R3
Member 2026
So it is a slow day here in the five sided wind tunnel. fielding a question on the forum made me think ( see the smoke?) why is it we have these requirements on each trail ride.
Over the years I have seen folks come out to a trail ride totally unprepared.
First Aid kits.... Why? I have been on trail rides where someone get hurt, face it we play in some hostile terrain and cuts sprains and even broken bones happen. July 3 2020 a small group of us came across a serious medical emergency on Flag pole due to the quick action by all, they survived.
Fire extinguishers. One ride at a local park I watched a Jeep go up in flames due to no one having a fire bottle that was pretty scary a small electrical fire became a lost rig.
Jeep in Good repair..... I have had folks show up with inoperable 4 wheel drive, missing front or rear driveshafts, broken hubs and worn-out U joints in the drive line. One case a jeeper had a known issue with the computer came out on the trail and bang it was dead right in the middle of a easy run. Wheeled with a non member at Rausch where the rear wheel studs 2 of which were missing to begin with, sheared off the rest loosing the wheel. Another had some steering issues and repaired in on the last run with duct tape and yes you guessed it the tape gave way. Lockers issues lot of these, but don't worry I have one in the rear or front..... then the broken diff grenades leaving the rig dead on the trail having to be dragged off.
Problems are a pain to deal with on the street but there is always a tow truck option on a public street. Taking a rig in the dirt on a remote trail makes a tough issue that much harder to deal with. Stuff breaks I get it, but try to 1) minimize what can break and 2) drive with some common sense.
Winch..Tough trails require winches from time to time if the lead asks for a winch..... make sure you have the remote with you not safely stored in the garage next to the paint cans. Make sure it works! many of us buy these cool windy things and never use them. This is a favorite, many buy a cool winch and never hook it up, or do some maintenance and do not reconnect. I see this all the time. We ask that you do an operational check to see if you winch is still in good working order. Yes this means go out and try it! Does it have a winch line? ( oops I broke that the last time out and didn't think I would need it this run) IS the line in good order. Synthetic line hates UV rays, it degrades over time. Remember that nice new black line? now it is almost white, why? the sun has baked it to the point that it is no longer any good. I have steel line I'm good...... last time you used it did you clean it and wind it back properly? does it have burs on it? is it rusty ? have you ever tensioned it? Breaking a synthetic line is not a dangerous event. Breaking a steel line can be. Burs , rust, and improper storage all lead to a weaken line, now add 8000,10000# of force.... you tube moment.
For some reason, some think that it is cheating to use a winch or it is not manly.... if you are in that group I'll bring a camera. If you are not, leads will work with you on all challenges, if after a few tries "it doesn't work" then you are on a winch. If the challenge you are trying put your rig in a dangerous spot ( read roll over) winches will hold a 5000#+ rig and allow the operator to experience the "limits" of their ride a lot better than 3 or 4 of you buddies hanging off the side. We have use winch lines as a safety to prevent a rollover in addition to recovering a rig.
Full size spare Flat tire, sounds simple enough. lots of folks show up with a spare tire delete. "Don't worry I have bead locks" they say..... two hours later after a tire side wall is slashed , yup it stayed on the rim but still doesn't hold air.
Recovery gear.... this is a topic of discussion. what do I carry , what do I need.... simply put minimum is a tow strap and two shackles. the shackles should has a WL rating on them (WL= Working load). If it not stamped don't use them they are likely not rated. Here cheap get you or someone else hurt or killed.
As you skills grow and experience increases recovery gear takes on a new direction and can include boards and shovels along with straps shackles and snatch blocks, there is a whole world of stuff there. If the lead is asking for you to bring you recovery gear, bring it! It is to assist in getting you unstuck. Sometimes the closest recovery rig is right in front of you and and all you need is a little tug to get free. I have run across rigs on the trail that are stuck because no one had a strap.... I have also been on runs where several rigs are working to recover a single rig. I have recovered rigs that are beyond the length of a single winch line. if everyone is carrying equipment then there are options. It is just Peters Mill, or Flag pole or, or..... the simplest trails I have seen the toughest recoveries.
Food...Winter runs, we tell you to bring food and a sleeping bag for a 4 hour run. I have seen and been on the 4 hour run that turns into an all day slog. I have come across folks that are stuck and have been there all night....
Communications... Depending on where you wheel a VHF radio may save you life due to the remote locations. On a recovery effort radio communication helps direct a recovery and keep all calm. Calm you ask? Yes, no yelling and shouting, just calm direction and clear communication. it also has value in keeping a big group together.
Leads make these requirements for run to ensure a good run for all and try to anticipate the issues they will run into on a trail. If you don't have X will I turn you way? The depends on the situation. You didn't bring food a blanket and a winch for a snow run in a remote location.... then yes I will turn you away. You don't have a winch and want to do a black red run.... and are willing to work with the team, then likely not.
Over the years I have seen folks come out to a trail ride totally unprepared.
First Aid kits.... Why? I have been on trail rides where someone get hurt, face it we play in some hostile terrain and cuts sprains and even broken bones happen. July 3 2020 a small group of us came across a serious medical emergency on Flag pole due to the quick action by all, they survived.
Fire extinguishers. One ride at a local park I watched a Jeep go up in flames due to no one having a fire bottle that was pretty scary a small electrical fire became a lost rig.
Jeep in Good repair..... I have had folks show up with inoperable 4 wheel drive, missing front or rear driveshafts, broken hubs and worn-out U joints in the drive line. One case a jeeper had a known issue with the computer came out on the trail and bang it was dead right in the middle of a easy run. Wheeled with a non member at Rausch where the rear wheel studs 2 of which were missing to begin with, sheared off the rest loosing the wheel. Another had some steering issues and repaired in on the last run with duct tape and yes you guessed it the tape gave way. Lockers issues lot of these, but don't worry I have one in the rear or front..... then the broken diff grenades leaving the rig dead on the trail having to be dragged off.
Problems are a pain to deal with on the street but there is always a tow truck option on a public street. Taking a rig in the dirt on a remote trail makes a tough issue that much harder to deal with. Stuff breaks I get it, but try to 1) minimize what can break and 2) drive with some common sense.
Winch..Tough trails require winches from time to time if the lead asks for a winch..... make sure you have the remote with you not safely stored in the garage next to the paint cans. Make sure it works! many of us buy these cool windy things and never use them. This is a favorite, many buy a cool winch and never hook it up, or do some maintenance and do not reconnect. I see this all the time. We ask that you do an operational check to see if you winch is still in good working order. Yes this means go out and try it! Does it have a winch line? ( oops I broke that the last time out and didn't think I would need it this run) IS the line in good order. Synthetic line hates UV rays, it degrades over time. Remember that nice new black line? now it is almost white, why? the sun has baked it to the point that it is no longer any good. I have steel line I'm good...... last time you used it did you clean it and wind it back properly? does it have burs on it? is it rusty ? have you ever tensioned it? Breaking a synthetic line is not a dangerous event. Breaking a steel line can be. Burs , rust, and improper storage all lead to a weaken line, now add 8000,10000# of force.... you tube moment.
For some reason, some think that it is cheating to use a winch or it is not manly.... if you are in that group I'll bring a camera. If you are not, leads will work with you on all challenges, if after a few tries "it doesn't work" then you are on a winch. If the challenge you are trying put your rig in a dangerous spot ( read roll over) winches will hold a 5000#+ rig and allow the operator to experience the "limits" of their ride a lot better than 3 or 4 of you buddies hanging off the side. We have use winch lines as a safety to prevent a rollover in addition to recovering a rig.
Full size spare Flat tire, sounds simple enough. lots of folks show up with a spare tire delete. "Don't worry I have bead locks" they say..... two hours later after a tire side wall is slashed , yup it stayed on the rim but still doesn't hold air.
Recovery gear.... this is a topic of discussion. what do I carry , what do I need.... simply put minimum is a tow strap and two shackles. the shackles should has a WL rating on them (WL= Working load). If it not stamped don't use them they are likely not rated. Here cheap get you or someone else hurt or killed.
As you skills grow and experience increases recovery gear takes on a new direction and can include boards and shovels along with straps shackles and snatch blocks, there is a whole world of stuff there. If the lead is asking for you to bring you recovery gear, bring it! It is to assist in getting you unstuck. Sometimes the closest recovery rig is right in front of you and and all you need is a little tug to get free. I have run across rigs on the trail that are stuck because no one had a strap.... I have also been on runs where several rigs are working to recover a single rig. I have recovered rigs that are beyond the length of a single winch line. if everyone is carrying equipment then there are options. It is just Peters Mill, or Flag pole or, or..... the simplest trails I have seen the toughest recoveries.
Food...Winter runs, we tell you to bring food and a sleeping bag for a 4 hour run. I have seen and been on the 4 hour run that turns into an all day slog. I have come across folks that are stuck and have been there all night....
Communications... Depending on where you wheel a VHF radio may save you life due to the remote locations. On a recovery effort radio communication helps direct a recovery and keep all calm. Calm you ask? Yes, no yelling and shouting, just calm direction and clear communication. it also has value in keeping a big group together.
Leads make these requirements for run to ensure a good run for all and try to anticipate the issues they will run into on a trail. If you don't have X will I turn you way? The depends on the situation. You didn't bring food a blanket and a winch for a snow run in a remote location.... then yes I will turn you away. You don't have a winch and want to do a black red run.... and are willing to work with the team, then likely not.
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