Getting Stuck & How You Got Out??

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Handy man jack, using the spare tire as a base, while water is running under the back half of the truck. We would jack truck up until the jack was maxed outand fill rocks under the tires. Then set it down and watch the rocks sink. Repeated this several times and got out. It took 7 hours but we got out. Another time we crossed a large draw and couldnt get out the other side(frozen slick ground) and rear bumper was against lower bank. We couldnt go up or back. Handy man on front bumper, maxed out, then we shoved truck over several times until we were parallel to ditch and got out. Only 3 hours that time. These techniques saved us, but are dangerous. Use serious caution.
 
I suppose i've only ever been stuck with a 4x2 and with just the one vehicle. Most everything else i could backtrack, use the shovel, or stack some rocks.
I usually keep a shovel, some braided poly rope, and a stock jack. Since you can't really get in too much trouble away from a road in the 4x2 I have usually just built a makeshift road back to the improved surface. Shovel away the environment, lay down some sticks, planks, or aggregate, and use some momentum. Not very quick, takes a lot of effort, and it is not treading lightly.
An understanding of basic physics is more important than some fancy gizmo.

As for the OP, I'm thinking that you want more info on getting unstuck devices.
A shovel is good for removing the goop, mud, or snow that is blocking your path. A come-along or some rope and pulleys are nice for moving you slowly and controlled in a specific direction. The jack is good for lifting the vehicle or wheels so that you can stack stuff under the wheels.
Other devices are some version of the above to move an obstacle, pull the vehicle, or lift the vehicle.
 
Back when I had little 29" street tires, I got stuck backing down my parents' driveway when I went off the embankment and nearly got high-centered on the rear axle. :doh:

Had two opposite corners spinning, and couldn't get moving even with the 'redneck limited-slip' use of the handbrake.

My dad pulled me out with his VW golf. Yup. Hardcore.

Seriously though, I did get the cruiser very seriously stuck in the snow this last spring.

Long story short, small tires with beefy chains will get you over really deep crap, but if you lose momentum and dig down even a little bit, you'll be sitting on the skidplate. I ended up in that situation sideways on an uphill slope when I tried to turn around, foolishly.

My buddy's wrangler was uphill of me, and couldn't get past. He broke a winch cable trying to get me loose.

Eventually, it took a dodge with a cummins and an 8274, and two hours of digging in the dark to yank me out. That's what led me to the eventual understanding that I needed Super Swampers, and not to play in that kind of old, slushy/icy snow.
 
GeologistFelix said:
Back when I had little 29" street tires, I got stuck backing down my parents' driveway when I went off the embankment and nearly got high-centered on the rear axle. :doh:

Had two opposite corners spinning, and couldn't get moving even with the 'redneck limited-slip' use of the handbrake.

My dad pulled me out with his VW golf. Yup. Hardcore.

Seriously though, I did get the cruiser very seriously stuck in the snow this last spring.

Long story short, small tires with beefy chains will get you over really deep crap, but if you lose momentum and dig down even a little bit, you'll be sitting on the skidplate. I ended up in that situation sideways on an uphill slope when I tried to turn around, foolishly.

My buddy's wrangler was uphill of me, and couldn't get past. He broke a winch cable trying to get me loose.

Eventually, it took a dodge with a cummins and an 8274, and two hours of digging in the dark to yank me out. That's what led me to the eventual understanding that I needed Super Swampers, and not to play in that kind of old, slushy/icy snow.
Click to expand...

When you have a driveline pbrake (40 or 55) the redneck locker does not work ;)
Don't mind me if it was a 60/80/100
 
MY WORST STUCK...

wow i am not a writer, so i hope this turns out.

my first 4x4 was an 87 Toyota pick up SR5, i was very inexperienced and learned a lot while off-roading this truck. but the biggest lesson i had was when i was on a trail i often drove, but got lazy and took a different line, i did not realize that a pool of water and mud was under the fallen leaves and sunk the entire truck to the frame. my first attempt was to rock it out, this sunk the truck worse to the point i could not even open the door. so i climbed out the window and walked 2 miles to get a friend, and we attempted to pull it out from the rear, i wrapped the chain around the rear bumper, this resulted in my friend in his 88 Toyota pick up, ripping my rear bumper in half and i was still buried in the goo. so after a few minutes maybe an hour of thought i pulled out the high lift jack, and using it and a lot of downed wood i jacked the truck up one corner at a time and piled the downed wood under the tires , after a few hours, i drove the truck out of the mud. from when i first got stuck till i drove out was probably about 4 to 5 hours.
 
My most embarrasing stick-

When I was in high school, I had a Ford MB (looks like a jeep,but not a jeep). I used to drive it over the levee all the time to get to the river. It easily made it over the levee. One day I was taking my GF "fishing" and I started to drive over the levee. I got nearly all the way to the top and then just stopped like something was actually dragging me backwards. So I backed up and took another run at it from 30 yards pedal to the metal. This time I only made it half way up. I backed down and got out and found that I had wound about a hundred yards of 3 strand barbed wire fence around my drive shaft. It took me a couple of hours to cut it off with a pair of pliers. My GF was not pleased.
 
The primary reason I carry all the gear I do:
The wife and I were many miles from the pavement when we got an old truck I had buried in the snow/ice/mud. After breaking a set of cable chains, we finally got out by jacking the truck up amd rocking it off the jack repeatedly. I would not advise this! Either don't go, or be prepared.
 
Ford GPW??
 
Yes, Ford made the GPW; Willys the MB. It is easy to mix them up because they look the same and many parts interchange.
 
The first stuck I ever had was when I was 17. I was driving my dad's 1982 Toyota Hi Lux LWB 4x4 with Dunlop 235 series mud tires. I was supposed to be out looking for a job, but a buddy and I saw this muddy section at a construction site. We went through a few spots and then I hit the big one. Being over-confident, I let off the gas in the middle of it and thought I would drive right out. I may have made some comment about how "This thing will go anwhere:doh:.

Well, it didn't move, so we got out and could stand on the mud, but it was nearly a bottomless pit and the truck was sitting on the frame. I'd read enough 4x4 mags to be dangerous so I tried sawing the wheel, revving it and dumping the clutch and a few other stupid and useless things.

We finally found some cinder blocks and boards. We jacked each corner of the truck up and put a block under the tire. We put the jack in the back, got back in, put it in second gear/ 4 low and dumped the clutch and kept the rpm's up in the 4's until we got out.

The truck had so much mud packed in the wheels that they were severly out of balance and I couldn't go over 35mph without it wobbling like crazy. I didn't know it was the mud at the time and thought I tore something up trying get a grip with the sidewalls.

After a few dollars at the car wash, I went home to report that I didn't find a job. Within an hour or so, the mud started falling out from under the truck and the gig was up!

We were stuck for around 4 hours. I've not been stuck that long since.
 
Lots of killer stories in this thread so far ;) i love hearing about other ppls experiences. Just reminds me that im not the only one who has been in a sticky situation due to trying to "show off" or just simply being nieve. (cant spell :D)
 
pilots fly alone

You can drive in remote locations BUT you better be prepared for the worst aka, medical emergency or break down. In cases like this, have adequate medical training and kit. Have emergency food and clothing for long extended stays. HAVE a pre-drive plan in the hands of your friends or relatives. I think you can also send this to the rangers station and if you do not check in, then a SAR mission could commence. Lastly, DON'T depend on your cell phone. SATPhone, Hamradio, or some other long distance communication device. HAVE a Distress LARGE message on the roof of your truck. A plane can see the truck but it is really difficult to spot a person walking on the ground. Have Flares or smoke if emergency communication gear down.


Mark W said:
???? If you seriously take that attitude, where do you draw the line? Might as well stay home and keep the doors locked. Ban mountain climbing, auto racing, surfboarding, hop scotch, crossing streets and anything else that might possibly lead to you getting hurt.

I never encourage anyone to head out in true wilderness by themselves. However I have and will continue to do so fairly regularly. Some of the best experiences of my life have come from this.

Are there risks incurred that are not as significant when you are with others? Sure there are. So what? Life is full of all sorts of risks. you just have to use some common sense, have appropriate skills and experience and a willingness to accept a bit more risk occasionally.


Mark...
Click to expand...
 
I think it is a good idea to have a buddy who is up on his survival skills in the event one of you becomes seriosly injured. I know Seals and Pj's have to be fit enough to carry a man out on his back in the event of the worst case. Imagine if you fall from a hike, then you are pined or partially paralysed. Your gear is still on your back but you cannot move. Then what? What was the story that eventually led to a movie where a hiker fell into a ravine and a bolder fell on his arm. He was pinned. He NEVER told anyone where he was going. He got out of this dire situation by twisting his body around his arm and snapping it then cutting it off.

But if you are on the trail, its much safer of course. If your stuck, and no one knows you are there, stick with the truck. If after a few days of waiting, then hike out on the same road. Stay dry do not allow your cloths to become wet from sweat or you could go into hypothermia during a winter hike out.
 
The story you are reffering to is of the man i mention earlier in this thread, Aron Ralston. He says himself that if he were to of brought a freind along with him tht day, he would still have his right arm. And even if he just told somone where he was going, he still would of remained trapped for a period of time before (IF) search and rescue found him.

My point was that the best thing you can do while in unfarmiliar teritory, is simply not go alone. But im not getting into this again. :D

Btw you are right about trying to stay dry, but wool insulates even when wet. Synthetics, cotton, denim, polyester, and down do not. Just keep that in mind when preparing for cold weather explorations.
 
For me regarding non-winch items: Tow strap, high lift jack, bottle jack, shovel, air compressor (low tire pressure works wonders), tire chains work sometimes, comealong (but why not just get a winch? - they are cheap enough these days), collapsible bow saw, a section of chain, and some common sense.

A full set of tools helps a lot too. It's always easier to get unstuck than unbroken. I've never been stuck to the point where I had to leave my vehicle. I have been broken so badly (while stuck) twice that I had to leave and return with parts.
 
rustybucket said:
You can drive in remote locations BUT you better be prepared for the worst aka, medical emergency or break down. In cases like this, have adequate medical training and kit. Have emergency food and clothing for long extended stays. HAVE a pre-drive plan in the hands of your friends or relatives. I think you can also send this to the rangers station and if you do not check in, then a SAR mission could commence. Lastly, DON'T depend on your cell phone. SATPhone, Hamradio, or some other long distance communication device. HAVE a Distress LARGE message on the roof of your truck. A plane can see the truck but it is really difficult to spot a person walking on the ground. Have Flares or smoke if emergency communication gear down.
Click to expand...


It goes without saying... or it should anyway... that you need to know what you are doing and be prepared or unexpected situations any time you are out in the back country alone. Or not alone for that matter. To not be is just plain stupid. But then just plain stupid is what caused most problems no matter where it happens.

Letting someone know where you are going is just plain common sense. We don't rely on "rangers" or anyone like that. If one of our guys is late WE are the SAR. Really no need for any message on top of a truck... if you are able to read the message, then you must have found the truck already. ;)


Mark..
 
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