYI - If you haven’t watched the video of his wife pulling him out of the mud bog, go watch that video, then come back to this video. Thanks for the great video. Travels of Red Rover ( Shawn and Corinne).
Thanks for sharing!!
justin. What good does a Minimum Breaking strength of say, 30K LBS... When the consumer is not going to understand how that load applies in a given situation..... In that case maybe Co. should require the customer to state what rig weight is and then the Co can give them the correct diameter rope and soft shackles to purchase ?? Just a thought
I sent this comment to Justin :)
Check the sizing guide on the kinetic rope page: www.factor55.com/p-extreme-duty-kinetic-energy-rope-00559
Ok, I’m convinced Factor 55 will be my go-to recovery gear.
Thanks for an education in recovery gear.
All the best!
- Will in Arizona
#Jeremiah29:11
It’s really good stuff…we’re planning our next educational vid right now!
I wonder, can you remove the hitch and use the hitch pin within the squar tube to hold your soft shackle?
Good question!
Incredible info. One of the best I have seen. Subbed to channel.
Right on!! More like this coming soon.
Enjoy the video. How about cleaning and maintenance on the recovery gear?
Great idea!
Should the car been pulled be in neutral or reverse is there difference between auto or manual
Winching is often in neutral, although there are times when you can be winching and driving at the same time. Kinetic pulls you can have the car in neutral, or in D/R depending on the situation.
I have been in situations where I needed at least 2X the length to recover the stuck vehicle. I have used 2 kinetic straps to good effect for this, but I am wondering what the "best practices" are in such a situation? Thanks. Excellent video by the way!
This is a great question, I’ll pass it on to Justin.
Hi loved it every thing is well explained the gear looks fantastic thank you for Australia
Right on! Hope it was helpful!!!!
Great video. I thought I knew how to use these, I just learned much better tips!👍👍
Same here!
Well let me tell you how we did it in the old days. We would pack an old pickup tire and a couple of long chains. Hook to both vehicles with the chain then through the old tire. Then give er. Really cushioned the jerk. Without the tire you usually pulled the bumper off.
Wow. 😳😶😯
Question. Why not go rope to hook instead of inserting a soft shackle between hook and rope?
A good question…one that’s come up and been answered a few times in these comments already.
This was super helpful! Thanks so much Will!
Right on!!!
Great communication device is use your cell phones in speaker phone mode. If you can.
I can’t get over midsize truck prices. Ended up getting a v8 f150 for $5000 more than a frontier. More power more payload more towing more space better ride and better fuel economy
alright alright alright! now do winching! thank you for this, very timely for me.
Winching is coming soon!
Love you guys-but I’m just not ready to use the term Overlanding …yet.
Lol. Totally understand that.
Please don't wire them that way. Running power through the switch into 30 is a bad idea unless your switch can carry the full current of the draw. Those switches max out a 15A I believe and two lights are probably right on the edge of that. Folks running smaller switches should ABSOLUTELY run two relays with a fused power to the battery on pin 30. You're instructing good folks on how to burn their rigs down without some serious clarification or disclaimers.
I think this comment is on the wrong video.
@@Venture2Roam sorry; this was intended as a response to the harbor freight lights
Great video, thanks for sharing.
Hope it was helpful!
Awesome demo !
Thank you!
great info! thanks
Thank you. Hope it was helpful!!
Factor 55 vs Yankum?
Tough question. One I can’t really answer because I’ve not used Yankum stuff. Maybe someone else can comment on this?
Awesome information
Thank you. Hope if was helpful!
anyone know the gloves he's wearing?
Those are F55 gloves. Not sure they are for sale yet.
UHMWPE isn’t self-lubricating, it’s just low friction.
Just saw another youtube vid showing through a drone view, the issue of soft shackles on a kinetic rope pull. Pull attempts are 7min to 12+min to where the kinetic rope repelled back to the Bronco.
Caleb talks about the ratings of the soft shackles and the kinetic rope near the 32min mark. Appears that the soft shackle was previously weakened or that the soft shackle had poor quality of rope. It appears the choke portion of the shackle tore. This soft shackle was in the eyelet which a d-ring would set. The soft shackle had its sleeve in the eyelet hole.
ua-cam.com/video/NrIR_4IPIbk/v-deo.htmlsi=qbISyKMBsMDh2wzU
That video is a great example of what Justin was talking about with using a soft shackle through a shackle tab on a bumper. The hard edges and very small hole violate the bend radius of the soft shackle and tear right through it. It's also a fantastic reminder to go slow in a recovery situation. The guy was in a hurry (as we all have been at some point)..and that's when it's really easy to pass over important information. This guy got so lucky, I'm so glad he's alive..it goes to show just how dangerous even a snow pull can be.
And then I get sent this video haha@@Venture2Roam
@@popo_patty That's so funny. I'm so glad you're OK man...and a massive tip of the hat for putting that video out there..it's already done so much good. I'm sure you're getting all kinds of advice/critique/etc...from every angle...but that video is driving a really important conversation in our niche right now...so thank you! We've ALL probably had close calls that we don't even know about...and if we can get past our own egos, we can continue to learn from each other so cheers for leading an important convo!
It would be dope if yall got the new YXZ1000R SS XT-R 6 speed and put it through the test some heavy terrain and rock crawling
At 24 minutes would his kinetic rope not fit directly to the Open hook???
Yes you can do it that way on that hook. We were re-enacting a scenario where I was connecting to a different type of hook...one that the rope could slip off easier with recoil, which is why we showed it that way.
Who makes those leather gloves??
F55 makes those gloves. I'm not sure if they are available though.
Great update
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Great gear, wish I could afford it!
Did you get out safely? Good, you were sucessful
cool vlog. if Factor55 doesn't have training vids on UA-cam on how to use their stuff they should make a few . since i know time is money , charge to watch !!! or free for customers . and i mean talk in a way that someone with 0 recovery gear experience can understand . manual is cool , but be honest ( who the hell reads manuals ??lol )
Well that’s kind of what I’m getting at with Justin. Making videos is hard and they are a small company…so I have more vids like this planned to help everyone out.
i figured that , was saying on their UA-cam channel might bring in even more views ( they could use your vlogs i guess ) @@Venture2Roam
Much appreciated!!!
The "Factor 55" guy is a WEALTH of excellent info!
Agree 100%
I want Justin's gloves
Me too!
How tall are you?
6'1"