Road Side Recovery Gear

How many of us stop to help others on the side of the road and have all the gear except the tow truck?

I started helping others a couple years ago and it’s never been about turning it into a business but rather just making someone’s day just a little better. So the thread isn’t about whether or not people should stop and help but what gear you have if you do do that thing.

 

Ofcourse, the Canadian is the one that has a whole kit just to help people out. Good on you man!

 

I’m amazed how many people with flat tires don’t know how to change them and it’s not just woman. It’s pretty much split down the middle.

Two things I believe in is:
1, if you hold a drivers license, know how to change a tire and
2, NEVER be in a position of being at the mercy of someone else to save you.

 

I learned how to in middle school. To this day Im amazed that some guys my age dont know how to change one.

 

Good for you Brother! it is a noble endeavor to help those in need!

I have helped a person a time or two as I believe in good karma.

 

Every stop I do is a chance to meet someone new and hear their short life story in under 15 min, in most cases.

This summer, traveling just outside of Calgary, a mini van with a flat tire sat off to the side of the highway. Inside the van were 4 men, ages ranged from 45-75. They had enjoyed a quick holiday of golfing and headed back to the airport to go home. All sitting there for AN HOUR! They didn’t know how to fix the tire and were waiting for the rental company to send someone. Shocking!

I told them them to grab the manual in the glove box and figure out how to drop the spare and I would get my jack and get the tire off. They had the spare down and out for me and the rest was history. Lots of handshakes and thanks before they took off but REALLY??!

 

Finally finished the strobe lights I wanted to install on the truck! I have 3 sources where I found the lights.
1. Wickedwarnings.com
2. SpeedTechLights.com
3. Automolighting.com
https://youtu.be/xxpVqkbHBQ4

 

pretty crazy to see someone spend so much on something like a truck/car and not know or care about how to do general maintenance.

 

I often stop and help people, but never thought about putting lights on the truck to let other drivers be able to see me pulled over better. That's a good thought.

 

A few years ago when all I had was my hazard lights, I noticed no one cared, they didn’t slow down or move over...I wasn’t there. When conditions are icy I was constantly watching my back and pretty much swearing every time other cars would whip by. I knew I needed lights.

I thought I could do it on a cheep budget. (Don’t do this) Canadian Tire was my “go to” place for strobe lights. I paid a couple hundred bucks for some lights, wires and switches and took a bunch of time figuring out where to put them and even got a roof top strobe and ran the wire through the back sliding window and tried that.

The response from drivers changed about 50% better. I needed better lights, stronger, brighter...more money. Long story short...my set up has set me back a cool $1000 CAD but not all at once. Over the next year or so and multiple orders, shipping to Canada was also a big cost factor.

I can’t put a price on how safe I feel now and the correct response from drivers is now in the upper 90+%. The ones that speed by now are simply bankrupt in their ability to navigate their way and the roads safely. YOU CANT FIX STUPID but you are in control of being as safe as you can.

 

Not even maintenance, simply changing out a tire

 

What do you use if someone is stuck and they don't have a proper recovery point?

 

All the tow trucks around these parts and AMA will run a strap through the rim and winch on that. I had asked one tow operator that same question. I ended up doing the same on a pickup truck that spun out on the highway facing the wrong way and was stuck. I just looped the strap through his front tire and pulled him around nice and easy.

 

I have heard of people using a strap around the lower suspension arms or around the axle in a solid axle car.