Whether you’re equipping a first truck or restocking an existing fleet, getting the kit right from the start saves time, money, and the kind of roadside problem nobody wants. The best recovery operators have trucks they can trust, and that starts with what’s on them.
This guide covers the core equipment categories every professional recovery truck should carry, what to look for within each one, and the questions worth asking before you buy.
The foundation of any recovery kit. You’ll need both kinetic (snatch) straps and static (towing) straps — they do different jobs and should never be substituted for one another. Beyond those, consider:
Flat bed assemblies – for vehicle transport on flat bed carriers
Motorcycle straps – if your work includes two-wheelers
RDT/CRT straps – for damaged vehicle recovery
Ratchets and chockers – for vehicle securing and positioning
Check ratings, condition, and certification before buying, and make sure your range of lengths suits the work you do.
Full guide: How to Choose the Right Recovery Straps
Safe vehicle lifting and positioning requires the right kit for the job:
Strops and round slings – for controlled lifts at recovery points
Lift bar and accessories – for specific lift configurations
Snatch blocks – for redirecting your winch line and increasing mechanical advantage
Streetlifter – for specialist underbody lifting applications
Make sure every lifting item is rated for the gross vehicle weight you’re working with, and that end fittings and connections are compatible with your recovery points.
3. RECOVER, TOW & WHEEL MANAGEMENT
The day-to-day tools of a recovery operator’s job:
Wheel skates and slipperies – for moving vehicles with damaged or locked wheels without dragging
Tow poles – for controlled towing with a fixed, rated connection
Wheel chocks – essential for any lifted or parked recovery
Trailer boards and wireless lighting – compliant lighting without a wired vehicle connection; Connix wireless lights remove the need for any connection to the recovered vehicle
Voltage reducers – important for hybrid and EV recoveries where electrical management is part of the job
Crash wrap / collision wrap – for containing and protecting a damaged vehicle during transport, and particularly important where battery damage is suspected
Forklift attachment and forks & pins – for specialist recovery configurations
A dead battery is one of the most common callouts in the industry. Make sure you’re carrying:
Portable power packs – for a reliable jump start on petrol and diesel vehicles
NOCO jump starters – compact, powerful, and safe to use on modern vehicles including those with sensitive electronics
Having the right jump start equipment on the truck means you can resolve the most common breakdown type quickly and safely, without needing a second vehicle.
As the vehicle mix on UK roads shifts, so does what operators need to carry:
EV recovery equipment – for the specific challenges of recovering electric and hybrid vehicles safely
Cones – scene safety and traffic management
Chemical hazard equipment – for incidents involving fluid spillage or battery compromise
Fire extinguishers – rated appropriately for vehicle fires including EV-related incidents
First aid kits – a legal requirement and a practical necessity
Torches – for safe working in low-light conditions and overnight callouts
Don’t treat safety equipment as an afterthought. The operators who’ve been doing this longest will tell you it’s the kit they’re most glad to have and least glad to use.
For winch and recovery operations where working position matters, a reliable remote control system is a significant safety upgrade. Lodar remote controls give operators control of their winch from a safe distance, away from the line, away from the load, and in a position where they can see the full recovery rather than being tied to the controls on the vehicle.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE YOU BUY
Before committing to any piece of kit for the truck, it’s worth asking:
☐ Is it rated for the heaviest vehicle I’ll be working with?
☐ Is it certified, and does it come with documentation?
☐ Is it compatible with the vehicles I’ll be recovering — including EVs and hybrids?
☐ Does it come from a supplier who’s actually tested it in real recovery work?
That last question matters more than most people realise. Equipment that performs well in a warehouse test doesn’t always perform well on a wet motorway hard shoulder at 2am. At TowEquip, everything we sell has been tested on our own fleet first – if it doesn’t work in real recovery conditions, it doesn’t make it onto the site.
Build Your Kit With TowEquip
Whether you’re starting from scratch or filling the gaps in an existing setup, TowEquip stocks a focused range of professional recovery equipment across every category covered in this guide.
Or get in touch and we’ll help you spec the right kit for your truck.
