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4x4 Search & Rescue gear.

About the radio, locally the SAR teams run on radios in the 2 meter business band. There is a repeater so even their 5 watt handi-talkies get out quite a ways. Mobile radios go up to 110 watts broadcast power (out of the box - no linear amp) that I know of.

I wouldn't even bother with a cb. They are line of sight at best.
 
HAM is the best IMO, but we use CB for truck to truck when wheeling. I carry FRS/GMRS radios as well, but have horrible success with them.
 
More good advice badmix.

The most important thing is training. I hope the group you belong to will train you or hook you up with a school for training. Just like badmix said-You don't want to have to be rescued to. A saying I've heard in our Fire Academy many times---Don't become part of the problem----

Don't waste money on rope equipment until you are trained on it. Utility rope to tying stuff down/setting up shelter, etc... OK. But NOT FOR HUMAN LIFE. This requires specialized training and equipment.

I'm sure if your really into this, you will get the training you will need as time goes on. Start learning the basics from your team, take more classes as you learn and get experience to more advanced levels.

Your getting some good advice on equipment here and I'm sure your team will expand on this.

You can buy all the equipment you want, but if you don't know how to use it, it's useless.
 
badmix said:
HAM is the best IMO, but we use CB for truck to truck when wheeling. I carry FRS/GMRS radios as well, but have horrible success with them.
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I agree. The 2 Meter HAM band is just under the 2 Meter business band in freqs range.
I think most recreational wheelers use cb's for truck to truck, but since more of my friends have gotten into desert race crew work they're switching to 2 meter equipment.

I've had reasonable results with FRS, but I use them like I would use a cb. Line of sight is all I expect of them.

Also agree on badmix's good advice. Picked up a couple pointers myself.
 
MarcS said:
More good advice badmix.

The most important thing is training. I hope the group you belong to will train you or hook you up with a school for training. Just like badmix said-You don't want to have to be rescued to. A saying I've heard in our Fire Academy many times---Don't become part of the problem----

Don't waste money on rope equipment until you are trained on it. Utility rope to tying stuff down/setting up shelter, etc... OK. But NOT FOR HUMAN LIFE. This requires specialized training and equipment.

I'm sure if your really into this, you will get the training you will need as time goes on. Start learning the basics from your team, take more classes as you learn and get experience to more advanced levels.

Your getting some good advice on equipment here and I'm sure your team will expand on this.

You can buy all the equipment you want, but if you don't know how to use it, it's useless.
Click to expand...
What he said!

Equipment without training will not get you very far. Conversely training without equipment is usually still very effective. It is surprisingly easy to attend to medical emergencies with just the basics and a little ingenuity.

First aid training, and orienteering should be your greatest concerns, as well as some reading on the psychological effects of being lost, this will give you insight into how the parties will act, where they might go, and how to attend to them when found.

A personal must have in lighting is

http://en.petzl.com/petzl/LampesGammes?Gamme=54 it has a powerful halogen that can be focussed, as well as LED's that can be set at three power levels. I've had batteries that wouldn't power a conventional bulb light up the LED's bright enough to navigate in a cave.

As for your boots, soak them in water, and wear them around the house. Whatever you do don't go into the bush until they fit well.

Consider a hydration pack, they hold a ton of water and won't freeze in cold temps.
 
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Ohh, Fireplug, thats a sweet lookin headlamp. I was figurin on trying to find a good one, but it looks like my search may be shortened =)


Its required that we have a CB in our rig, and we are also provided some other fancy radio to mount in our rigs.. they say the unit costs like $500 or something. Not sure what it is exactly, but they give me one during the time I'm in the unit, and I return it when I leave.


I'm required to complete some training stuff during my probationary period before I can become a full member. Such as getting certified in CPR and other stuff. I believe we will recieve training on handling crime scenes, and other stuff. We meet everymonth and are required to go over some sort of training info. One was on the important things to have with you... very similar to this thread. =) .. another was the procedures for using the SAR boat. There are also other field training sessions occassionally I think.





How should I mount my shovel and axe? I'm thinkin under the bedrail is probably the best for the full length shovel. The axe - mabe the same thing, but it has more options as its only like 3 foot long. What about something like taking two short (like an inch) hunks of angle iron, hinged together on one edge so when its closed its a square tube... a tube big enough to easily fit the handle of the shovel in. Put some dense foam on the inside of this so when it closes around the handle of theh shovel it compresses the foam a bit to make a tight rattle-free grasp. A way to latch it is an issue. Perhaps just two rings that line up that I can push a pin through.

How do you guys mount your stuff?
 
Sounds cool. If you've never done anything like this before get ready to have some fun! The training is great, and you will be challenged continually. Building your skills is only the beginning, honing them is as much fun and a great sense of accomplishment.
 
if you can find one which isnt that hard but the cop spot light that you can move around usally you can find one at police auctions or off an ex fleet car if you cant find an aftermarket one and if you ride with a passanger perhaps one on each side they also help out in wheeling pretty easy to hook up and quite handy i know the cop ones if you set it up like theirs there is some cutting involved to your rig but nothing to difficult you can find them sometimes at propertyroom.com
they have a few on ebay but these dont have the gromit or gasket for mounting it on the pillar

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/UNITY-POLICE-SPOT-LIGHT_W0QQitemZ290025780417QQihZ019QQcategoryZ42613QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
LoL..My Blazer's setup is a SARs wet dream. lol.

Here is where I mounted my shovel and Axe. I got it from a firefighting vehicle website. Jus search axe/shovel mounts. It is kinda quick release and very stable.

Axeshovelmount0004.jpg


Here it is with spare in place. Its outa the way and fairly easy to get to.

Axeshovelmount0006.jpg


I only had to drill one extra hole. all other holes were existing as they support that side panel. The top is screwed into the top side of the bedrail. The bottom is screwed into a bracket that holds the panel. No rattles and very secure.
 
OH hey, thats sweet! I was over complicating the whole thing I think. I I may use that kinda setup.. Heck I could make that easily. Thanks for the pics!


Note: I welcome more if anybody has other setups. =)
 
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