Important
Notes :
The STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist ™
Developed Specifically for Off-Roaders and Overlanders .
The checklist is developed for off-roaders with all levels of experience . However , the checklist is most valuable to those that don ’ t have much , if any , actual winching or general recovery experience . As the developer of the checklist , I acknowledge that seasoned recovery veterans will work through the STOPA Checklist steps in their minds . Some will say , We don ’ t need no stinkin ’ checklist ! In fact , inexperienced off- roaders won ’ t need a checklist either once they gain some recovery experience . It is for this reason I continually encourage readers to gain actual experience by taking a 4WD course from a professional trainer . ( That said , be sure to choose your “ trainer ” carefully .) Experienced off-roaders rarely do any math to estimate the loads put on recovery equipment and vehicles when attempting to get a vehicle unstuck . Experience allows them to mentally estimate the loads involved . When stuck , experienced off-roaders will :
A . Audit the situation ,
B . Carefully rig a recovery setup , and
C . Give it a try .
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In most cases , their experience will serve them well and they will get a vehicle unstuck in only one attempt . However , even the most experienced recovery professional will tell you that it took a few missteps and / or failures to arrive at their experience level . The STOPA Checklist can help offroaders avoid dangerous mistakes while gaining valuable recovery experience .
Primary Purpose of the STOPA Stuck Assessment and Recovery Plan Checklist ™ .
The primary purpose of the checklist is to get off-roaders to think clearly about stuck situations in the remote backcountry . This is in sharp contrast to simply hooking up a winch or kinetic energy recovery rope or strap and start pulling on a stuck vehicle ( like so many do ). There are great forces at work with these types of recovery efforts . If these forces exceed the working load limit of recovery equipment and accessories , bad things can happen . Winches can begin to smoke or quit , shackles can deform or break , rope can fail , and straps can tear . How large are these forces ? They are huge . For off-roaders , the word “ huge ” is ambiguous . As an educator , I feel compelled to provide offroaders with real numbers – even though it ’ s an approximation . An actual load resistance number can exemplify and highlight the power of these forces to the uninitiated . To find an approximate resistance value , one only needs to do a very small amount of math on their smartphone .
Approximate Resistance Values .
Approximate resistance values for any recovery effort can be easily determined by adding TERRAIN RESISTANCE to SLOPE RESISTANCE . That said , there are many resistance variables related to the nature of an actual stuck situation . As a specific example , mud in one geographical location will be different than mud somewhere else . Adding to this variability , are many types of mud one can get stuck in . These different characteristics and types of mud will provide different resistance values . Point is , in the natural world it ’ s all but impossible to accurately calculate resistance values for any one stuck situation . The only way to arrive at a precise resistance value for any singular recovery effort is to measure the pull with a dynamometer ( a device using for such measurements , particularly in the hoisting industry ). Short of using this device , any resistance value