Tips for Wheeling Alone?

[MisterE]

Hey All,
Just want to get your opinion one something \ advice on something. I'm getting more adventureous with my H3 and want to start wheeling more often, however I don't alway have another truck to going to wheeling with. Most often I will be going to state parks here in Michigan (The Mounds, Silver Lake etc). I've installed a winch and have basic hand, recovery straps, etc. I don't plan on getting to rowdy but... Since I would rate my wheeling at basically tooling around not blazing new trails good way to walk ahead to tell if I'm going to get in trouble. In particular I have a side slope device but that is what I have the most trouble determining.
Thnx

[CrisB]

Originally Posted by MisterE

I've installed a winch and have basic hand, recovery straps, etc.

Then you've got all you need, man! Go slow if you're unsure, and add a snatch block (pulley) to your kit...or better yet, two of 'em so you can pull yourself backwards out of anything! I always have a GPS running, so you can find your way out of anywhere. Try heading into Northern Michigan, you can turn off onto any snowmobile or seasonal road & go quite a ways into the backcountry on those. Harrison, Houghton Lake, Grayling are all great areas, Grayling's got the National Guard base trails you can run with an ORV permit. Explore!

If all else fails, just call OnStar. I've tried it from the craziest places, just to see if they could tell where I was.

[dеiтайожни]

Get a pull pal!

[deserth3]

I wheel alone quite often too. Before you do something ask yourself just how bad you want to get stuck. Also ask yourself what happens if something breaks.
Before you go jumping into deep water remember an electric winch doesn't work too well when it or the battery is wet.

If you can always tell someone where you plan on going.

[dеiтайожни]

Don't forget to take a firearm to fend off any mountain men.

[ChrisInCali]

I got stuck alone one time deep in a riverbed. I did about every no-no you can when going off-road.... scared the crap outta me because I had no cell signal and it would have been a six mile walk through mud, quicksand, the occasional snake, and who knows what else. Luckily there where some big rocks around. I took the biggest one I could find, planted it in the quicksand, jacked up the rear-end, put some rocks under the tires.... it was enough to give me some traction to get out of there.

[h2co-pilot]

Originally Posted by MisterE

Hey All,
Just want to get your opinion one something \ advice on something. I'm getting more adventureous with my H3 and want to start wheeling more often, however I don't alway have another truck to going to wheeling with. Most often I will be going to state parks here in Michigan (The Mounds, Silver Lake etc). I've installed a winch and have basic hand, recovery straps, etc. I don't plan on getting to rowdy but... Since I would rate my wheeling at basically tooling around not blazing new trails good way to walk ahead to tell if I'm going to get in trouble. In particular I have a side slope device but that is what I have the most trouble determining.
Thnx

I would never wheel alone. I would find another rig there to tag along with, especially if you are going deep into the parks. Another experienced driver can help spot and can help with recovery/repair if needed.

If you absolutely have to, then I would take all the communication, extra gear and supplies I may need in a worst case scenario and tell someone where I am going and a time to check in- but again I wouldn't go alone. Often times, the truck can "break" and it is not an issue of recovering it or getting it unstuck, it has to be towed out. Not to mention that personal injury is a probablility also.

Here is a basic list of supplies when wheeling with someone.

High frequency radio
Flare gun
matches
food
lots of water
blankets
bug spray
first aid
standard heavy duty tool kit
winch
recovery kit
extra gloves
shovel
axe
saw
tire repair kit
flashlight w/ extra batteries
Hi lift Jack
GPS/Nav equipment
cell phone
any spare parts that you have
and a good sense of mechanics and MacGyver like quickness

[fourfourto]

I wheel alone all the time,Im carefull not to get stuck(also im limited by my steps )One day I know ill get hung up on the steps or stuck in mud but I
take the chance.

I do end up a few miles in the woods and sometimes my wife freeks out thinking we might get stuck,but we forge ahead.

I have gps and can find a nearby road,and if all else fails I will call onstar.


I have to get a winch at some point and remove the steps,sometimes they just clear.
I figure if I damage them bad enough I will remove them and my wife can climb in.

[evldave]

If you can, try and wheel with someone. That said, I prefer to go exploring on my own for cool camping sites and have been doing it for 15 years. Probably the best advice I can give is to bring a mountain bike. I always bring mine and I know even if I break something or get super-stuck, I can always mtn bike out to cell service and call any number of buddies to come bail my lame azz out of the woods (it hasn't happened to me yet, but my brother gets stupid stuck all the time ).

Use CPs list, it's a great start, add an industrial first aid kit - if you get stuck and are f'ing around under the truck trying to get unstuck, you are more likely to break something on you - make sure you are prepared and it will all go ok

[MisterE]

Thanks Guys for the input and advice, everything is helping!

For the most part by alone I would be starting out with 'alone' either by myself in my Hummer or with a friend and no other vehicles. But I will be going to ORV parks which, where I am at in Michigan, are hot spots of activity so in the event of injury or breakdown there would someone at least to render some type of assistance (if only to alert entrance staff of stranded motorist).

Eventually I would like to mention the National Gaurd trails Cris mentioned!

[usetosellhummer]

I have had to go pull jerks out stuck in the middle of nowhere before and it sucks. load up like the list says and it is the chance you take when you go alone. Make some friends, reach out to some local clubs and forums and find people who are going out. get to know your truck before trying fun stuff. It took me tons of small trips to build up the confidence to go out on the big stuff.
Moab 07 Sept 23rd-27th

[Desert Dan]

I doubt On Star will come out and fix or extract your vehicle in the middle of nowhere way off the highway on a 4x4 trail. I am often in places with no cell phone or OnStar signal/service.

I often wheel alone but take fewer risks and I am easier on the vehicle when alone etc.

Know your rig and it's abilities and think about what-ifs like if I was stuck or broken down could I walk the 30+ miles (or more) to get help. If you broke a tie rod or had 2 flats think about what would or could do. What if you had a dead battery?

Think about a rattle snake bite or broken leg while alone. What if the highlift jack kicks out and breaks your thigh bone with a compound fracture?

What if you got pinned under your truck while getting it unstuck? Chew or cut off your arm to get help?

If you are in the desert in the summer or snow in the winter, a stupid mistake or mechanical failure could mean life or death if you are stranded.

Bring plenty of supplies, tools and let somebody know your trip plans (loop, trail route etc.) and time of arrival back at home. Say something like "if I am not back by such and such date and time something is wrong and call for help".

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by h2co-pilot

I would never wheel alone. I would find another rig there to tag along with, especially if you are going deep into the parks. Another experienced driver can help spot and can help with recovery/repair if needed.

If you absolutely have to, then I would take all the communication, extra gear and supplies I may need in a worst case scenario and tell someone where I am going and a time to check in- but again I wouldn't go alone. Often times, the truck can "break" and it is not an issue of recovering it or getting it unstuck, it has to be towed out. Not to mention that personal injury is a probablility also.

Here is a basic list of supplies when wheeling with someone.
May I add to the list?
High frequency radio
Flare gun
matches (I take matches and two new BIC lighters)
food (I take a minimum of thirty power bars, plus a few bags of chips for salt)
lots of water (I take around twenty gallons in separate bottles and large water containers per person. Sounds like a lot, but it is not when you are in a 114 degree dry heat. However, DO NOT FORGET SALT. Peanuts, chips, salt tablets if necessary. You can have all the water in the world, but if you deplete your body of salt, you will be a heap of vulture picked bones. Too much salt can make your body use up the water too fast, so I have always used items like chips or peanuts, but no to an excess. Also, if it comes down to drinking some skunky water that will most likely give you dysentery and dying of lack of water...drink the water. You can be cured of dysentery, but you cannot be cured from death. )
blankets
bug spray
first aid
standard heavy duty tool kit
winch (Where I go a winch won't help, since tumbleweed will not work. I find a hi-lift that will jack up a vehicle so you can push it laterally out of a sand pit to be a better item. I would guess if you were in the woods, the winch would be the best item.)
recovery kit
extra gloves
shovel
axe
saw
tire repair kit (compressor and lighter fluid or other canned flammable for seating a bead on a rim)
flashlight w/ extra batteries
Hi lift Jack
GPS/Nav equipment (GOOD GPS, DO NOT rely on a vehicle's navigation system. A good GPS with topographical software will show you where there is water or other required items. A vehicle's NAV system is not that reliable when off the main roads. Besides, if you do have to hike out, hard to carry the vehicle's NAV system compared to a Garmin GPSr)
cell phone
any spare parts that you have
snake bite kit
and a good sense of mechanics and MacGyver like quickness

Agree with the list (would add a handgun, but that is not something all would do). However, I often go out into the desert alone or with another photographer; knowing sh*t can happen.
Know the surroundings of where you will be going. If you go into the desert a lot, learn the desert, if you are in northern forests, learn how to survive in a northern forest for the climate you will be heading into the area. Either area can kill you. I would be lost in a northern climate in the middle of a snowstorm, but I'm at home in the desert (due to my my snake relatives ).

My philosophy when out on desert trips...notifiy the person in the hotel that if you do not check in by XX time, there is a problem and here is where I am going, and here is the route. Or if the hotel/motel won't take this information, call someone back home, tell them if you don't call by XX time, call this number (local police of Park Rangers). Some parks have check in ledgers where you sign in, and you sign out, and the rangers keep track of the in/out progress of people. (The guy who cut his arm off when in the slot canyon in Utah, recognized he did many things wrong. One, he went alone. Two, since he went alone he never let a route or destination of where he was going. One or two, might have saved his arm.)

[HUMMJAY]

friends dont let friends wheel alone,,

[MarineHawk]

Agree with the list and additions as well, but would add a backpack so that you can carry all the stuff you'll want if you need to hike out.

I always have my USMC "deuce" gear, see photo, in the back of my H2 loaded with cartridge belt/H-harness; two full canteens; first aid kit; gloves; gun, holster, & ammo; knife; cord; emergency blanket; flashlights (2 small aaa headlamps); flask (w/ single malt Scotch); GPS; Gore-Tex jacket (w/ liner); hat/headband thingy; Gore-Tex rain pants; a few extra fleece layers; map; toilette paper; lighter and matches; lighter fluid and/or Coleman fuel (so you can start a fire with even the wettest wood); extra batteries; cigars; water purification tablets; emergency food; whistle (gun usually works better); Excedrin (cures almost any altitude ills). -- It all weighs about 25 lbs and can keep me alive for days.

[Mr. I - Man]

Originally Posted by MarineHawk

Agree with the list and additions as well, but would add a backpack so that you can carry all the stuff you'll want if you need to hike out.

I always have my USMC "deuce" gear, see photo, in the back of my H2 loaded with cartridge belt/H-harness; two full canteens; first aid kit; gloves; gun, holster, & ammo; knife; cord; emergency blanket; flashlights (2 small aaa headlamps); flask (w/ single malt Scotch); GPS; Gore-Tex jacket (w/ liner); hat/headband thingy; Gore-Tex rain pants; a few extra fleece layers; map; toilette paper; lighter and matches; lighter fluid and/or Coleman fuel (so you can start a fire with even the wettest wood); extra batteries; cigars; water purification tablets; emergency food; whistle (gun usually works better); Excedrin (cures almost any altitude ills). -- It all weighs about 25 lbs and can keep me alive for days.

Where the hell is your Ranger Roll (Poncho,liner and Rubberbitch rolled into one) should be mounted to the bottom of the a$$ pack, Devil Dog? Damn thats an old school set up haven't see Duece Gear since back in 1998.

[MarineHawk]

Originally Posted by Mr. I - Man

Where the hell is your Ranger Roll (Poncho,liner and Rubberbitch rolled into one) should be mounted to the bottom of the a$$ pack, Devil Dog? Damn thats an old school set up haven't see Duece Gear since back in 1998.

Lol. My rain gear, warm layers, and the pad I carry in may pack are far superior to poncho/liner/rubber bitch the Marine corps gave me back then.

But I do find the deuce gear method useful when I go backpacking because I can have about 25 lbs of necessities in it, and the rest in my pack. That way, I can drop the pack (and mark the location with GPS), or leave it at the campsite, while I go on day hikes, but have everything I need and more should a problem arise.

[MarineHawk]

I almost forgot, I usually have a little, folding backpacking saw in there too.

[Mr. I - Man]

Originally Posted by MarineHawk

Lol. My rain gear, warm layers, and the pad I carry in may pack are far superior to poncho/liner/rubber bitch the Marine corps gave me back then.

But I do find the deuce gear method useful when I go backpacking because I can have about 25 lbs of necessities in it, and the rest in my pack. That way, I can drop the pack (and mark the location with GPS), or leave it at the campsite, while I go on day hikes, but have everything I need and more should a problem arise.

Hey, I was sticking to proper Old Corps gear list SOP. My civie SOP now consists of a Four Seasons and an in-call "message" when I'm out and about roughing it.

[MarineHawk]

Originally Posted by Mr. I - Man

Hey, I was sticking to proper Old Corps gear list SOP. My civie SOP now consists of a Four Seasons and an in-call "message" when I'm out and about roughing it.

I don't really call backpacking roughing it. It's all a day at the park in comparison to: waking up at 6 am for a hump when it's negative 5 degrees; scarfing down a half-frozen MRE chocolate cookie because that's all you have time to eat; having to strip down to one layer before forced marching 15 miles because, if you don't, the company commander is not going to let you stop and take some layers off as you start to sweat profusely under a bunch of layers after 20 minutes of exertion; then freezing your ass off like mad until you finally warm up; then carrying your tires a$$ and 80 lbs of gear up some meaningless trail behind some Captain sprinting along with a pillow in his pack to make it look heavy.

What I do is infinitely more comfortable. I stop and adjust my clothes when I want and smoke, change, drink, eat what I want when I want. Having good gear does make all the difference?that and not having to pretend like your rescuing the 1st Division at the Frozen Chosen.