What happens when the biggest and baddest vehicle breaks down

[DaveInDenver]

There was a Unimog that flopped in Big Bend a couple of years ago that closed Old Ore Road for a while. Problem-reaction-solution.

UPDATE: Guy Flips Unimog in Big Bend, Forcing Trail Closure - Expedition Portal

Update: More details have been found on the incident, and added below. We all have bad days, but some are worse than others. Take this poor soul for example, who seems to have flopped his beautiful expedition truck on a mild trail in southern Texas. From what we can gather, the driver was...

expeditionportal.com

Flopped Big Bend Unimog Recovered - Expedition Portal

About two weeks ago, we reported on a Unimog which had unfortunately been flopped in Big Bend National Park, forcing a closure of Old Ore Road. You can read about it here. With the huge increase in park traffic for the holiday season we knew it was only a matter of time before they’d bring...

expeditionportal.com

 

[greg.potter]

Plus, add a country in conflict, a civil war breaking out, a pandemic.....

...... or the Cartel
Been there, done that ...... will be avoiding that situation in the future.

 

[alanymarce]

What countries are that?

Where I live, for a start - Colombia.

 

[HAF]

I have this truck to get myself and friends un stuck. It has a 20,000 pound hydraulic winch on it along with lockers on every axel along with 450 HP. It seems to always win.

 

[Superduty]

I have this truck to get myself and friends un stuck. It has a 20,000 pound hydraulic winch on it along with lockers on every axel along with 450 HP. It seems to always win.

Can we be friends?

 

[MTVR]

I have this truck to get myself and friends un stuck. It has a 20,000 pound hydraulic winch on it along with lockers on every axel along with 450 HP. It seems to always win.

Is that a HEMTT that's articulated in the middle?

 

[roving1]

If a tow truck can come get you, then you must not have a vehicle more offroad than a tow truck?!

Most people are not more offroad than a tow truck most of the time because, frankly, large vehicles usually are not that capable and the ones that are do not fit or are too heavy for the terrain to support them most of the rest of the time.

Most heavy vehicles tend to get stuck on relatively mild terrain when they pull too far off the road edge or hit a soft spot or transition from a stable road surface to a soft one or do something incredibly dumb. All of these things are usually on or incredibly close to navigable solid ground.

Is it possible to get something stuck in a place so bad that self recovery or a tractor or backhoe or dozer or small front end loader can't get to? Sure. But that's an unfixable situation so it's pretty pointless to plan for a situation with no fix.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Meh.... Ya just need a big tractor.

 

[roving1]

You don't have to be big to have break down issues, GMC 2500HD stuck in Brazil

Urgent help needed. 2013 GMC 2500HD, broken down in Brazil

Posting for a good friend of mine who has broken down in Brazil. He is trying to get the truck onto a boat back to the US but it has broken down. we are looking for some sound ideas or suggestions on troubleshooting this issue so he can make the boat. This is the message he sent to me...

expeditionportal.com

Having worked for 3 months in Brazil that is a total nightmare. Getting anything into that country in a timely and economical manner is impossible. You can't even buy retail level merchandise without a CPF (tax ID) number as a normal consumer.

If they can't root cause and fix with at hand parts they are going to have to put a person on a plane with parts to get them or hack a carb onto that engine to get it on the boat.

 

[quickfarms]

Most people are not more offroad than a tow truck most of the time because, frankly, large vehicles usually are not that capable and the ones that are do not fit or are too heavy for the terrain to support them most of the rest of the time.

Most heavy vehicles tend to get stuck on relatively mild terrain when they pull too far off the road edge or hit a soft spot or transition from a stable road surface to a soft one or do something incredibly dumb. All of these things are usually on or incredibly close to navigable solid ground.

Is it possible to get something stuck in a place so bad that self recovery or a tractor or backhoe or dozer or small front end loader can't get to? Sure. But that's an unfixable situation so it's pretty pointless to plan for a situation with no fix.

Actually I have found the complete opposite to be true.

Most 4wd pickups, SUV’s and jeeps do not come from the factory with lockers and can get stuck very easily in the sand or mud.

Large trucks, class 7 and 8, are delivered with lockers if they are ordered for off highway service.

As long as you keep moving the big trucks tend to just chug along. The real problem is getting going again after you have stoped but all it takes is a tug from a dozer or a bump from a track hoe

You would be surprised where you will find the power company 6x6’s in the mountains around here on Jeep trails

 

[BeNimble]

I have this truck to get myself and friends un stuck. It has a 20,000 pound hydraulic winch on it along with lockers on every axel along with 450 HP. It seems to always win.

That is bigger and badder than most all campers for sure! What is the time and cost to get it to where its needed in the mountains of new mexico or colorado or baja to drag out a non-functioning MTVR for example.

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

We are not biggest or baddest, just 6T.
Couple of personal experiences...
With 28 years of owning and driving expedition vehicles we have been bogged many times, but this is the only occasion we have accepted external assistance.


A few years ago we broke a rear axle in the middle of the Simpson.
We considered several options.
1. Continue to drive on the front axle while being towed by our friends Canter.
REJECTED due to the extra strain on both vehicles that risked even more serious damage.
2. Get a recovery from Birdsville. There was a suitable vehicle available.
REJECTED due to a combination of cost and even after recovery, we would still need to replace the axle.
3. Fix it where it was.
Chosen. We ordered a new axle from Melbourne by sat. 'phone.. It was posted to Birdsville via Brisbane (approaching 4,000km) within 45 minutes. We tracked its progress via a family member in Brisbane and when its arrival in Birdsville was confirmed after 5 days, our friends drove the 3 day round trip to Birdsville and back to collect it. On their arrival, it was a simple 10 minute job to fit it and drive away.
The 8 day wait in the desert was a pleasant diversion rather than an imposition.
Even if the mechanical work and tools required were so specialised as to make it too difficult for DIY, in many circumstances we reckon it would be a better option to take the mechanic, the part and the tools to the vehicle than the other way around. I have an arrangement with my mechanic. He will come to me if we need him.



Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

 

[HAF]

Is that a HEMTT that's articulated in the middle?

It is an MK48 with articulation. Basically a wiggly Henry. I have owned it for several years. Bought it from Uncle Sam. It saw service in Afghanistan.

 

[HAF]

That is bigger and badder than most all campers for sure! What is the time and cost to get it to where its needed in the mountains of new mexico or colorado or baja to drag out a non-functioning MTVR for example.

There is an easier way. Steel Soldiers is a forum for folks like me that own these military vehicles. There are hundreds of us all over the country. Its a great group of people with most willing to help by using these trucks. You could join and post-you will get responses. You will discover a lot of members in your area willing to work there iron.

 

[MTVR]

It was three grand to get our MTVR trucked up to Portlandia from Yermo on an RGN (Removeable Goose Neck) "low boy" trailer. No permits needed.