Any Members in Arkansas?

I work line service part time. Hopefully it won't be long till I'll be burning it

 

Hey @MatthewMay1, somebody posted a pic of what looked like a Huey landing at Byrd's, but I could be wrong. Wondering if it might have been the same crew you posted a pic of. From the stops you listed, that thing has pretty good range.

So all of you dudes with winches have me thinking of recovery gear. As I get braver, but not too brave, and occasionally get a wild hair as men in my family are wont to do, I am thinking it might be good to have more than a military shovel that I have recently learned to operate under Pete's tutelage. I *might* end up alone and in a situation where something would be useful. I don't want to mess with changing springs, but thinking a hidden winch with synthetic cable *might* be light enough, but probably a bit heavy and overkill. So, thoughts on what the best recovery gear to have along is?

A) Hidden winch with synthetic line ($$$$)
B) Hi-Lift jack with the winching kit and off road base, straps and some chain ($$)
C) Some traction boards ($)
D) Shut up, chicken boy, you'll probably never need any of that stuff
E) Go with some Rotopax for water and fuel and just make reasonable choices

Leaning toward B due to all the various uses and low cost, but as you add stuff to make it more versatile it starts to add up. So then I lean toward A because winch. And then I lean toward D, because $$$$.

 

Yep. I know a lot of corporate pilots that got their start as line guys while flying a Cessna 150 to train. I try to be nice as I can and leave them tips when I land for fuel. That way maybe they won't all hate us helicopters

 

I would go with option F. Get a $70 farm jack from tractor supply, a couple tow straps, a could shackles, a set of TREDS, and an air compressor. That all together still doesn't equal a respectable brand winch. It will still get you out of 95% of the situations you find yourself in alone, although not near as fast.

 

LOL, yeah. I used to carry a come-along and straps with me, never needed them but probably could have figured something out.

 

I vote for B and C. If you go with those now, and then decide on option A at a later date you won't have wasted any money as those items would still be useful to have. When it comes to safety and recovery gear it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it

 

Just remember, if you get a synthetic winch ($$$$), then you also need a way to mount it ($$$), and at least a 650 cca battery to pull it under load ($$)

 

I vote for traveling in groups that have a mix of all the above, except D. If you plan on running trails alone and think you'll need to self recover, get a winch. I've never owned one and never needed one, and honestly your limited to front recovery with a bumper mounted winch, so it's great for helping others, but can be limited in a self recovery sitch-ee-ation, e.g. deep arkansas mudholes need rear recovery most times. Snatch strap, good recovery points and shackles are effective if you run in groups, and maybe a snatch block and tree saver. Reliant water tanks at Wally World are like 15 bucks and how often will you need extra fuel in Arkansas? I took 5 gallons fuel just in case on our last trip and made it back to Hector with over half a tank and the LC gets about 10 mpg.

 

I'd be surprised if that crew went to Byrd's. I don't know how much military activity they would be doing there. If it was indeed a Huey, I'd guess it was a privately owned one by a fella who's name I won't share on the public forum.

I have a winch and never used it for self-recovery. I have a Hi-Lift and never used it on a trail. A Hi-Lift/tractor jack is a lot cheaper and removable, so you don't have to carry it around with you all the time. If I were you, I'd start where everyone does. Get some shackles and straps (without metal hooks, and kinetic straps if you can). Maybe some traction boards too. I don't have any of those...yet

I know a few who have done that also

 

Dude shook it up so hard his pants fell down and showed his tighty whiteys? Is that a picture of you @TenBeers and you not ownin it?

 

I have only used my winch twice in three years but both times I was very glad I had it. I probably could have gotten by with a farm jack but it would have been a couple of hours worth of jacking vs 20 minutes with the winch. I'm not a patient person so that's money well spent to me. I also run trails alone though.

Another thing about running trails with a group is you don't know the experience level or mentality of the other people unless you've traveled with them quite a bit. Even when I'm with a group I prefer to winch myself rather than let someone I don't know hook up to my truck. They may be inexperienced, or an asshole, and just floor it which could damage something on either rig. Plus there's some satisfaction of making it through using your own gear.

 

Ah, I didn't realize the guys you saw were really Canadian military, thought there was an aviation joke in there I was missing, LOL.

Nah, not me, just one of my favorite internet pics I am reminded of when someone mentions a family gathering. I have yet to be caught on camera.

Thanks for all the input, thinking the versatility of a Hi-Lift/farm jack and some shackles and straps are the best route to go for some extra insurance. Still on the fence about the TREDS, seems like a lot of money for plastic, and bulky. I have MTS anyway, LOL. Don't know how to use it, but Pete can help me figure it out.

 

My US OffRoad hidden bumper and winch with synthetic line was $1000. I got it because I travel alone for forestry consulting and there's usually a tree around to winch to. If a situation looks sketchy, I just walk in. Never self recovered, but have helped others out 3 times - too far in for a snatch strap. For those that haven't been in my store, we do carry shackles, tree saver straps, Hi Lifts, snatch straps, etc. Come by sometime and get your Good Guy TW discount

 

Loaded and heading out for the Natural State Tree Climbing Comp at Crystal Bridges this weekend. You NWA guys ought to stop by for the fun Saturday.

 

Looks like you're in for a fun weekend!

I have plans of getting a front winch bumper for mine at some point in the future. To me, it's the last line of recovery. I look at the MTS, crawl control, locking diff, and all that other stuff as steps of recovery. I did look into winch cradles and just adding a front receiver: that way you could switch them for those reverse winches. However, bear in mind that those are heavy, and they say hitch receivers shouldn't be used for side pulls. Just straight on pulls are wise, apparently. But, I will say, I'm a loner normally too...and I don't want to get stuck beyond what I can get myself out of.

 

Cool beans! I will come check it out, maybe get my daughter to come along.

Hey, since I am not in LR, can I just PM you a list of the items I am looking for? Maybe we can do an exchange next meetup.

 

Name of store so I can search for address?

 

Pete's store? Link is in his signature

 

Bayou State Land Cruiser's posted a pic on ih8mud, thought you guys might recognize the location.

 

Anyone ever been to that spot in the summer? I'm wondering if there's enough water to swim or if it's all rock.