How to be safe wheeling alone
- Thread starter frontman
- Start date
I think we should try to stay on topic in this post. In other words, let's not debate the fact that some folks shouldn't wheel alone. If you have to ask then the answer is no. Which is exactly what Letterman said and I agree whole heartily.
That being said, equipment wise in theory you should have the same equipment wether you're alone or not. But in reality I know I don't. For instance if you're traveling with a group of friends in identical vehicles (such as XJ's) there really is no need for everyone to have a spare starter, or whatever. This applies to camping gear as well. No need for me to bring a stove if we're using my bud's, etc.
I'm hearing a lot of guys talk about how they wheel alone, but I'm not hearing many answers to my questions at the begining of this post. What would you do if you were injured and immobilized? And don't tell me it wouldn't/couldn't/shouldn't happen. It very well could.
That being said, equipment wise in theory you should have the same equipment wether you're alone or not. But in reality I know I don't. For instance if you're traveling with a group of friends in identical vehicles (such as XJ's) there really is no need for everyone to have a spare starter, or whatever. This applies to camping gear as well. No need for me to bring a stove if we're using my bud's, etc.
I'm hearing a lot of guys talk about how they wheel alone, but I'm not hearing many answers to my questions at the begining of this post. What would you do if you were injured and immobilized? And don't tell me it wouldn't/couldn't/shouldn't happen. It very well could.
rightseatsis
NAXJA Member #953
- Location
- San Francisco
One of the things Tom and I have assembled that goes on ALL trail runs w/ us is our Trail Box.
1 Rubbermaid Rough Box filled with:
A Good Size First Aid Kit. not one of those $2.00 things w/5 band aids. Some rope. A tarp. Flares, A Hatchet, Fire Extinguisher, Strong Tow Strap w/o hooks. Strong D-Rings, Flashlight w/ extra batteries, Those glowy sticks. Quarts of Motor oil, Tranny Fluid, extra fan belt.
We also have been fortunate to wheel w/some experienced wheelers who show us their kits. Thats how we came up w/ our trail box. It has come in handy many a time.
Mary
1 Rubbermaid Rough Box filled with:
A Good Size First Aid Kit. not one of those $2.00 things w/5 band aids. Some rope. A tarp. Flares, A Hatchet, Fire Extinguisher, Strong Tow Strap w/o hooks. Strong D-Rings, Flashlight w/ extra batteries, Those glowy sticks. Quarts of Motor oil, Tranny Fluid, extra fan belt.
We also have been fortunate to wheel w/some experienced wheelers who show us their kits. Thats how we came up w/ our trail box. It has come in handy many a time.
Mary
Boatwrench
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Petaluma, CA
Also the trail box has those space blankets, they can reflect the sun light to attract attention. I stuffed a few earthquake survival kits in there also. Packaged water and a brick like food product.
rightseatsis
NAXJA Member #953
- Location
- San Francisco
Well Tom and I wheeled " Fins and Things" with about 8 cases of Sierra Nevada and didn't break 1 bottle...and the trail box.
MaxxXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bakersfield CA
usually if i wheel "alone" its just me and my girl, i'd never wheel by myself. but i always bring my sling, a 20 foot chain my 8000lb come along 2 d rings a spare serpentine belt air compressor and tools. but i never wheel anything alone thats much of a challenge either. i'd say something in the ball park of last chance canyon in death valley would be the worst thing i'd attempt alone.
my biggest thing is i never put myself in a position where my vehicle could get stuck or broke when its just my vehicle, and i always carry my shot gun for the just in case factor, yanno, if we do get stuck or broke down and we have to camp out that night. and a bear or wolf come to camp, i can better defend myself and hopefully scare it away.
i also think if you do wheel alone and get broke down or stuck. stay with your vehicle UNLESS a better traveled road is near by. its more likely you will be found staying where your at than it is traveling across country looking for a better road(unless you know the area). in most cases what do they usually find first. you or your vehicle?
my biggest thing is i never put myself in a position where my vehicle could get stuck or broke when its just my vehicle, and i always carry my shot gun for the just in case factor, yanno, if we do get stuck or broke down and we have to camp out that night. and a bear or wolf come to camp, i can better defend myself and hopefully scare it away.
i also think if you do wheel alone and get broke down or stuck. stay with your vehicle UNLESS a better traveled road is near by. its more likely you will be found staying where your at than it is traveling across country looking for a better road(unless you know the area). in most cases what do they usually find first. you or your vehicle?
AJTorris
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- California
I just simply dont wheel alone. I will go to the foot hills that are like 5 miles from my house but other than that i dont go any farther. Even if i have people with me. I have to have another vehicle! I carry a large first aid kit, i just bought some survival kits with water, food and emergency blanket, call 911 flag and a bunch of other stuff. I cary sleeping bags, blankets, spare jackets (one of each for each person in my jeep so usually 4), come along, chains, 12 gauge, trail mix, beef jerky, canned food, lots of socks, a second pair of boots, clothing, flashlights, 2 mirrors, magnifying glass, fire extinguisher, knife, small tarp, big tarp, twine, rope, duct tape, hand saw, fire starter, lighters, Gps. Thats all i can think of off the top of my head. besides auto parts.
MaxxXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bakersfield CA
Tire plugs are good to have:
Make sure you bring LOTS OF THEM!!!!
looks like you have a nitrogen bottle on hand too
those make an easy task for resetting beads and refilling tires for the drive homeMaxxXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bakersfield CA
On board welder is always a good thing to have:
wranglers need that sorta thing
onboard welders are nice, but i dont nessessarly wheel hard enough to need cool tools like that =/AJTorris
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- California
what does the obw run off of? Battery?
- Location
- San Bruno, CA.
Depends on which one you have, the one pictured runs on the alternator. Some run on engine batteries, others run on batteries in the welder unit.
Also note the HAM radio in that pic.
Also note the HAM radio in that pic.
AJTorris
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- California
ya im working on trying to get my license for it right now
I think you are only kidding around (At least I hope you are!) but it is this attitude that gets most people into trouble.
I fear people that say "I don't wheel hard, I only stay on fire roads" and think you are safe, did you read what SharkMark posted?
Hollister Hills has way too many hellocopter rides every year from people with that same line of thinking. Bryan C. and I got first hand look at two young men in need of a life flite, we had to help lift the stock truck off one of the guys foot and part of his leg that was under the trucks door. They were on a dirt road at Hollister and lost it off the side of the hill. Then the Jeep doing donuts in a flat area in the obstical corse rolled, broke the passengers arm and the driver hit his head, was ok for a bit then passed out, ended up in a coma for a few weeks.
This was a fire road:
There was a 15 foot drop off on the left and in front of him, we had to winch him out with 2 rigs.
