wish I had known....

[coolhandluke]

I'm trying to put together a list for a friend (actually my boss) who just started wheeling, of things I wish I had known when I started, the really basic stuff so far I've got


1. air down
2. Go with another vehicle
3. No alcohol\
4. bring at least basic recovery equipment
5. expect to break stuff
6. start with easy stuff
7. watch better drivers, see what they do
8. In mud, lots of gas, but if you start to dig down, STOP


what else?

sometimes nothing is a real cool hand

what we have here is a failure to communicate

 

[solowookie]

here is a link to a check off list that I found awhile ago...

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.tucsonroughriders.org/Files/offroad%20inspections.pdf>http://www.tucsonroughriders.org/Files/offroad%20inspections.pdf</a>

<font color=blue> Jeff - may the force be with you</font color=blue>
<a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/Jeffs-Stuff>link to k5's</a>

 

[55Willy]

If it's your boss add Give Me A Raise to the list,LOL

does he have tools in the truck? spare fluids? cb? he also needs to know the underside of his truck so he can tell if he is gonna clear a rock or smack it with his diff. If it is in mud sawing on the steering wheel can help the vehicle dig in and get the truck moving. have some good pull points front and rear on the truck too. ( my cherokee has no hooks in the front so I have to be pulled back out instead of through...haven't had the problem yet though..knock on wood)

<font color=red>Life is like a mud hole:</font color=red><font color=blue>
When the S#!T gets deep, you have to keep moving and friends can always pull you out</font color=blue>
55 Willy's

 

[muddin4fun]

in the mud it's a good idea to get out and look at everything before you sink up to the door handles.
Always have a buddy there with you. Don't go alone. And wear a seatbelt!

Peace and stuff

,

Muddin

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/muddin4fun79blazer>www.geocities.com/muddin4fun79blazer</a>

 

[Leadfoot]

Better yet, have your buddy go first! If he/she ends up sinking to the door handles you KNOW it's too deep

!

Seriously though the buddy system is almost always a must.

See my rig at <a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/Leadfoot> click here </a>

 

[tRustyK5]

9. Seat belts...should be obvious.
10. Get out and look or walk a difficult section first.
11. have fun

Rene

<font color=green>Dyslexics of the world...UNTIE!</font color=green>
<a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/project_T2> tRusty pics...</a>

 

[txbartman]

Let me tell a story...

I had my first 4x4 (CJ5) when I was 16. I had never taken it offroad before. I was following my sister's boyfriend (Toyota 4x4) to a place to watch some fireworks for July 4th. We were essentially parking in a big field between some warehouses. We had to go over the curb (my first "off-road" obstacle).

Well, being new at going "off-road" and fairly new to driving anyway, I hit the curb at about 10-15 MPH. Just about bounced the gals out of the back of the Jeep! Surprised I didn't break anything up front!

I wish I had known that MANY times, slow approaches and finesse are much more effective as well as protective to the environment and the rig than momentum and power. This is not always the case, but most of the time it is valid.

Another thing, if out with an experienced group or others, listen to your spotter. Take it easy. And DON'T PANIC!

And, as I tell my girlfriend, NO SCREAMING WHILE I AM DRIVING. It bothers me.

Brian
Check out <a target="_blank" href=http://tx85gmcguy.alloffroad.com>My Jimmy</a> with all her projects!

 

[tRustyK5]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

NO SCREAMING WHILE I AM DRIVING. It bothers me.

<hr></blockquote>
This is why my wife won't wheel with me

It's all good though, we got her a Jeep for 'mall-crawlin' duties. A couple of weeks ago she even managed to bring home some "urban trail rash". She managed to get the side of the Jeep hung up on a round concrete barrier...

Rene

<font color=green>Dyslexics of the world...UNTIE!</font color=green>
<a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/project_T2> tRusty pics...</a>

 

[txbartman]

In some places offroad, my adrenaline is really pumping. Afterall, it is my baby that I'm driving! Not too mention I would hate for anything to happen to my family. My g/f usually sits in the back seat with the youngest child. The older one (15) usually sits up front. When I am easing over something or in a real offcamber situation, the last thing I want is a shrill scream in my ear! Damn sure to flip it then!

Brian
Check out <a target="_blank" href=http://tx85gmcguy.alloffroad.com>My Jimmy</a> with all her projects!

 

[DuneRunner]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

NO SCREAMING WHILE I AM DRIVING. It bothers me.

<hr></blockquote>
That is the funniest thing I've heard all day.

If any thing My girlfrined thinks that I can Do ANYTHING

WELLLLLL

In a K5 you can.

We all know this.

KEN

DANGIT it's not a bronco!
<a target="_blank" href=http://community.webshots.com/user/kensk5>My Picts</a>

 

[fright89]

do a search for what do you keep in your blazer

 

[backlash]

&lt;&lt;A couple of weeks ago she even managed to bring home some "urban trail rash". She managed to get the side of the Jeep hung up on a round concrete barrier... &gt;&gt;

Crack me up! Urban trail rash! Bahaha ... guess it's Ok since it's hers.

Pretty cool how the emphasis of this thread is safety ... says a lot for us!

 

[tRustyK5]

Well around here we have lots of 'shelf roads' as part of the trails. Sometimes you are looking down 300-400 feet (or more) and it's a shear drop off the edge of the road. For some reason my wife gets nervous about things like that.

I gotta agree that screaming will ruin your concentration damn quick!

So I wheel and she goes to the mall...

Rene

<font color=green>Dyslexics of the world...UNTIE!</font color=green>
<a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/project_T2> tRusty pics...</a>

 

[tRustyK5]

She thought I'd be all mad at her or something.

When I saw it I busted out laughing which just ticked her off...I hate that Jeep anyways.

The funny part is she's always giving me a hard time about the scratches and busted marker lights etc etc that I come home with.

Rene

<font color=green>Dyslexics of the world...UNTIE!</font color=green>
<a target="_blank" href=http://coloradok5.com/gallery/project_T2> tRusty pics...</a>

 

[muddin4fun]

Also be sure to tie everything down in your truck too. You never know when you might hit something wrong and throw it over.
While mudding on flat ground I hit some ruts sideways and a little too fast and had the truck on two wheels (pucker factor of 9.5

). You never know how serious it's gonna get.

Peace and stuff

,

Muddin

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.geocities.com/muddin4fun79blazer>www.geocities.com/muddin4fun79blazer</a>

 

[white_knight]

Never go alone is a good one and
make sure you have a CB

We;ve rescued many a stranded wheeler because we were able to locate them through the CB.

It's a must

Wish I knew-

Get a winch or travel with someone who has one.

Your group should be as self sufficient as possible.

Always bring enough food and warm clothing to spend a couple of days stranded.

This might apply more to people who travel in the woods.

Bring a first aid kit with you
We've come accross hurt people along the way.

Think of it as a survival trip ( it could become one) and what do you think you would need ?

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.whiteknight.scriptmania.com/>http://www.whiteknight.scriptma
nia.com
</a>

 

[jimmyjack]

Trust your instincts and your rig! Don't hammer the throttle, let your engine work on its own. I used to be a little heavy on the gas when it wasn't needed, and heavy on the brake when I could let the engine compression and tranny keep me in check.

That jeep thing? Yah I understand it....... Like my Blazer? <a target="_blank" href=http://community.webshots.com/user/blazerk5>http://community.webshots.com/user/blazerk5</a>
Jim