Lessons Learned "Can you get to your Gear?"

[1leglance]

I hope to distill the recent Continental Divide Expedition into a series of Lessons Learned so others can get something from the experience also.
Here is #1 "Can you get to your Gear?"

If you don't want this to be you, trying to get your recovery gear out of that tight spot your stored it, while keeping the rest of your stuff from falling into the mud then take a moment to listen to the lessons I've learned.
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[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

A very good point! One that I have had cross my mind multiple times as to recovery gear, tools, and so on.

It is tough to pack everything in an efficient manner that is also accessible yet is secure in event of a roll-over.

Regards,

Alan

 

[sirenmoses]

Nothing like unloading all the 'nice to have' crap to get to the 'gotta have'.

Started carrying 1st aid stuff in tank bag on my motorcycle rather than under the seat after I watched somebody go down behind me.

Q: please reconcile these statements --
A) 'Pack it safely, no bouncing, shifting or rattling
You would not want to be killed by your very own D-shackle in case of an accident, much less have a friend or family member injured by your gear. Make sure whatever storage solution you come up with includes latches, straps or some method to secure your gear.'

B) 'we still didn't think to get the gear out and place it in the front passenger floorboard or other easy to reach location'

Won't it rattle & bounce in the floorboard? Or are you thinking of security in reference to being hit by another vehicle rather than while 4wheeling? Just wondering...

 

[1leglance]

What I mean involves 2 different moments in time...
for general travel please secure your gear in a manner that won't let it fly around....
when you are entering a situation that might require recovery go ahead and get you gear out and ready if you might need it and getting it out during the recovery could be a problem.
Go ahead and secure the d-shackle and tow strap to the front and loop the strap around the front bumper.
Go ahead and set the pulley's and tree savers in the front floor.
Of course if you might flip or otherwise in a position that stuff on the floor would fly around I would hope there is enough common sense in the vehicle to make the correct choice.

The point is to think in advance of your needs, to have a plan and be able to execute that plan safely. Sorry I didn't explain it better the first time.

 

[rusty_tlc]

What I mean involves 2 different moments in time...
for general travel please secure your gear in a manner that won't let it fly around....
when you are entering a situation that might require recovery go ahead and get you gear out and ready if you might need it and getting it out during the recovery could be a problem.
Go ahead and secure the d-shackle and tow strap to the front and loop the strap around the front bumper.
Go ahead and set the pulley's and tree savers in the front floor.
Of course if you might flip or otherwise in a position that stuff on the floor would fly around I would hope there is enough common sense in the vehicle to make the correct choice.

The point is to think in advance of your needs, to have a plan and be able to execute that plan safely. Sorry I didn't explain it better the first time.

I keep the most used stuff in an ammo box, that way it isn't loose in the truck and it can be secured in a way that is easy to access. In my truck that is under the DS front seat with a couple of bungees. IH8shackles rattling in recovery points while I'm on the trail, I keep them stowed as much as possible.

 

[John McVicker]

Just like most that try to be prepared & self relient, I also pack a bunch of heavy & awkard recovery gear. I would hate to have to need an item & have it at home. I And as you said it is important to pack it safely.

I like to pack recovery gear in military packs. They are cheap, super heavy duty & easy to secure with rachet straps.

I've got this one very heavy duty ' transport bag ' (way heavy duty) that carries a Black Rat winch, tree strap, pully, 2 D rings AND the 66 ft. of cable. And it's easy to rachet down. Love those military bags.

It's great to have easy access to recovery gear & when appropriate it is good to have it ' at the ready ' but I will sacrifice easy reach for safety every time. And I know you are not suggesting otherwise, I am just emphasising one of your points.

Great pics by the way.

John

 

[sirenmoses]

Got it, thanks for the clarification.

 

[rusty_tlc]

A special note on noise here. If you are going to be in your rig for any amount of time it is worth setting up your storage solution to be rattle free. Those little sounds can drive you crazy and be a distraction from hearing something that could be mechanically serious

I missed this first time through.

One thing I do is fill every bit of spare space in tool boxes and recovery gear boxes with shop rags. They keep stuff from rattling and come in handy for a number of uses. Specially if you have to change a birfield or something.

 

[1leglance]

I missed this first time through.

One thing I do is fill every bit of spare space in tool boxes and recovery gear boxes with shop rags. They keep stuff from rattling and come in handy for a number of uses. Specially if you have to change a birfield or something.

Hey that is a great idea....mind if I steal it?

 

[rockclmbr]

Along the same lines, I made two lockable flaps on the top of my drawer system in the event that I couldn't open the rear hatch/tailgate.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Hey that is a great idea....mind if I steal it?

I picked it up from this or some other web site so feel free.

 

[spressomon]

I have been caught in a couple situations where accessing all my recovery gear in my AO drawer was a PITA. And it didn't take much day dreaming on my part to figure out its just a matter of time when I wouldn't be able to access the kit when most needed.

So now I carry it in 2nd row passenger foot area in a really neat way HD Mountain Smith bag I got on sale cheap at Sierra Trading a few years ago. It has held up perfectly.

 

[FJ40_owner]

My recovery gear is on my front bumper. (Strap, shackle, hi lift, shovel and winch) I would have tried to winch away from the water prior to opening my rear door.

 

[shromani]

Your post reminded me of my friend in his Toyota pickup, ditched his truck. He went in on an angle but pivoted when his front bumper made contact with the soft dirt\mud of the other side. He came to rest 90 degrees to the ditch and his front bumper burried. His ability to use his winch or pop his hood were gone. One reason I carry a spare winch on a receiver plate for my rear hitch.

 

[Mark W]

I have learned from experience, that you are going after your cooler and your tools more than anything else in the rig... and these are the heaviest items for most people... and the largest in my case... and usually the most square/rectangular. So where to they wind up packed? Underneath EVERYTHING else.

Many of you have probably seen my earlier gas can racks on the back of my '40... 8 5 gallon cans in two swing out baskets. I recently changed the baskets... I increased the size a tad so that I can fit two 15 gallon cans in each one... 30 gallons per side instead of 20. I also extended the back of the rack higher so that I can set a cooler or tool box or duffel bags on top of the fuel cans. This lets me carry my cooler and tools outside the rig, even when I am carrying a full load of fuel. If I do not need the fuel capacity, then of course the cooler and or tool box can sit in the bottom of the rack.

For me this is the perfect answer. I am no longer having to open up the rig and dig under tents and sleeping bags and dogs and every thing else just to get lunch. and when someone's rig needs some attention on the trail I am not having to ask... "Does anyone have a ___ *handy*? I have one but it is buried."


The attatched picture shows the racks loaded light... the trailer was hauling a 55 gallon drum of fuel and other stuff so that it did not all need to be in or on the rig.


I did have to beef my rear cross member and my bumper a lot to take the stress of this weight when I load the racks up. And I have FJ45 rear springs under the tail end too. When I am loaded real heavy I run load coils in addition.

Mark...

 

[Buckru]

Great thread.

I hear ya on the cooler being buried. Before packing up to get back on a trail, I just put my lunch, drinks and some snacks in a little sift sided cooler and place it for easy access.

Buck