Anyone off-road by themself?
- Thread starter MikesToy
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I'm a total noob so what I post doesn't mean much.
but:
YouTube - MUD PIGS 4x4 Golden Rules for MUD
unless you can trust yourself to be incredibly careful or you are a complete expert I doubt it's a very good idea going offroad by yourself.
but:
YouTube - MUD PIGS 4x4 Golden Rules for MUD
unless you can trust yourself to be incredibly careful or you are a complete expert I doubt it's a very good idea going offroad by yourself.
bak3rme
Senior Member
back when i use to abuse vehicels, i abused the Shi** out of our corolla, me and my friends use to do laps around this complex they were building, but it was more of a giant landfill of dirt. we use to race and pretend it was a giant rally competition , me in my corolla and friends in civic and maxima. we use to get up to 40mph on dirt, drifting in wide open areas. it was really fun at the time.
then when i got the 4runner, i remember taking it out to some remote forest place like a mile fromt he road and decided to do some off roading in my 2wd stock , 0% tire tread 4runner. didnt' last long and i was scared shitless, b/c i wasn't suppose to be out there, called my uncle up, got chewed out and laughted at..then yanked out with his 1500.
from that day on, i take more care of my car instead of doing stuff it shouldnt be doing at 260k miles
then when i got the 4runner, i remember taking it out to some remote forest place like a mile fromt he road and decided to do some off roading in my 2wd stock , 0% tire tread 4runner. didnt' last long and i was scared shitless, b/c i wasn't suppose to be out there, called my uncle up, got chewed out and laughted at..then yanked out with his 1500.
from that day on, i take more care of my car instead of doing stuff it shouldnt be doing at 260k miles
Pikeman
New member
Friend went off-roading by himself since he "just needed to clear his head" rolled the truck had to walk 3 miles to get cell service before he could call for my bro and I to help recover the truck which was totalled. Now to answer your questions in oredered asked:
Cell phones= Not all the time
Stuck yes= but that is why I go with someone else
Flat yes= but had spare
AAA or tow company= Yes they will- expect it in the $1000-$3000 range. Was out at Gorman(aka Hungry Valley OHV) and saw a AAA off-road recovery labeled truck talking to a guy in a bronco. Was telling him that if he had to winch him all the way up the ravine and then tow him off the trail to the main fireroad before hook up was going to be $3500 then mileage to repair shop or house. The Bronco was blocking the trail so a couple of us worked together and got him up to the fireroad 2 hours later and he paid tow driver $150(75 an hour to wait) saved him a huge chunk of change by helping with the recovery.
So based on those two experiences and a few of other people I try real hard to never wheel alone. However if I am taking a fire road to a campsite then different story. Still let people know where I am going and when I am going to be back. General safe practices guidelines.
Cell phones= Not all the time
Stuck yes= but that is why I go with someone else
Flat yes= but had spare
AAA or tow company= Yes they will- expect it in the $1000-$3000 range. Was out at Gorman(aka Hungry Valley OHV) and saw a AAA off-road recovery labeled truck talking to a guy in a bronco. Was telling him that if he had to winch him all the way up the ravine and then tow him off the trail to the main fireroad before hook up was going to be $3500 then mileage to repair shop or house. The Bronco was blocking the trail so a couple of us worked together and got him up to the fireroad 2 hours later and he paid tow driver $150(75 an hour to wait) saved him a huge chunk of change by helping with the recovery.
So based on those two experiences and a few of other people I try real hard to never wheel alone. However if I am taking a fire road to a campsite then different story. Still let people know where I am going and when I am going to be back. General safe practices guidelines.
fourwd1
Moderator
As a rule, it's foolish to wheel alone.
Have I done it? yes
Have I gotten seriously stuck? yes Places a tow truck couldn't get to.
But that's when a winch and a jack and a shovel come in handy.
Like a moonless night when your black truck is stuck in the surf and the tide is coming in. Or your crossing a river and the back end slides into a hole you didn't know about, Or ...
Have I done it? yes
Have I gotten seriously stuck? yes Places a tow truck couldn't get to.
But that's when a winch and a jack and a shovel come in handy.
Like a moonless night when your black truck is stuck in the surf and the tide is coming in. Or your crossing a river and the back end slides into a hole you didn't know about, Or ...
offshorebear
New member
Yes, but only in safe situations. I won't go expeditioning out in the middle of no where, but I'll go on the trails at my gun club.
techno
New member
I've been out wheeling with just my vehicle plenty of times. I would often go camping in remote areas for several days, sometimes weeks. Most of the time I would have a passenger but sometimes going by yourself is all you want. I always carried enough food and water to last longer than expected, or had the means to aquire it (ie: my .308 win), had all the recovery equipment I would need, and perhaps most importantly, ALWAYS told a responsible person exactly where I would be, for how long and what to do if they don't here from me within x amount of time.
A few years ago I went on a caving trip with friends in eastern Victoria, Australia at a place called Buchan. One evening a buddy and I were looking at a map and found an access road to a ford across a big river in the area (the Snowy River). It was about 30 mins away on 4wd only tracks so we thought we would pop down before sunset and see if the crossing was doable. Instead of just jumping in the truck and heading off right away, we planned exactly what we would do and what we might need if something went wrong. I told my girlfriend that we would be back by 10pm and to tell the cops if we weren't back by 2am. I told her exactly where we were going and what we would do when we were there. We had UHF and VHF cb's (no cell phone coverage), recovery straps, a winch, highlift, shovels, tools and some spares, 5 lts of water, box of energy bars and some canned fruit. Also had a tarp and several blankets. Geeting down into the valley was great fun! Really steep, rutted muddy tracks with awesome scenery. We made it to the river flats and the crossing about an hour before sunset. As it turned out the river was too deep and flowing to fast to safely attempt a crossing so we explored a little more before heading back. Then it started raining. The really steep, muddy rutted track we came in on became virtually impossible to get back up. My rig was very capable ('77 Nissan Patrol, V8, 33" muddies, rear locker, live axles etc) but this track was impossible to drive. We started winching at 9pm and reached the main road at 3am. At the time it was hell, but afterwards it felt pretty cool! When we got back to camp, the cops were there and were planning a search mission to start at first light because we had not returned when we said we would. Thankfully, the search wasn't needed and we had a happy ending, but if we had rolled or something or broke down or whatever, we had contingency plans in place to help. Even if we had decided to stay the night in the valley, we were prepared for that, and the search team that would have come would have found us easily.
Don't be afraid to go out alone, just be prepared and use common sense.
A few years ago I went on a caving trip with friends in eastern Victoria, Australia at a place called Buchan. One evening a buddy and I were looking at a map and found an access road to a ford across a big river in the area (the Snowy River). It was about 30 mins away on 4wd only tracks so we thought we would pop down before sunset and see if the crossing was doable. Instead of just jumping in the truck and heading off right away, we planned exactly what we would do and what we might need if something went wrong. I told my girlfriend that we would be back by 10pm and to tell the cops if we weren't back by 2am. I told her exactly where we were going and what we would do when we were there. We had UHF and VHF cb's (no cell phone coverage), recovery straps, a winch, highlift, shovels, tools and some spares, 5 lts of water, box of energy bars and some canned fruit. Also had a tarp and several blankets. Geeting down into the valley was great fun! Really steep, rutted muddy tracks with awesome scenery. We made it to the river flats and the crossing about an hour before sunset. As it turned out the river was too deep and flowing to fast to safely attempt a crossing so we explored a little more before heading back. Then it started raining. The really steep, muddy rutted track we came in on became virtually impossible to get back up. My rig was very capable ('77 Nissan Patrol, V8, 33" muddies, rear locker, live axles etc) but this track was impossible to drive. We started winching at 9pm and reached the main road at 3am. At the time it was hell, but afterwards it felt pretty cool! When we got back to camp, the cops were there and were planning a search mission to start at first light because we had not returned when we said we would. Thankfully, the search wasn't needed and we had a happy ending, but if we had rolled or something or broke down or whatever, we had contingency plans in place to help. Even if we had decided to stay the night in the valley, we were prepared for that, and the search team that would have come would have found us easily.
Don't be afraid to go out alone, just be prepared and use common sense.
drinknmolson
New member
Buy a fishing license $25, that will pay for search and rescue, LOL.
I have been wheeling by myself (in a Heep) and broke down (in a Heep, obviously) and had to Hike up a lil ways to get svc and make a call to a friend with a 4runner to come tow me out. In colorado there are so many people out hiking and biking and wheeling that you will eventually find someone to give you a ride home or take you further into the hills and leave you for the coyote's to eat.
manhunter
New member
Done it a couple of times and always got lucky until last summer. Took the family to South Padre in the 4runner (wife, 3 kids, and a friend). One evening after dinner, I decided to go exploring along the beach access road. Came to one of those areas off the road that has a sign which reads "No Access - Do Not Enter". Well, looking beyond the sign it was just all flat sand leading out to the shore, so I drove past the sign and did some donuts showing off to the kids. As I was returning back there was a large sand hill beside the sign and I decided to show them my 4runner's ability. So, as I sped toward the hill, my wife was screaming, "Honey no, you will get stuck", and the kids were yelling "Go dad, you can do it". I made the mistake of listening to my kids and found myself high-centered on the sand hill. THis was out in the middle of nowhere and about 3 miles from town. After digging out for about two hours with a stick, it was around 10pm, and the family was getting frustrated, tired, and scared, I realized that it was not going to budge, and I would have to go into town or call a wrecker and pay hundreds of dollars. About that time, two headlights turned into the road that led down toward us. I flashed my light off and on towards it. This jacked up camoflauged DOdge truck showed up with a strap hanging out the tail-gate. The guy pulled me out in 5 seconds and made an easy $20. The best thing about this whole story, is that I convinced the wife that if I had a winch, I could have performed "self-recovery" by attaching to one of the old posts that were nearby. Guess what I got for our anniversary a couple of months later.
manhunter
New member
Go get stuck in the sand somewhere with your sweetie, and convince her.
theizzardking
New member
hahah yeah i wheel 90% of the time by my self, and yes i have been in that situation more then once, i just don't care to share my stupidity with the world at this point in time, lol
as 80% of the times i got stuck was from sheer stupidity or thinking my balls were bigger then they actually where.
after enough times i learned my lesson and only do mild stuff by myself, not trying to cross 50 yrd wide rivers of 6 ft deep mud.......RIP bronco.....
as 80% of the times i got stuck was from sheer stupidity or thinking my balls were bigger then they actually where.
after enough times i learned my lesson and only do mild stuff by myself, not trying to cross 50 yrd wide rivers of 6 ft deep mud.......RIP bronco.....
G.I.G.
New member
Yes, I have 4-wheeled by myself. BUT, only under certain conditions....
1. Only if it is a trail I have done before and am familiar with. That way I know the general condition of the trail first hand, I know my 4Runner can handle it, and getting lost is highly unlikely.
2. Only if the weather is ideal. If it is anything less than perfect, I would probably pass. The weather here in CO can turn on you in an instant, making a repair or a recovery that much more difficult if you are alone.
3. Only on a weekend. You are much more likely to bump into someone else on the trail that can give you a hand if you need it.
I will always try to go with someone else but if schedules don't permit, sometimes it is hard. At the very minimum, you should go with someone else in your rig. You don't have another rig to get you out, but you have an extra set of eyes, hands, ears, etc. Last year a buddy of mine came to visit and I wanted to take him wheel'n. I couldn't find anyone to go with last minute so we went solo, but I followed all 3 of my rules above and we had a killer time!
1. Only if it is a trail I have done before and am familiar with. That way I know the general condition of the trail first hand, I know my 4Runner can handle it, and getting lost is highly unlikely.
2. Only if the weather is ideal. If it is anything less than perfect, I would probably pass. The weather here in CO can turn on you in an instant, making a repair or a recovery that much more difficult if you are alone.
3. Only on a weekend. You are much more likely to bump into someone else on the trail that can give you a hand if you need it.
I will always try to go with someone else but if schedules don't permit, sometimes it is hard. At the very minimum, you should go with someone else in your rig. You don't have another rig to get you out, but you have an extra set of eyes, hands, ears, etc. Last year a buddy of mine came to visit and I wanted to take him wheel'n. I couldn't find anyone to go with last minute so we went solo, but I followed all 3 of my rules above and we had a killer time!
Mr. Leary
New member
Most of the time when we are out exploring, my girl and I are alone. That being said, certain modifications have been performed and equipment added to increase capability, reliability and durability for long range off road travel:
Warn winch 9k
dual batteries with isolator setup
OME suspension Prado heavy duty
Sway bar disconnects
Snorkel
Extra rations and water
at least 3 methods of starting a fire
medical kit including trauma supplies
spare parts including seals, CVs, fluids, etc.
shovel and axe
farm jack with various attachments
lots of armor underneath, front and rear
lots of lights, above and below
diff breathers
CB radio, soon to add a HAM radio as well
navigation instruments
on board air
tire repair kit (including can of starter fluid )
bug out bag with bivy shelter
hiking boots with extra socks
pistol
SPOT (with at least one of the contacts being a person with a rig at least as capable as yours)
tow strap
tree saver strap
winch line extension
kinetic recovery strap
4 d shackles
snatch block
2 winch remotes and spare solenoid
good pair of gloves (important)
chocker chain
wheel choks
2 tire pressure guages
proper tools to complete most repairs in the feild
paracord
scan guage
jb weld
extra fuel (if needed)
good multi tool
couple hundred $$$ cash (it talks)
On longer trips (more than 1 week), we usually go with at least one other vehicle, and sometimes pull a trailer with additional supplies, including 3000 watt power inverter and portable welder.
We have been doing this a long time. Its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, within reason.
We have been very stuck in some very inaccessable places through the years, but have always managed to make it out, most of the time unaided.
The point of all this is... if you decide to venture out alone... it means there is nobody else (duh!), so whatever happens, it is up to you to: fix it, defend against it, or make it out alive. For short wheeling trips close to town, it can be a hassle, but out in the middle of nowhere (north rim GC for example), the inability to cope with these potential problems can cost you your life.
It is always safer to wheel with at least one other rig. Recoveries are much easier and the odds are against both trucks breaking down at the same time, leaving one still able to go get help if needed. Do not count on your cell phone. At the very least, get a farm jack and rigging equipment and learn how to use it, as it can be very dangerous when improperly used. Always know where you are. Always be prepared to walk out.
Warn winch 9k
dual batteries with isolator setup
OME suspension Prado heavy duty
Sway bar disconnects
Snorkel
Extra rations and water
at least 3 methods of starting a fire
medical kit including trauma supplies
spare parts including seals, CVs, fluids, etc.
shovel and axe
farm jack with various attachments
lots of armor underneath, front and rear
lots of lights, above and below
diff breathers
CB radio, soon to add a HAM radio as well
navigation instruments
on board air
tire repair kit (including can of starter fluid
)bug out bag with bivy shelter
hiking boots with extra socks
pistol
SPOT (with at least one of the contacts being a person with a rig at least as capable as yours)
tow strap
tree saver strap
winch line extension
kinetic recovery strap
4 d shackles
snatch block
2 winch remotes and spare solenoid
good pair of gloves (important)
chocker chain
wheel choks
2 tire pressure guages
proper tools to complete most repairs in the feild
paracord
scan guage
jb weld
extra fuel (if needed)
good multi tool
couple hundred $$$ cash (it talks)
On longer trips (more than 1 week), we usually go with at least one other vehicle, and sometimes pull a trailer with additional supplies, including 3000 watt power inverter and portable welder.
We have been doing this a long time. Its better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, within reason.
We have been very stuck in some very inaccessable places through the years, but have always managed to make it out, most of the time unaided.
The point of all this is... if you decide to venture out alone... it means there is nobody else (duh!), so whatever happens, it is up to you to: fix it, defend against it, or make it out alive. For short wheeling trips close to town, it can be a hassle, but out in the middle of nowhere (north rim GC for example), the inability to cope with these potential problems can cost you your life.
It is always safer to wheel with at least one other rig. Recoveries are much easier and the odds are against both trucks breaking down at the same time, leaving one still able to go get help if needed. Do not count on your cell phone. At the very least, get a farm jack and rigging equipment and learn how to use it, as it can be very dangerous when improperly used. Always know where you are. Always be prepared to walk out.
dron
Member
Personally, I do not like to go offroad on my own, but that is what I have to do anyway. Unfortunately, amongst my closest friends there is none who has 4x4.
Anyway, when I do that I try to follow a number of rules.
1. Have an adult man beside yourself. No offence to our ladies :hatsoff:, but I feel much more comfotable having some additional muscles readily available,
2. Always cary a rescue gear. I have the following items in a truck:
- heavy-duty tow strap,
- shovel,
- gas chain,
- ratchet lever hoist,
- steel cable,
- axe,
- power pack,
- First Aid Kit,
- box of matches,
- vodka (AKA "Second Aid Kit")
3. Know where you go - get your GPS with Topomap, or detailed topographic map if you can read it (you will be surprised, but it is so easy to get lost on the forest trails!)
4. Do not overestimate yourself and your truck - look before your leap!
Once I had to walk over 5 miles on forgotten by people and God dark wooded routes to seek a help - so a pepper spray or :ak472: is highly advisable if you do not want to be eaten by a bear on your way to the escape (there are a lot of them in Canada at least).
O, yeh, do not forget a video camera - descendants should know how you die!:crybaby:
Hope this helps!
CAN-03runner
New member
Have done this craziness many times. And have gotten stuck only twice. Once was in northern Canada in Labrador, middle of no where. I was up there for work, and took the work truck out joy riding. And I kept getting cockier and cockier and kept going deeper and deeper into the forests away from the main roads. Then I stumbled upon a really nice trail, and at the end of this trail unfortunately was an old dump site that people still used to dump trash and old junk into. well someone decided that it was a great spot to dump a truck load of sand. I drove right into it, sank and got stuck. Didn't even realize that there was sand there...no other spot had sand. It was all hard dirt, some light mud and rock. sand just is not natural there. I had to walk for what seemed like hours to get back to somewhere that I can call for help. It was getting dark and I kept hearing animal noises and as I walked back I also started to notice animal tracks on the ground. I invented all sorts of swear words that day. I thought I was going to be some animals dinner. This was years ago. I got pulled out by a the son and buddies of the lady who managed the short term appartments I was staying at. The guy just happened to work at a car rental at the airport, and just as luck would have it, drove back home that day with the rental company chevy silverado.
More recently about a month ago, I was working in New Mexico. Again decided that since I finished early that day I was going to go explore. I spent hours going up and down fairly hard packed, dry, dusty roads. Nothing to get stuck in. Didn't even need 4wd, did most of it in 2wd. And I managed to find the only spot in the area that had water/mud under a crust of hard dirt. I found this as I was turning my self around to head back out and back to the hotel. Needless to say I sank, got stuck and needed to get towed out. I found a guy about 5 minute walk from where I was, but his little 1990 toyota pickup couldn't pull the F150 I was driving that week out of deep mud. Although we tried. We needed to call a tow truck since all his budies were either too far way or busy to pull me out. Cell phone worked here. Tow truck that came out was a monster. It was like a mini rig tow truck, I could not believe he drove that thing all the way to where I was stuck. This thing was huge, it was not a pickup-towtruck this thing could pull a bus. Anyhow that was some sight. He winched me out, and 300$ later I was on my way. This was now the middle of the night, I needed to get on to a flight and to another location the next day so I actually convinced the tow truck company to come out at night....well it was night when they finally showed up. I took pictures but it was so dark that all you could see bright truck lights.
Done wheeling alone many times, but usually light trails, sightseeing, going where maybe a car can't but not stuff that is outrageous and only got stuck these 2 times. So the lesson here is even on light simple trails you just never know what you'll encounter. I think now since this most recent event that I won't venture off alone anymore. You just never know.
But some of the guys who bring enough self recovery gear it could be ok, if you have trees arounf you. In New Mexico where I got stuck, there was no tree to winch off of. Unless you could winch off a cactus or some bushes. So I would recomend somethink like a pull-pal. a winch could be useless if you can't attach to anything.
More recently about a month ago, I was working in New Mexico. Again decided that since I finished early that day I was going to go explore. I spent hours going up and down fairly hard packed, dry, dusty roads. Nothing to get stuck in. Didn't even need 4wd, did most of it in 2wd. And I managed to find the only spot in the area that had water/mud under a crust of hard dirt. I found this as I was turning my self around to head back out and back to the hotel. Needless to say I sank, got stuck and needed to get towed out. I found a guy about 5 minute walk from where I was, but his little 1990 toyota pickup couldn't pull the F150 I was driving that week out of deep mud. Although we tried. We needed to call a tow truck since all his budies were either too far way or busy to pull me out. Cell phone worked here. Tow truck that came out was a monster. It was like a mini rig tow truck, I could not believe he drove that thing all the way to where I was stuck. This thing was huge, it was not a pickup-towtruck this thing could pull a bus. Anyhow that was some sight. He winched me out, and 300$ later I was on my way. This was now the middle of the night, I needed to get on to a flight and to another location the next day so I actually convinced the tow truck company to come out at night....well it was night when they finally showed up. I took pictures but it was so dark that all you could see bright truck lights.
Done wheeling alone many times, but usually light trails, sightseeing, going where maybe a car can't but not stuff that is outrageous and only got stuck these 2 times. So the lesson here is even on light simple trails you just never know what you'll encounter. I think now since this most recent event that I won't venture off alone anymore. You just never know.
But some of the guys who bring enough self recovery gear it could be ok, if you have trees arounf you. In New Mexico where I got stuck, there was no tree to winch off of. Unless you could winch off a cactus or some bushes. So I would recomend somethink like a pull-pal. a winch could be useless if you can't attach to anything.
G.I.G.
New member
lmao!
CSL
New member
Excellent post, Mr. Leary.
I have copied your list for reference, but I realize that I have almost everything on it already.
We primarly do solo camping trips on 4wheeling roads. The good thing about wheeling while camping is you're already planning on staying a few nights! The freeze-dried rations will get us an unplanned 5 to 6 more!
I have copied your list for reference, but I realize that I have almost everything on it already.
We primarly do solo camping trips on 4wheeling roads. The good thing about wheeling while camping is you're already planning on staying a few nights! The freeze-dried rations will get us an unplanned 5 to 6 more!
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