oscar the grouch
Jeep Nut
Post your recovery stories here so we can all learn something 
Here is mine from saturday.
windshield by Oscar Indy, on Flickr
Here is mine from saturday.
windshield by Oscar Indy, on Flickr
Recovery Stories
- Thread starter oscar the grouch
- Start date
Metcalf
Expedition Leader
Nice, thank you for sharing.
Do you think a solo recovery would he been possible in that situation? Maybe use the vehicle mounted winch routed with an additional snatch block at the attachment point for #1 pull and route it back to pull point #2 onto the rear bumper? It would have provided the same sideways type tension, but would have required vehicle power/traction to drive out....
Do you think a solo recovery would he been possible in that situation? Maybe use the vehicle mounted winch routed with an additional snatch block at the attachment point for #1 pull and route it back to pull point #2 onto the rear bumper? It would have provided the same sideways type tension, but would have required vehicle power/traction to drive out....
tarditi
Explorer
When I first started 4-wheeling, I had a "tow strap" with hooks on the ends... don't use tow straps with hooks on the ends.
Long story short, the hook snapped and the kinetic force shot the strap back towards my jeep - took out the driver-side headlight, bezel, and dented the fender on my "only a couple month old" YJ. Could have gotten the windshield, could have gotten me.
Don't use tow straps with hooks on the ends.
Long story short, the hook snapped and the kinetic force shot the strap back towards my jeep - took out the driver-side headlight, bezel, and dented the fender on my "only a couple month old" YJ. Could have gotten the windshield, could have gotten me.
Don't use tow straps with hooks on the ends.
Antichrist
Expedition Leader
I've done similar, only with one snatch block. I was headed to my cabin one night when I side slipped off the snowy trail. Attempts to get back on the trail resulted in me sliding further off the trail and hung up on a small tree wedged between my rear axle and bumper.
I ran the winch cable 90 degrees sideways (roller fairlead) up to a tree, through a snatch block and back to the rear bumper. I then anchored the front to a tree with a strap and pulled the rear end sideways off the tree. Then re-rigged and pulled myself back on to the trial.
Only tow straps have hooks. The problem really comes when people use them for kinetic recovery, which they aren't designed for. I've been using tow straps as tow straps for around 40 years, never had one break.
I use kinetic recovery straps for kinetic recovery.
Only tow straps have hooks. The problem really comes when people use them for kinetic recovery, which they aren't designed for. I've been using tow straps as tow straps for around 40 years, never had one break.
I use kinetic recovery straps for kinetic recovery.
oscar the grouch
Jeep Nut
@metcalf Yes it could have been done solo and antichrists description would work I think.
Issue with a solo pull here is he wedged against the stump and the hill behind is pushing him further into it. So backing up on his own is impossible.
I will diagram up my idea tomorrow but it takes 3 snatch blocks
Issue with a solo pull here is he wedged against the stump and the hill behind is pushing him further into it. So backing up on his own is impossible.
I will diagram up my idea tomorrow but it takes 3 snatch blocks
oscar the grouch
Jeep Nut
windshieldsolo by Oscar Indy, on FlickrI think it would take 3 snatch blocks. mainly because you would need rearward pull to unseat the stump from the windshield with out causing further damage. The effect of doubling up the line is that it pulls to the rear first with enough power to pull it up out of the ditch. It would take a re rig to allow forward motion tho. the thought is that the vehicle would assist with forward momentum and the winch line would just keep the rig from sliding back into the bank.
here is a better shot of the offending branch that took out the windshield.
mirror by Oscar Indy, on Flickr
Jack Stilts
Subaru Ambassador
Visited an off-road park in 2014. Came across these fellas from Chicago who were buried to the bumper in a full-size 4x2 stock Chevrolet Tahoe with street tires at the crest of a sand hill.
Lessons learned:
Recovery steps:
Lessons learned:
- Air down your tires.
- Bring some self-recovery equipment.
- Bring canine spotter.
Recovery steps:
- Stock receiver used for D-ring and mount (Chevrolet).
- 30K strap with D-ring attached to recovery point on rear bumper (Nissan).
- Slow, gentle tug out of the hole.
- Assist vehicle back to a safe location.
- Never bring 4x2 Tahoe back there
oscar the grouch
Jeep Nut
would a kenetic recovery strap been better for you. lighter rig pulling a heavier one and all
Jack Stilts
Subaru Ambassador
Forgot to mention that the strap I was using was indeed kinetic. Still wanted to take it nice & easy.
oscar the grouch
Jeep Nut
aww. it looked like a normal pull strap not a kenetic thats why i asked. I havent had opportunity to use my ARB snatch strap yet but im sure i will.
Jack Stilts
Subaru Ambassador
If by "kinetic," you mean the kind with some stretch \ snap in it, yep! Kinetic strap. The tow straps that don't have a little stretch in them make me nervous...
oscar the grouch
Jeep Nut
Snatch straps stretch a ton. others dont stretch much. I carry both. 30 ft strap(basically a big tree saver) and the 30ft arb snatch strap it expands like 20% of its length. think like a bubba rope but not round.
Ray_G
Explorer
Switched over to a mac recently which prompted a consolidation of pictures and the re-discovery of some gems which contributes to my 'stuck' story.
Preparing for the Rover Owner Association of Virginia (ROAV) Mid Atlantic Rally in 2009 on a new venue saw a lot of exploration of the property to map existing trails and determine priority of work to enhance them. One of the mapping weekends early on saw my Disco and a buddy's RRC drift down a heavily overgrown trail that wandered along beside a stream and through some marshy area. Coming to what initially appeared to just be a short stretch of deep mud I opted to see if I could push through figuring the RRC could always yank me backward if need be. That resulted in this:
What wasn't apparent, and I don't have great pictures of it, is that as you got through the initial stretch there was a turn and then a rise to get up on dry ground-momentum got me to the turn but as that bled speed the Disco bogged down. Moreover the longer she sat, the more it sank in compounding the issue.
Trying to snatch backwards went nowhere with the RRC facing either way. Winching backwards was dragging the RRC toward me due to lack of an anchor point. Efforts to self winch forward were foiled by the lack of anchor point (you can see the scrub brush, there were no substantive trees nor rocks). Time wore on, with the kids being somewhat more enthusiastic then the girlfriend who was less than pleased.
With the mud's suction killing most efforts the recovery eventually we pushed the RRC back out and it found its way around (assisted by some kids with ATV's that were astounded we'd decided to go down that trail) to be able to winch from the front which was an easier pull. In order to even make that happen we used the fiberglass sand ladders under the front tires after using a hi-lift to break the suction and get the ladders under the front wheels to facilitate less drag and getting over the bank. A lot of digging, sweating, cursing, and basking in my own stupidity later she was free, as you can see the sun was going down so it was timely.
My lesson's learned:
-Walk the unknowns before using skinny pedal to make the attempt.
-Having a second vehicle when wheeling is critical
-Always be prepared for an overnight, for everyone on the trip-i.e. snacks/food for the kiddos.
-I rarely use a hi lift for a number of (safety) reasons, but sometimes it is the tool that will do what is necessary.
-Moving forward I've discarded the fiberglass grating since it's very heavy and doesn't withstand abuse well, but Maxtrax are worth their weight in gold.
I'm sure their are more lessons, this wasn't a terribly dangerous situation just frustrating.
r-
Ray
Preparing for the Rover Owner Association of Virginia (ROAV) Mid Atlantic Rally in 2009 on a new venue saw a lot of exploration of the property to map existing trails and determine priority of work to enhance them. One of the mapping weekends early on saw my Disco and a buddy's RRC drift down a heavily overgrown trail that wandered along beside a stream and through some marshy area. Coming to what initially appeared to just be a short stretch of deep mud I opted to see if I could push through figuring the RRC could always yank me backward if need be. That resulted in this:
What wasn't apparent, and I don't have great pictures of it, is that as you got through the initial stretch there was a turn and then a rise to get up on dry ground-momentum got me to the turn but as that bled speed the Disco bogged down. Moreover the longer she sat, the more it sank in compounding the issue.
Trying to snatch backwards went nowhere with the RRC facing either way. Winching backwards was dragging the RRC toward me due to lack of an anchor point. Efforts to self winch forward were foiled by the lack of anchor point (you can see the scrub brush, there were no substantive trees nor rocks). Time wore on, with the kids being somewhat more enthusiastic then the girlfriend who was less than pleased.
With the mud's suction killing most efforts the recovery eventually we pushed the RRC back out and it found its way around (assisted by some kids with ATV's that were astounded we'd decided to go down that trail) to be able to winch from the front which was an easier pull. In order to even make that happen we used the fiberglass sand ladders under the front tires after using a hi-lift to break the suction and get the ladders under the front wheels to facilitate less drag and getting over the bank. A lot of digging, sweating, cursing, and basking in my own stupidity later she was free, as you can see the sun was going down so it was timely.
My lesson's learned:
-Walk the unknowns before using skinny pedal to make the attempt.
-Having a second vehicle when wheeling is critical
-Always be prepared for an overnight, for everyone on the trip-i.e. snacks/food for the kiddos.
-I rarely use a hi lift for a number of (safety) reasons, but sometimes it is the tool that will do what is necessary.
-Moving forward I've discarded the fiberglass grating since it's very heavy and doesn't withstand abuse well, but Maxtrax are worth their weight in gold.
I'm sure their are more lessons, this wasn't a terribly dangerous situation just frustrating.
r-
Ray