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The Reason We Carry Recovery Gear

2K views 27 replies 14 participants last post by  banditman 
#1 ·
#2 ·
how did he roll that? Do you have video of that? Glad everybody was alright. I have rolled a few times and the first time it was like umm crap now it is fun lol
 
#3 ·
That hill is much steeper than a picture can relate; he hit the brakes on the way down after a failed attempt, his rear springs loaded, his front unloaded, and his trailer ball dug in and pole-vaulted him.
I had been tracking him with the camera but just stopped a second before to move his wife and granddaughter out of harm's way.







 
#4 ·
Yea I can tell it is steep. Brakes are very bad on hills like that. Well atleast he will get some new tube fenders a new shinny roll cage :).
 
#6 ·
Depends on the landing and what broke.
This fellow's builder had the sense to install an upgraded cage, something that I'm starting to think about...
It mitigated the damage and allowed them to have a good campfire story rather than a hospital stay.
After I righted the YJ we inspected the vitals. The 4.0L-six is famous for spilling its oil into the airbox if it rolls toward the driver's side; after we drained the oil from the airbox and let the splooge burn off for a while, it ran pretty well.

Blue smoke good; white smoke bad. ;)



 
#7 ·
The cage explains why his windshield wasn't destroyed. Did you go up that hill? I'm just curious if coil vs. leaf springs in the front has any bearing. I used to have a CJ7 and I went up some hills that scared the crap out of me. The front end starts to feel very light and tends to bounce a little. I've gone up some hills in my JK that felt way too steep, but it seemed to cling like a billy goat and jump right up. It could also be a weight factor.

Glad to see that one one was injured. It's also nice to see someone who wasn't filming the carnage instead of trying to lend assistance. Just one note, I don't think it was wise of them totry to "push" it over while you were pulling it.
 
#8 ·
The cage explains why his windshield wasn't destroyed. Did you go up that hill?
Only the tube buggy made it up.
He manually adjusted his front suspension all the way down, rear all the way up, aired-down to 4psi, and sill had to use momentum.
And the windshield was totally smashed but still in place. This dude was thinking of driving it home by knocking the windshield out completely...
He opted for AAA and a flatbed.


Just one note, I don't think it was wise of them totry to "push" it over while you were pulling it.
I totally agree.

In any recovery effort, there's always a "leader" and you have to stick with it. I didn't think it was a good idea for them to be there with hands on, but I also didn't think there was any serious risk to them, enough to stop the recovery. The ground was fairly dry, the recovery point was solid, and the strap was in very good shape.
I thought it was a little funny that they thought they were "helping" by pushing...
 
#9 ·
Wow. This sways me even further over towards upgrading my cage.

Also, what the hell was he thinking leaving a drop ball on the back? Holy fulcrum, Batman! :) BAD idea.

Glad everyone got out safely! Another reason, yes, for recovery gear, but also for traveling in groups, and knowing your limits- Mark W.
 
#11 ·
Ive seen plenty of rollovers working as motor t in the marines. 9/10 someone rolls a vehicle attempting to do what others have done when they are not nearly a capable enough driver. I was in Yuma, Az one summer for some convoy security and vehicle recovery exercises, and we had a kid flip an LVS that was towing an 870 trailer with a D7 on top. Probably the hardest recovery ive done yet.
 
#13 ·
Very educational in many ways Bill, thanks for the post.
 
#22 ·
I'm the tall follicly-challenged chap driving the JK who later put on the Cabella's hat. The little guy in the Tilley hat with the grey shirt is The Swiss.
My hat is more Indiana Jones than Alan Grant... :p


Pop, I don't think many would disagree on that one. I wonder how this jeep is used daily. Or is it used only for wheeling.
I'm pretty sure that he's fairly new to wheeling and that the YJ was just one of his vehicles.
The rest of the family was in another area of the park playing with quads.


I saw a few people walk over your tow strap after it was hooked up. That is a bad practice. Glad the YJ driver and passenger were OK.
The strap wasn't attached until I got ready to pull; it was just laying on the bumper while people were strolling around.
I took the class from Bruce Elfstrom....
...but Mike didn't; he's a park employee and was directing the recovery anyhow.
 
#15 ·
I'd rather be safe and called a wimp than do something I'm not comfortable with my jeep. Besides, my jeep is my DD! If I roll it I'm going to have a problem getting to work the next day ha ha!
 
#16 ·
Pop, I don't think many would disagree on that one. I wonder how this jeep is used daily. Or is it used only for wheeling.
 
#21 ·
I wonder that too. I plan to one day make my jeep just for offroading.

I plan to keep my 2009 JKU for as long as I live. :cool: I personally love the extended wheel base. I depend on it more than I realize for when I slide through soft desert dirt and do donuts... I feel more stable and less likely to tip over when I do that.

If I ever get lucky to get married and have some little jeepers, I hope to pass the jeep onto them. More of a reason to take the best of care for my jeep now. :)
 
#18 ·
Theres a way to get up hills that steep and steeper, yeah i may be called a few bad names but i know that ive been disconnected before and my front tires still werent on the ground and i was happy that winch was there to save my ass instead of causing a pretty hefty load in damage, nonetheless saving a life flight
 
#23 ·
I guess the class is a good starting point. I would take most of what he says is a joke. In most flipping of vehicles back to the rubber side down is pure common sense. I drive a tow truck and have to get really creative to get vehicles back on the road then on the truck. He is a teacher, there are many ways to skin a cat as the saying goes. You did everything right. I actually try not to right somebody by tugging on them. I really only prefer a winch if available. More control on the winch then in the truck.
 
#24 ·
You did everything right. I actually try not to right somebody by tugging on them. I really only prefer a winch if available. More control on the winch then in the truck.
I agree.
I started by pulling winchline; I even blocked my front bumper up to a tree.
But Mike called for a strap, the fast-dirty-and-cheap method.
The conditions were fine though for either in this case.

I've seen some towtruck recoveries; you guys are creative geniuses... :eek:

Bruce Elfstrom writes & teaches the courses for most of the US special forces, btw. The classes are required if you're in those units. I was lucky enough to catch him in the Arizona desert at Overland Expo for civilian classes.
Fun stuff. But, like you said, in the field you'll do what's necessary.
 
#25 ·
Ohh yea- I have used 4 snatch blocks and 2 tow trucks with 3 separate winch lines to right a truck last week. I wish I had pictures of it. The cop looked at me and goes how are going to get that up here. I looked at him and go simple. Little geometry goes a long way. I took that class in cali on recoveries (when I did my survival training out in warner springs-- week long training) Now that guy is a pure genius along with his knot knowing is just of the charts!
 
#27 ·
I took that class in cali on recoveries (when I did my survival training out in warner springs-- week long training) Now that guy is a pure genius along with his knot knowing is just of the charts!
I'll consider myself lucky to remember a fraction of what he knows.



 
#26 ·
To tugging with the jeep I have seen tow truck drivers and other people not know how hard to tug and they pull the vehicle over to the other side lol.
 
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