So, after the Cavalcade of Fail, it was time to strategize for next weekend. Right off the bat, if the weather is uncooperative, I’ll stay in town. I understand that the apocalypse will not happen on a sunny day, but for right now I’m not taking any more chances than I have to.
So, first order of business is to remediate some of the fails from last weekend. A couple of them were rather standout failures.
The HiLift jack. If I had brought the HiLift jack I would have had a way to ‘winch’ myself out if I hadn’t figured out the winch. The reason I didn’t bring it is because it really didn’t fit into the SxS in any meaningful way. The jack is 5′ long and the SxS is exactly 5′ wide. So, I have ordered a set of brackets to mount the jack across one of the bars on the cage of the SxS. In addition to the HiLift jack, I also have the base plate for it and a few other attachments. I keep chains, tow straps, ropes, and snatch blocks in my Unstuck Kit and used in conjunction with the HiLift jack I think I would have gotten better results than I did just trying to shovel things out with an e-tool.
Speaking of e-tool, I left behind my full size shovel for the same reason I left the HiLift jack behind. And, as with the solution for the HiLift, the solution for the shovel is a rollbar-mounted bracket to hold a D-handle shovel. The Glock e-tool did a really great job and it s a product I recommend, but it is not a substitute for a ‘real’ shovel. To that end, I also ordered up a set of brackets to mount a shovel along one of the roll bars on the cage as well.
Recovery boards. If you don’t know what these are, I suggest familiarizing yourself with them. Its basically a surfboard with a rough cats-tongue pattern to it to provide traction. Beats the crap out of throwing branches, floormats, and passengers under the wheels for traction.
Another failure point was that I broke one of the great commandments of preparedness: I relied on a piece of gear that was unproven and I had not practiced or familiarized myself with. I knew the SxS came with a winch. Thats all I knew. I spent hours digging out the SxS that could have been avoided if I knew where to plug the wired remote into. But…I had never actually hooked it up and tested its function. Unbelievable rookie mistake. I’ll be swapping out the steel cable-of-questionable-age-and-condition for a brand new synthetic rope and carry a spare of the rope as well.
Footwear. I was so excited about getting to take the SxS to the Beta Site that I overlooked all sorts of things…including changing into suitable footwear. The solution is to add ‘Change shoes’ into my pre-trip checklist…and believe me, buddy, there’s gonna be a pre-trip checklist.
I was smart enough to bring my Unstuck Kit, but I need to put in some longer towstraps. And some more clevises (Clevis’? Clevi?) I made a buncha mistakes this last time, but bringing the Unstuck Kit was not one of them. I was able to use the long tow strap that was in the kit to loop to a tree and feed back to the winch hook.
Now, keep in mind, this is a list of what I did wrong. A list of what I did right is a separate list. So if you feel like chiming in with “you should have had x, you should have has y” keep in mind I may have already had those….this is a list of things I didn’t have or do properly.
I’ve spent the last two days researching various gear and ordering it up. Recovery boards will be here today and more goodies throughout the week.
Commander, I left a late reply on last weekends trip that you may not have read.
When I upgraded my T-moble account, they now include satellite service. Haven’t tried it yet but might come in handy for you. I think other services might have this also
+1 on the T-Mobile/Starlink texting feature. Our hunting lease has terrible coverage and this is my lifeline if something goes asunder.
WRT recovery boards. The old-school option I prefer is a couple of pieces of medium heavy shaker screen (woven steel rods/wire) from a crusher plant that was being rebuilt. Mine have wire about 3/16 in diameter and they support my 9000 lb truck no problem. They are heavy – but that and the holes actually helps prevent them from shooting out when you try to drive away. And they make great grills for cooking over an open fire. I’ve got a couple about 1 x 4 ft that I wouldn’t trade for the world. And I got them free, except for the gas to cut them to shape. If you get an extra piece about 8 ft long, they make a great road drag, too. If you know some construction / quarry operators ask if they have any throw-aways in a pile somewhere. PS – hook a short cable to them so you can drive away once you get rolling and they will just drag along behind you until you get well clear.
if you could add a ladder rack onto the SXS you could haul far more tools and equipment more easily. it would also free up the bed for other things.
Wow. Sounds like an adventure. Yep, those hi lift jacks can save your bacon. But a winch can be easier. Good luck next week. Hope things work for you. Moose baby most likely born a little early and froze.
Here’s something I watched years ago. Slow progress but I found very interesting.
Off Grid Winch: Making a Flip Flop Winch
Do you ski? I’ve found it waaaaay easier than snowshoeing, and faster, too.
Might have to learn.
I think that the Sone of Norway (you’ve seen the sign) still has classes. Tons of fun.
1st step , Proper footgear.
I saw it in anther post, and would also recommend the PLB or EPIRB just in case you manage to hurt yourself to a degree that you cannot self treat or get to assistance. If you need helicopter extraction, you need it immediately. And to be honest, most of us likely have a talent for screwing things up,
I have added a satellite phone to my personal preparations for hurricanes since land lines and cell phones are known to fail,
I don’t want the blog to go away because you didn’t have one of these. I check for updates almost every day,
These items may be pricey, but in my mind, are important,
Love the after action report, lessons learned and new gear list. Carry on!
So if you had not gotten unstuck and you had to spend the night, how would it have gone? What did you have with you in the SxS for that situation.
I’m thinking that until you get some sort of serious shelter in place you may want have some sort of hasty last resort shelter at the beta site to keep you dry and out of the wind like a dog igloo or -something-.
Nursedaddy
Respect the learning curve. It’s better to get it now, than when things get real. Looks like your plans to avoid a repeat are good, but remember that Murphy gets a say. Good on ya and good luck.
At near “three score and ten” with medical needs from an excessively adventurous life, I’ll cheer you on from my recliner.
Right on, brother, I’m in about the same condition as you. Pass the popcorn, would ya?
We have had high lift jacks before and now
Two things to think about
One they are heavy so mount them in the front of the vehicle in case you have a hard stop the mounting brackets might not hold them in a crash situation
Two they can be very dangerous so practice using them before you need to there is a learning curve and there are good videos available
You are learning! Keep learning
For me, the Cold Steel Spetnatz shovel punches above its weight. Small – compact and can be wielded one handed when the opposite hand is otherwise engaged elsewhere. Filling sandbags – perfect tool, one hand holding bag opening while the other piles in sand. Tough enough for chopping (and if desired, one edge can be filed down for better performance). The larger Trench Shovel is good too, but the original can be stashed without taking up valuable room the new does.
I have one, actually.
I’m not surprised – a lot of people who regularly travel the rurals carry one somewhere in their vehicle. Been around several decades and is still being manufactured, which tells me people like them a lot.
You consider the tracked vehicle kits for you sxs. All you other additions are std 4wd stuff most of us in 4wd community carry for good reason.
Be careful around Hi Lifts: when I first moved to a county with 5,000 pop’n, my new cow partner told me of two people he knew that were killed by them.
My uncle Achterlijk was killed by a Hi Lift. He was porking the neighbor lady and her husband bashed his skull in with one. So yah in the wrong hands they can be deadly.
I still see these fails as learning experiences, nobody does everything right the first time out. I so see a wide track snow machine with a komatik or polymer freight sled in your future for next winter, the SxS are nice but have limitations with that deep snow unless you are planning on plowing that track.
Here’s what we use deep in the Maine woods.
https://tractionaids.com/products/