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Why you shouldn't off road alone!

19K views 53 replies 28 participants last post by  Beastmaster 
#1 · (Edited)
Just got back from an awesome trail ride with GonzoBobH. :thumb:

We were almost through the roughest part of the trail when we came across a vehicle, upside down, off the trail. in a stream bed. :eek:
It seems that just a short time before, someone in a Toyota (not sure of the model) miss-judged the trail width and rolled off the road.
We were getting ready to go searching for the people when a couple of Sherriff's Deputies came by on ATVs. They had come across the couple from the accident a mile down the road as they were walking out and had come by take pictures of their SUV for their reports.:nonono:
Fortunately everyone is okay with only bruises. It would have been bad if someone had been seriously hurt and no one had come by. Bob and I were able to pass the area easly by one person standing in front and guiding the other through.:dance:

Here are some pics
(the people in the photos are Bob and his wife, not the occupants)
On a side note, one of the deputies said to us "they should have been driving a Jeep". :thumb:
 

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#2 ·
Wish I could have been there....oh wait, I was, haha. That's the first trail rollover I have seen, for sure.





Lesson of the day, as BM pointed out -- when in doubt, get out and get a ground guide. (Thanks, dude.)
 
#23 ·
Thems some mighty perty tires they got there....

Pitty they were 6-lug. Just say'n....

No apparent scrapes on the rock-rails. no mud in the wheel for the spare. My guess is first timer / drug store cowboy.

Im no pro...but dont pretend to be, either.
 
#3 ·
That's just STUPID. EVERYONE (well, apparently NOT everyone...) knows it's unsafe to go off-roading by yourself. :nonono:

...and what scares me the most are that it was TWO people who were equally as stupid. I can't believe at least one of them didn't have the common sense to tell the other one, "Ya know, maybe we shouldn't do this alone." :facepalm:

I'm amazed their stupidity didn't kill them.
 
#5 ·
That's just STUPID. EVERYONE (well, apparently NOT everyone...) knows it's unsafe to go off-roading by yourself. :nonono:

...and what scares me the most are that it was TWO people who were equally as stupid. I can't believe at least one of them didn't have the common sense to tell the other one, "Ya know, maybe we shouldn't do this alone." :facepalm:

I'm amazed their stupidity didn't kill them.
I bet they forgot to air down as well. :rofl:
 
#4 ·
I always miss the good stuff
 
#11 ·
bloodfart said:
as a newbie, my question is:

WHAT IS CONSIDERED WHEELING BY YOURSELF? That you are in the middle of absolutely nowhere and there isn't another car/atv/person within MILES of you? all my friends are into making their cars go fast so none of them offroad, so the couple times i've been out it was just me, the gf and our beagle :p but there were others around the forest, either on ATVs or in cars, so if something had gone wrong, someone would have found us within an hour max. figured that's pretty safe no?
As in, you need to be with at least one other vehicle. That way if something goes wrong with one vehicle, you can get back to civilization.
 
#13 ·
I have seen this sort of thing more often than I care to think about. Some people believe that 4wd means they can never break down, never get stuck, and that the vehicle can never be damaged. Some think that alcohol adds to their off road driving prowess.

That Toyota was a very expensive tow out of there.
 
#16 ·
Not to be rude, but didn't Inverted Chaos and I just answer that question? It's starting to look like you just want approval from us to go wheeling on your own, or some type of justification to do it.

If you wanna go wheeling on your own, then go, but before you do, can you just make sure to add Inverted Chaos and I as beneficiaries for your life insurance check before you go? :popcorn:

As in, you need to be with at least one other vehicle. That way if something goes wrong with one vehicle, you can get back to civilization.
Wheeling "by yourself" would be when you're out there in ONE vehicle, which means if you, Fido, and Honey are all in the same vehicle, you're wheeling BY YOURSELF. If you're in one vehicle with Fido and Honey's in another vehicle, or Fido and Honey are in a another vehicle, that's NOT wheeling by yourself. :D
 
#15 ·
bloodfart said:
I agree, but what if there are others in the general area? Say it's a popular trail where you know others will be around... I think that should be just fine no?
I dunno, I just like going with another vehicle. What if you roll it, knock yourself unconscious, and no one else goes down the trail that day? Or if you get stuck you can get pulled out in minutes as opposed to trying to find someone. I've met a lot of people through local jeep events and clubs so finding another person to come with is never an issue. Do what you feel comfortable with though.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Out West...

Y'know, I'm often hours away from help or fellow travelers ON THE ASPHALT!
Take a look at US 50, the Lincoln Highway, "the loneliest highway in the world" in Nevada (I guess the lonelier ones aren't true "highways"?).

The statements in the previous messages would dictate that I should also never ON-road "alone".

What if your buddy also breaks? Shouldn't we really travel in groups of three or more vehicles? With an offroad tow truck? And a helicopter?
-
I guess if we live in a country that spends trillion$ to make us safe from a one-in-a-million happenstance, then our discomfort threshold is pretty low.
-
It is a matter of comfort - informed comfort, though. Thanks to the previous posts for informing us.
If you're more comfortable parking your Jeep in a Jeep museum until the perfect Jeeping experience awaits, that's what you should do, but there's still no such thing as perfect safety.
-
I still don't understand why I'm more cavalier when someone (that I should protect) is just riding with me with no other vehicles than I am when I'm completely alone and risking only my own paltry life.
 
#19 ·
Stormeister said:
Y'know, I'm often hours away from help or fellow travelers ON THE ASPHALT!
Take a look at US 50, the Lincoln Highway, "the loneliest highway in the world" in Nevada (I guess the lonelier ones aren't true "highways"?).

The statements in the previous messages would dictate that I should also never ON-road "alone".

What if your buddy also breaks? Shouldn't we really travel in groups of three or more vehicles? With an offroad tow truck? And a helicopter?
-
I guess if we live in a country that spends trillion$ to make us safe from a one-in-a-million happenstance, then our discomfort threshold is pretty low.
-
It is a matter of comfort - informed comfort, though. Thanks to the previous posts for informing us.
If you're more comfortable parking your Jeep in a Jeep museum until the perfect Jeeping experience awaits, that's what you should do, but there's still no such thing as perfect safety.
-
I still don't understand why I'm more cavalier when someone (that I should protect) is just riding with me with no other vehicles than I am when I'm completely alone and risking only my own paltry life.
I'd say the danger of highcentering, sending a rock through your oil pan, exploding the ring gear in an axle, burying your jeep in mud, hydrolocking, rolling off of a cliff, breaking an ankle from spotting, etc, is FAR less likely when you are on a paved interstate. But, like you said, it's about comfort. No one is telling you what to do.
 
#22 ·
Just an experience, take from it what you like.
A couple years back I was in my partially built up 80 Yota, my buddy in his 2 door Wrangler. We were in our local offroading range when I had a driveshaft issue, actually I sheered the bolts holding my front driveshaft to my differential. Anyways, I didnt have enough bolts of the right size to get it back together. He left me there with my truck while he went into town, 30 minute drive 10 minutes to buy nuts and bolts and another hour to get back, it always takes longer to go up the mountain than to go down it. 3 Hours later he had still not returned, I was getting a little annoyed and super bored. Hadn't seen another soul since he left and it was hot. Finally he comes walking up the mountain, parts in hand. He had broke on the return trip, rear anti-sway bar, and with his limited off roading knowledge and his complete lack of mechanical skills did not know how to fix his problem. Luckily for him he was pretty low on the mountain and was able to catch a ride from a guy in a 2WD Durango as far as it could make it. He probably walked up hill about 2 miles. Sucker. Got it fixed as best I could and limped it down the mountain. We came across the 2WD Durango guys who were stuck in a little marshy area, we couldnt pull them out with my Yota and they jumped in the bed of my truck. Got to the Jeep, fixed that with a couple of tow straps and hit some pavement where we both called for a tow. He wasn't willing to drive his Jeep with a broken anti sway bar and I couldn't drive my truck more then 10 miles per hour. Anyways, very long story short, never wheel alone, unless you are willing and able to survive alone.
By the way, that was a good day of wheeling.
 
#24 ·
Surviving Alone

True. true. Out West we carry a LOT more water off road than on US 50.
I can eat lizards but the elephant poop out here is pretty dry.

Guess it's hard to think of just waiting a week to get rescued as a true safety issue. We don't hate roof racks out West.

Maybe I'll have to learn the hard way the truth of the old biker saying, if I may paraphrase, "There are bold Jeepers and there are old Jeepers, but there are no old, bold Jeepers." Hey, you guys got me thinking so hard I'm adopting the motto.

Then again, everybody from the photos and stories made it out okay. Too bad about the vehicle damage but additional vehicles wouldn't have prevented that.
 
#26 ·
just like hunting, camping or anything else that you enjoy by yourself or dont have anyone that is into your activity at least let others know where you will be and when you will be back..you can never be too safe ...and i understand about alone time while off roading...i live in the backwoods of ky and to some our driveway would be a need another buddy in his 4 wheeldrive situation..lol
 
#27 ·
Ah the debate rages on... We go out, alone, a lot . We have for decades.. We are both 50 something's, and in very good health, and we have plenty of cells between our ears... Two years ago in Moab we visited with a couple in their 80 series Landcruiser, German plates, 33" rubber, 3" lift, snorkel, and a diesel tdi, etc etc.. They were on a five year tour around the world,,, drove from Germany to India, shipped to Australia, spent a year there, outback, and all, shipped to Argentina, drove to Moab where we met them.. They were spending 3 months in the 4 corners region, as they were winding their way north using many sections of the Great Western Trail to end up in Alaska 10 months later for the summer,, then east to Halifax, and then ship home to Germany.. All alone... Quite an inspiration for my wife and I, as we plan on Alaska one day, after we have explored much of the western lower 48... Foolish? I think not. Adventurous? Definitely....

Proper gear, proper safety equipment and kit, personal locator beacon, topo maps, old fashioned compass, CB radio, tools, spare parts, winter gear, etc etc... the list is huge of the things we carry on board, along with enough food and water to last at least 7 days,, two weeks if we must ration.. And appointment times to call our family.. We have a blast doing it, and we have a blast without being stupid about it... Stupidity will kill you... However, on occasion, we do go out with others, and have just as much fun doing that as well.. So really,,, if you're careful, treat your equipment and yourself with respect, keep your equipment maintained, and have the good sense to turn back when you should,, who's gonna get ya? The boogeyman ???
 
#28 ·
How harsh are the excursions you're going on? Are you doing serious wheeling or are you basically just climbing up a few light trails to the top of a mountain?
 
#29 ·
Con Artist said:
How harsh are the excursions you're going on? Are you doing serious wheeling or are you basically just climbing up a few light trails to the top of a mountain?
It ranges from easy trail rides to really technical stuff.. Up in Canada it's mostly trail riding with the occasional mud , or off camber obstacles,, rocky mountains, whatever it takes, and Moab, my favorite place, can be a bit of everything,, 3 ft of water in salt creek, to very technical stuff up, over or around slick rock, deep sand, etc... I've some vids on YouTube using rubicondon04.. Bottom line,, I don't push the envelope too hard, I ask my jeep to do only what I know that it can..
 
#31 ·
now thats what im talking about--adventure without being stupid..

way to go, i wish my wife was into that....
 
#32 ·
I have no sympothy for anyone who wheels alone and gets themselves in trouble. In fact it pisses me off. I don't care if you live in the east and are at a offroad park or live out west and are on a public trail loaded to camp, with survival gear, spare parts and tools, roof rack and all.. NEVER WHEEL ALONE!!!
 
#33 ·
That's great advise for a ton of people and their off road machines. But just not for everyone.. That roof rack comes in mighty handy for lots of things, like an extra spare tire, extra water and extra gas, in addition to the 20 gallons and 15 gallons that we normally carry. It's also a great place to mount our shade awning from, for those really hot days.. We and many many others do not seek your sympathy, nor do we understand your anger.. To each his own... I'm sure that the German couple and scores of others would simply raise an eyebrow at your advise.. My advise,,, don't wheel alone, unless you are very much prepared for the worst case scenario. Don't get me wrong, I've wheeled with others countless times, and had a blast... Ask those same folks, as I have done, if they would join us on our excursions to Canada or out west?? Well, so far no takers.. Be good, have fun, be safe.. Out.... ;)
 
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#34 ·
That's great advise for a ton of people and their off road machines. But just not for everyone.. That roof rack comes in mighty handy for lots of things, like an extra spare tire, extra water and extra gas, in addition to the 20 gallons and 15 gallons that we normally carry. It's also a great place to mount our shade awning from, for those really hot days.. We and many many others do not seek your sympathy, nor do we understand your anger.. To each his own... I'm sure that the German couple and scores of others would simply raise an eyebrow at your advise.. My advise,,, don't wheel alone, unless you are very much prepared for the worst case scenario. Don't get me wrong, I've wheeled with others countless times, and had a blast... Ask those same folks, as I have done, if they would join us on our excursions to Canada or out west?? Well, so far no takers.. Be good, have fun, be safe.. Out.... ;)
+1
Very well said.
 
#38 ·
I can't believe some of these people are worried about going out alone in their Jeep. Most people don't want to go out as often or to as many places as I want to. Gotta use some common sense and carry some gear. Pilots do it all the time. Here in Alaska, I fly into more remote areas than you could ever get ANY Jeep into. If my engine quits in the plane, I'd be in a little more trouble than somebody in a Jeep.
 
#39 ·
XJ Knight said:
I have no sympothy for anyone who wheels alone and gets themselves in trouble. In fact it pisses me off. I don't care if you live in the east and are at a offroad park or live out west and are on a public trail loaded to camp, with survival gear, spare parts and tools, roof rack and all.. NEVER WHEEL ALONE!!!
Yeah, lets be so paranoid that we never even drive on the highways alone anymore! :( seriously, what if somethings happens while you are on an empty stretvh of road withno cellphone coverage???


I think you're waaaay overstating the danger. What could happen to us on a regular forest road other than say a flat tire?? If you go out on some badass trails then SURE, bring a friend, but why should i always bring someone if most of my trails are light, and i mostly just explore the wilderness?
 
#41 ·
Do You Ever See A Jeeper Alone?

I mean before you got there and after you went separate ways?

I think I trail quite a bit, just not always the toughest, rock-crawling, jeep-crunching routes I can find, but I like to explore. Even in my pickup days I'd occasionally run across some alone jeeper out in the middle of nowhere. They're always about 60 years old with lots of gear, like maybe they're prospectors.

I've never run across a dead jeeper or a grave marker or even a campsite next to a wrecked jeep.

I appreciate someone's pointing out potential pitfalls, but does anyone actually die or anything? How often? How stupid were they?
 
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