Going Alone - Single Vehicle Wheeling & Safety

Blew a bead during a solo run Saturday. Was rolling again I about 10 minutes. Hilift, air hose, chain to strap the suspension up, give the rim a wipe, it went back on easily



5 mins later


if it didn’t go on this easily, next is starting fluid. If not that, then chuck on the spare. If you’re going alone go prepared gentlemen.

 

Found a Subie up in the hills this weekend. They had been "shoveling for hours" with just a snow scraper. Pulled out quick and they were gone without a thank you before I could even put the gear away.

 

yeah that seems about right

 

Pumpkin spice latte withdrawal. Jonesin for another fix.

 

a lot of times the people that you help in situations like this are incredibly embarrassed and/or fear being surprised with a fee for being recovered.

I have found that if they are alone or same gender (couple of friends hanging out) they are more likely to be thankful and offer payment/beer/smoke for helping them out. However, if it's a dude with his gf/wife or female "friend" that he's trying to woo, then they often scurry away as soon as they are free. My theory is that the dude is always embarrassed or ashamed of putting themselves in that situation and having to be rescued by someone else. Not good for their ego or their female partner's perception of them.

 

Two chicks about my age and a dog. I did have a real bad blonde mustache when this happened, so that's probably what it was.....

 

well there goes that theory. Maybe it's just people from California for me then that always have something to prove

 

Nice thread, Thanks OP

Been looking at options to let me go alone, ended up with the InReach as a present and ham radio (thank you Santa)

Was thinking of a way that we as a community can help one another in the event that you need someone to get you out of a hard spot. I see the post and this is the fastest way to get help in the US due to the vast locations of good people across this form.

So far I have tested the InReach with the preset messages, you get three unlimited canned messages you can send directly to sms, email message with lat, long info, map link and allow someone to respond (this cost you money on the basic plan after the first 10). You can send as many of these presets as you want as part of the $14.99 a month plan. If you really want to get unlimited send receive text messaging you can spend $69 for the 30 day commitment then go back to $14.95 plan. Not too bad if it gives your family the security they need to let you go alone.

My InReach config is: $14.95 plan plus 17.95 a year for $100,000 Recovery insurance for me. If my wife is with me and she is hurt, then so am I and they will come for me and get us both.

This may not work in a cave, hole or well, so stay out of those when you are alone and keep the device with you at all times. In case you have to run and hide or leave your vehicle.

Message #1 Starting/Stopping Here, All is good will reach out soon. (GPS Lat Long, Map shared) (Wife, Brother, Son)
Message #2 Delayed Working through issues but safe, Will send #1 when back on track (GPS Lat Long, Map shared) (Wife?? Brother, Son)
Message #3 Stuck, Need Recovery, I am Safe, Execute Recovery Plan Will Advise (Buddy #1 Buddy #2 Notified, Brother, Son Wife??) They can respond to message and you can provide details. (GPS Lat Long, Map shared) but you do get charged if on the $14.95 Plan so designate who is going to respond.

Message #4 Preconfigured Text Message: Hitting SOS button, need immediate medical help at this location for someone else (Garmin verified to me the other person is responsible for all cost)
Message #5 Preconfigured Text Message: Hitting SOS button, need immediate medical help, at this location for me. "This is an Emergency"
Message #6 Preconfigured Text Message: Need Police at this location
Message #7 Preconfigured Text Message: Need Fire/Rescue at this location

All other are free form.

SOS: Button, unlimited two way communication with all plans. They will notify you emergency contacts and send help to the exact location based on your communication.

Recovery Plan: Contact Buddy #1 Buddy #2, Verify they are aware and are going to respond. If not Call Buddy #3,4,5 ....n
This is where we can call upon a buddy here to post the help needed and be the hero that saves us...Without using the SOS.

After reading a few of the stories, My thought is travel during day, stay on plan, route and take calculated risk, ask yourself why and what if before taking risky moves.

Since reading this thread I have a list a mile long of the things I should carry, but my main ones are, food, water, coffee first aid, sunblock, clothes, shelter, heat, power, communications, supplies for 10 days, MRE's, peanut butter will keep you alive and travels well. Extra gas and solar charger and spare charging batteries recovery gear. I will stay put with my 9mm and wait for help and communicate as required/needed.

Gear List: The long list to be compiled.... Thanks OP and responders....

 

Great write up. I recently purchased 2 , 46” arbor type helical anchors for $80 to get me out of the sand. I’m a fisherman got tired of digging out. Works great with my winch and tow rope.

 

Interesting, would you use some sort of impact to drive them down?

Have a picture?

 

At work right now .Will send you a pic in the morning. You screw them in with a T handle aka a bar that fits threw a loop at the top of the anchor. No digging a hole 24” x24”X24 like some other products.

 

Just posted a pic of anchor
These are 48” screw in anchors with the solid rod to aid with installation. Set them about 4’ apart ,installed 2 1/2 ‘ deep ,attach both ends of the cable to them and hook up the winch to the cable.
Removal Is unhooking winch and cables and turning anchors counterclockwise.

 

I can see those working well on a beach, probably not so we'll in our rocky desert thanks for the pics.

 

Idk man I would be scared of it coming out of the ground and flying back into my windshield

 

Each one has a pulling resistance of 4000lbs . One would pull a Tacoma out of the sand slowly. 2of them works better And much quicker. The only thing that moves out of the sand is our trucks. Hitting a windshield not possible especially if you use a damper.

 

Although that has long been accepted as "truth" it is a myth.

 

I prefer to go alone. Over the years I have obsessed with being self sufficient and safe. I've spent more money on gear than I'd like to admit. Recently my dad reminded me of the few times he drove from Oakland CA to Nicaragua. He did this back in the 80s before everyone had cell phones and internet. Back then it was impossible to take the precautions we take today. He didn't have 1/4 of what I carry around on a weekend trip. It got me thinking about how people did it way back then. They went across the whole continent with a lot less "fluff".

Along the same topic. I remember going to Nicaragua as a kid. Some of our relatives live in remote parts. Places with no indoor plumbing and no concrete. A lot of the dirt roads in terrible condition. The few people who could afford a car or a truck didn't have anything fancy. An old stock Toyota or Nissan truck or sedan had to do. Most didn't even have 4wd. Most had bald tires. It's all the they can afford. But somehow they got around on these crazy trails that most of us would be airing down and getting a spotter for.

It seems like rigs get heavier and heavier every year. I plan on deep diving into my gear and rethinking what I actually need. I'm starting to realize that less could me more.

 

I like your pre-configured InReach messages. Might have to steal a few of those.

There have definitely been some cool rescues performed by other members on here getting someone out of a tight spot. Seems like a new thread in whatever regional forum is applicable is the best way to go. People keep bumping it TTT and lots of people see it.

 

Your rightJVL1985. You can get out of the sand with a shovel, winch spare tire and A rope .Simply dig a hole the size of your spare tire place it in the hole cover it with sand connect your ropes to it and the winch and winch yourself out.
The anchors I use are just easier . No digging ,installation and removal in minutes .Pretty convenient and for $80 I can live with a little less room in the bed of my truck.

 

Curios what anchors you use for $80? I have a lot of redundancy in my gear and it's not like I'm crossing the Sahara. For me personally, it's time to lean up.

Edit: Nevermind I see the anchors you posted. Looks like a good solution.