What is the best way to spend $100 on recovery equiptment?  It seems like a come-a-long, a high lift jack and a strap would be the way to go?  What brand of come-a-long is a decent one?  Any other ideas?

If you wheel with other people, a hi-lift jack, a couple of tow straps and some D-rings would be a good start.

a hi-lift can also be used to winch so u really don't need a comalong if u r pinching pennies.

STAY AWAY FROM COME ALONGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! very dangerous.... i no from personal expierience just use the high lift jack as a winch.

                                             -mo

STAY AWAY FROM COME ALONGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! very dangerous.... i no from personal expierience just use the high lift jack as a winch.

                                             -mo

Ya, remove the come along and add some chains and hooks for winching

What sort of terrain are you driving? I don't go anywhere without a tow rope, a HiLift and a shovel. Works for me but its probably harder to dig through rocks  

Did anybody say a Hi-lift?  

Depends on where your rock rails and bumpers are.
A high life is almost useless with our trucklet anymore.
(can't get enough lift, run out of bar)

~Nate

I'd get a good tow strap with loops and d-rings, a shovel and a ham radio.

STAY AWAY FROM COME ALONGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! very dangerous

I would have to disagree with this statement.  A good come-along is a valuable tool offroad.  Often a come-along will work in conjunction with a winch, or in a situation where a winch cannot be used (such as a vehicle sliding sideways off a trail)  

Accidents can happen with any recovery tool, but the risk can be minimized.  

Don't by a $15 come-along and expect it to pull your 2500lb vehicle out of 3 feet of thick mud.  Be safe, buy good equipment.

Wrap a towel or blanket over the line to prevent the whipping around if it breaks.

Keep bystanders at a safe distance.

Only hook the come-along or winch to a safe recovery point

...and a ham radio.

Umm, Nate?  For under $100?  What are the licensing requirements these days?

if u have a hi-lift u can use it the same as a comalong. hilift sells the hook and strap tire kit that hooks to ur rim and gives a surface for the hi-lift to lift on. i think it $25 or $45. if u get a hi-lift rcovery kit for $132 including shipping it comes with handle extension, winching instructions, 2 4500lb tow straps (designed to work with a hi-lift), and a tire lift strap.

A high life is almost useless with our trucklet anymore.

Sad too hear the high life almost useless  

Ham radio just pass an easy test (no code)and 14.95 for a ten year license.  

all the above, plus some cheap waffles - they don't have to be so strong as to bridge with, just enough to squeeze under a wheel to get some grip - army surplus is as good as anything, if a little agricultural!

see i didnt get hurt by the cable but by the gears .... it gave way and the gears caught my thumb....im scarred gor lift by them now lol ... put me in the hospital and had to get major reparative surgery on my thumb....

                                       -mo