06/04/2026
History. Heritage. Passion. Growth.
Most people don’t know the history behind our passion for Off-Road Recovery and 4x4 Towing.
For me, these roots run deep—back to the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s, when only a handful of companies in Gila, Pinal, and Maricopa Counties were willing to take a wrecker off the pavement and into the unknown.
Companies like Tex Randall’s, Mike O’Neil’s, Lehi Towing, ABT Towing, and AZ 4x4 were among the few equipped and experienced enough to tackle true off-road recoveries, mud, rocks, water and anything else the general public could get into.
One truck in particular helped shape who I am today: a brown and white 1978 one-ton Holmes 480, known simply as 4x480. My grandfather, Tex Randall, put me in that truck at a young age and taught me lessons that still guide every recovery we perform today.
That truck and I covered a lot of ground and pavement together.
From major recoveries Roosevelt, Apache Trail, Apache Lake, Sycamore, Payson, 4 Peaks, Salt River when tailgates were at the waters edge, to the East Valley lakes, the San Tan Mountains before the homes were built, Peralta Trails, Superstition Mountains, Silly Mountain before it was a walking trail, Box Canyon, Boulders OHV, Superior, Globe, Firebird Raceway, car shows, cruise nights down Mill Ave and Central and countless adventures throughout Arizona.
It even played a role in some of the most important moments of my life. It took Stephanie to our 1992 prom, and on our wedding on January 10th 1993, January 10th late night our room flooded and am the 11th 1993 is when floodwaters washed out the bridge into Gold Canyon Country Club. Steph said we are trapped! 4x480 we got this, hubs locked, 4hi and she carried us safely through a four-foot running wash and got us home. Hey babe? Still think driving the wrecker on our wedding night was a bad idea? Whatever! 🧒
Today, more than 30 years later, I find myself working many of those same areas with two of the most capable recovery vehicles I’ve ever operated—OR-13 and MW-21. Side by side with Stephanie who is earning her off-road badge just like I did. One plan at a time!
While the equipment has changed, vehicles have changed 10 fold, with electronics that people design with no clue how they become issues in the field. However, the fundamentals of it all haven’t.
Successful off-road recovery isn’t about horsepower, or simply pulling harder. It’s about experience, planning, creativity, proper rigging, proper anchoring, proper communication, and understanding how to safely recover vehicles in places where most tow trucks—and many four-wheel drives—can’t go or shouldn’t have gone.
Today we’re equipped with:
• ONX Offroad Mapping
• Onboard Starlink Satellite Communications and wireless headsets for the Team
• Drone for Reconnaissance and Planning
• Synthetic Recovery Gear, Sn**ch blocks, over 1500ft of wire and synthetic rope, backed by 5 10k to 15k winches on both trucks, that can double their capacity at anytime.
• Recovery Skids and Scotch Blocks
• Advanced Lighting Systems and Scene Visibility
• Two Purpose-Built 4x4 Recovery Trucks loaded with all the goodies
• Decades of Real-World Experience
Whether it’s a broken SXS in Box Canyon, a stranded Jeep in the mountains, a washed-out trail, RV/Motorhome or a vehicle deep in the Arizona backcountry, we have the equipment, knowledge, and determination to bring it back out safely.
As my grandfather always taught me:
“Good ain’t cheap, and cheap ain’t good.”
Anyone can hook a cable, hit the throttle, and see what parts come out. Caught me a bumper! Not a great way to be on YouTube.
We prefer to do it right the first time and coach our Customers through it. We even give them a special branded duck to remember the day, before you repeat!
Don’t forget to always pack the essential gear and supplies, even if your trip is a few hours. Most of our areas are zero cell service, so hiking out is typically your exit plan after an event takes place.
Shad Randall’s Towing & Recovery
Off-Road Recovery • 4x4 Towing • Winching • Backcountry Recovery
📞 480-250-9326
Florence, Arizona
24/7 • On The Way And On Time
