Two miles of ocean beach beside them, and no trucks or vehicles allowed on that beach at all
Recovery on sand, and what the permit specifies
The strap is not optional and its rating is not up to you. Assateague requires a rope, strap, chain or cable at least ten feet long with at least 6,000 pounds of pulling strength, along with a jack and a rigid support to spread the load, because a jack foot on soft sand does nothing.
Inland the problem changes shape. Savage River and Green Ridge are wooded, so a tree is usually available as an anchor, but the roads are narrow and shared with forest traffic and the forests post their own bridge closures. Rig so you are not blocking the only way through while you work.
Recovery gear is safety equipment. It is rated, it wears out, and it is only as strong as what it attaches to. A good supplier asks what the vehicle weighs before recommending a winch or a rope, and will not sell you a shackle without asking where you plan to put it.
What they sell and install
01Winches, synthetic line and fairleads
02Rated recovery points, front and rear
03Kinetic ropes, straps and soft shackles
04Traction boards and jacks
05Compressors and tire repair kits
How to choose recovery gear
Buy for the loaded weight of the vehicle, and buy it once.
01Buy rated gear from known makers, with the working load marked on it.
02Size a winch to the loaded vehicle. A common rule of thumb is about one and a half times the gross weight, and your supplier can confirm it for your setup.
03Make sure the recovery points are rated and mounted to the frame. Factory tie-down loops are for shipping, not recovery.
04Get trained. A short recovery course is worth more than another piece of gear.
What to have ready before you ask for a quote
Weight and mounting decide everything.
01Vehicle and loaded weight
02Factory or aftermarket bumper, and whether it takes a winch
03Battery setup
04Whether you travel alone or in a group
05The terrain you get stuck in: sand, mud, snow, rock
Questions people ask
What is the minimum recovery kit?
Rated recovery points front and rear, a kinetic rope or strap with soft shackles, traction boards, a shovel, a tire repair kit and a compressor. Add a winch if you travel alone.
Synthetic rope or steel cable?
Synthetic is lighter, easier to handle and stores less energy if it breaks, which is why most travelers choose it. It needs protection from abrasion, heat and sunlight. Steel tolerates abuse but is heavy, and dangerous when it fails.
Where can I learn to use it?
Look for a recovery course from a trainer, or a club that runs training days. Practicing once in a parking lot beats reading about it ten times.
How high is Maryland?
From Snow Hill at 16 feet to Hoye Crest at 3,360.
Altitude decides what your engine, your brakes and your lungs have to work with, and how late in the year the passes open.
02,0004,000
Feet above sea level
Towns
McHenryDeep Creek Lake services, and where an ORV permit is sold2,482 ft
OaklandGarrett County seat, and the way in to Potomac-Garrett State Forest2,404 ft
GrantsvilleSavage River State Forest headquarters is two miles down New Germany Road2,309 ft
FrostburgOn the old National Road between the plateau and Cumberland2,063 ft
FriendsvilleThe northern Youghiogheny, near the Mill Run campground1,500 ft
FlintstoneGreen Ridge State Forest headquarters, where campsites are registered814 ft
CumberlandThe western end of the canal towpath and the last full-service city624 ft
HagerstownTires, parts and freight-road access for the whole Potomac valley542 ft
ThurmontThe gateway to Catoctin Mountain Park and its firewood rule519 ft
HancockThe narrowest point of the state, between the canal and the Pennsylvania line446 ft
SharpsburgAntietam and the Snyders Landing stretch of the canal418 ft
FrederickThe last big supply stop before the mountains going west283 ft
BerlinThe mainland town before the Assateague bridge and the sand permit36 ft
SalisburyThe service centre of the lower Eastern Shore26 ft
CambridgeBlackwater refuge and the Wildlife Drive are south of here18 ft
Snow HillPocomoke State Forest and the cypress swamp country16 ft
Passes, high roads and summits
Hoye CrestThe state high point, on the crest of Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. The USGS published figure; our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point gives 3,3683,360 ft
Meadow MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point. Its 12-mile trail carries the four-mile section open to off-road vehicles3,033 ft
East Shale Road, Meadow Mountain TrailThe I-68 corridor to New Germany Road, Savage River State Forest3,033 ft
Big Savage MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, above Savage River State Forest2,970 ft
Dans MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, in Allegany County2,892 ft
Margraff PlantationMargraff Plantation, Savage River State Forest2,800 ft
Town HillOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point. The Green Ridge driving tour passes its 1931 fire tower2,029 ft
Catoctin MountainOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, in Frederick County1,877 ft
Green RidgeOur own reading of the elevation surface at its map point, the ridge the state forest is named for1,424 ft
Pass, road and summit elevations are the figures published by the agency that manages them. Town elevations are the town’s or county’s own
figure where it publishes an exact one; the rest are from the U.S. Geological Survey (3D Elevation Program at the place’s official coordinates),
retrieved September 18, 2026. Every source is listed at the foot of the page.
Free build quotes
Looking for recovery equipment suppliers in Maryland? Tell us about the project and get free quotes.
