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We created the Deadman™ Earth Anchor™ (patent pending) because we wanted to explore with confidence. We often found ourselves venturing solo, and with very little room to spare in our vehicle we needed recovery gear that was at once lightweight, small, and adaptable to different terrain. The Deadman was our solution to this need. With this single device, we can create a winch anchor point out of almost anything Mother Earth throws our way -- without breaking the bank or taking up precious cargo space. For us, this opened new avenues to adventure and the freedom to explore. We believe in having many different recovery tools in our recovery kit; the addition of something as versatile as the Deadman gives us options -- and since every recovery is unique, and conditions are never ideal, having options might just be what's needed to get us home. 

What's an Earth Anchor

Ok, anything you bury in the ground as a winching anchor point is defined as a deadman anchor. So yes, we named our product The Deadman in honor of this, however its versatility both above and below ground has led us to refer to it as an Earth Anchor. You see, the Deadman is not simply a ground anchor: it can anchor to a tree, a rock, or the ground unlike anything else. Most anchors only work in one scenario, meaning you must carry multiple anchors to ensure preparedness. The Deadman’s unique design allows it to be extremely capable in all three scenarios, making it the most versatile off-road anchor ever.

 

The Deadman Earth Anchor

Our primary design objective was to create something small and lightweight that could be easily buried - and be retrieved without more digging - for self-recovery in areas where there is nothing else to attach a winch to. What we came up with surprised us! It weighs less than 5lb, fits underneath a seat, and works to anchor to so much more than just the dirt. Because it’s a soft product, it can also be used around trees and rocks with increased safety relative to traditional anchors… and we keep finding new uses for the Deadman all the time. For instance, because it's made from industrial grade, non-stretch polyester webbing (same as a tree strap), it can also be used as a 15' winch extension. We've also found it useful as a ground mat, a fluid catch, a shade, and more - we're looking forward to what ideas our customer community comes up with as well!

Materials & Construction

The Deadman is constructed in USA from the finest USA-made, industrial grade materials. The tarp in the center is industrial 18oz vinyl with a rip-stop polyester skrim that's both tough and malleable, allowing it to conform to misshaped objects like rocks without ripping. The webbing is 2" Class VII industrial sling webbing, manufactured by Murdock Webbing (est. 1936) in Rhode Island, which is the same stuff used in industrial rigging and hoisting applications. Each line has a breaking strength of 19,600lb in a straight pull configuration and 39,200lb in a basket configuration. Because the Deadman uses two of these, when both lines are in use its breaking strength doubles, giving the Deadman a minimum breaking strength (MBS) of nearly 80,000lb in a basket configuration (still over 66,000lb after assembly). Additionally, because more than one strap is in use, the Deadman offers something no other anchor can: redundancy.

The Deadman is manufactured in the U.S.A.



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  • ROCK ANCHOR

    Boulders make great winch points – if you can get around them safely. Given that it’s NEVER a good idea to winch with a tow strap (when it breaks, it’ll sting a little more than a rubber band snapping) we believe the Deadman is the safest way of anchoring to a large rock. The Deadman uses its massive surface area and multiple straps to give the rock a big ol’ hug and stay put. When used in conjunction with a winch line extension and snatch block (our preferred method, currently), the Deadman becomes the foundation of a self-balancing anchor, lessening the risk of dangerous shock loads. So now that we know the Deadman isn’t going anywhere, do us all a favor and make sure you find a rock that’s just as strong.

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  • GROUND ANCHOR

    We’ve been using the Deadman as a Ground Hugger™ (e.g. ground anchor) for many years now, so we KNOW it works. But it wasn’t always like that… we learned the hard way, through trial and error, how to effectively use the Deadman in various recovery scenarios. Along the way, we also learned how to screw things up. We love our customers, so we figured it might be nice if we shared with you what we’ve learned, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes! “Sharing is caring!”

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  • TREE HUGGER

    So let’s say you don’t need a ground anchor – you only travel in areas where there are trees or rocks aplenty. The Deadman utilizes two extra-long 15′ slings, acting as TWO 19,800lb tree straps. This gives you a 2x increase in raw capacity and gives you something else a tree strap doesn’t: redundancy. Straps can break, especially when you introduce abrasive surfaces. The Deadman’s tarp does a far better job of protecting the tree — AND the straps — than any other tree saver on the market. We don’t know about you, but we feel better having two straps for redundancy when we’re in a jam.

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