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Thread: Surviving an off road emergency

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    Default Surviving an off road emergency



    SURVIVING AN OFF ROAD EMERGENCY

    Author:
    Although this article deals with surviving an off road emergency in the winter, just about everything it talks about is equally applicable for any off road emergency.

    The two most important things here are a positive mental attitude and being well enough prepared to survive an emergency in reasonably good health.


    You don’t have to be out in the country to encounter a hazardous situation. You can get socked in while driving home from work one day. If you’re stuck, you can bet that hundreds of other motorists are, as well. Help could be hours away.
    Every situation is unique, but the following guidelines apply in all situations, and could save your life. I highly recommend you copy this article to your laptop or other device. You’re likely to have that with you, but you may not have access to the Internet. A PDF copy is available here.
    Prepare for winter driving
    “Safety is no accident,” as the old saying goes. We discussed that before in 10 Safety Rules For Off-Road Driving and in a related column, Your Gear Is Not Complete Without An Emergency Packet! Winter presents its own set of hazards, which require additional preparation. It starts with a survival kit. Make sure yours includes at least some of these items.

    More of a collection of items, a winter survival kit includes extra food and clothing, items to help you prepare food or water, signaling/communications gear, and some means to free yourself.

    Food should be dry, packaged goods that have a long shelf life. These include granola bars, snack mix/trail mix, canned nuts, graham crackers, and hard candy. Thick canned food, like ravioli, may be added. Avoid soups as the can may freeze and burst. For a few extra dollars you can add military style MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) available on line and at military surplus stores.

    Make sure the packages and cans are easy to open. It’s unlikely you’ll have a can opener or scissors with you.

    Extra clothing can include boots, gloves, a blanket or sleeping bag, and a hat. This stuff can be bulky, so choose wisely. I pack a Thinsulate™ sleeping bag. It’s warm but thin, and compresses into a nice, small size (more likely to still be in the vehicle when I need it).

    It’s easy to get dehydrated in the winter, so you should carry some liquids. Even if you normally carry a water bottle, be prepared to produce water by melting snow. (Avoid eating snow, as that will lower your body temperature.) Pack an empty soup or coffee can along with a small stove or burner.

    Jetboil® offers a line of nifty mini cookers. They work great with food, as well.

    If you become stuck, you’re likely to reach for your cell phone. Keep an extra battery pack or the cord for tapping into the car’s cigarette lighter. You should also keep some fresh flashlight batteries.

    Pack a red or orange flag that you can attach to your antenna. That will help rescuers spot your vehicle. (If you don’t have a flag, a large piece of fabric will work.) A small shovel can come in handy, also. Buy the kind with a curved blade and collapsible handle.

    Ham and CB radio equipment can be very useful, especially when you’re outside of cell range. If possible, take along some radio gear (but remember that ham radio requires a license). Flares are useful, too, especially at night. Have one or two in your vehicle.

    Consider packing small pieces of carpet or a set of Sand Ladders. Also, being stuck can be boring. Have some reading material or puzzle books with you to pass the time. Speaking of reading material, newspapers and magazines can be used for body insulation.

    Get in the habit of keeping your gas tank at least half full. You’ll need the fuel to run your engine on occasion. More on that later.

    Another “item” you can pack is awareness. It’s easy to get distracted or start daydreaming while behind the wheel. Memorize mile markers or street/highway signs as you pass by. You’ll help rescuers immensely if you can tell dispatch where you are. A GPS is useful to pin point your location.
    What to do if you’re stuck
    If you’re ever stuck in a blizzard, follow these suggestions.
    1. Try not to panic. You’ll need a clear head to work yourself through this situation. Maintain your composure, and calm down your passengers as needed.
    2. Stay with your vehicle. It’s a lot easier to spot from a distance. Leaving your vehicle, and the comfort and protection it offers, can be dangerous. You may think you’ll be able to get help. Odds are you’ll become disoriented and freeze to death.
    3. Attach a flag or colored piece of clothing to the antenna. This helps rescuers and lessens the possibility of being hit by another driver.
    4. Run the engine only 10 – 15 minutes each hour. Sure, you want to stay warm, but you need to conserve your gas. Also, the less often you run your engine, the less chance for lethal levels of carbon monoxide to build up.
    5. Crack a window on the downwind side (leeward side) of the car. That air will be chilly, but it’ll also be clean.
    6. Clear the exhaust pipe periodically.
    7. If you decide to dig yourself out, start on the leeward side of the car. Don’t exert yourself, because you need to minimize sweating. Getting damp and cold can be deadly. Brush off the snow before reentering your vehicle.
    8. As a last resort, burn your spare tire. The smoke (or fire) will be visible for miles.
    Being stuck in a snowstorm can be a terrifying experience. With the proper preparation and response, you can enhance your chances of surviving and being rescued.
    Source: Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill.

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    Brody previously posted:
    "Another “item” you can pack is awareness. It’s easy to get distracted or start daydreaming while behind the wheel. Memorize mile markers or street/highway signs as you pass by. You’ll help rescuers immensely if you can tell dispatch where you are. A GPS is useful to pin point your location.
    What to do if you’re stuck
    If you’re ever stuck in a blizzard, follow these suggestions.
    1. Try not to panic. You’ll need a clear head to work yourself through this situation. Maintain your composure, and calm down your passengers as needed.
    2. Stay with your vehicle. It’s a lot easier to spot from a distance. Leaving your vehicle, and the comfort and protection it offers, can be dangerous. You may think you’ll be able to get help. Odds are you’ll become disoriented and freeze to death.
    3. Attach a flag or colored piece of clothing to the antenna. This helps rescuers and lessens the possibility of being hit by another driver.
    4. Run the engine only 10 – 15 minutes each hour. Sure, you want to stay warm, but you need to conserve your gas. Also, the less often you run your engine, the less chance for lethal levels of carbon monoxide to build up.
    5. Crack a window on the downwind side (leeward side) of the car. That air will be chilly, but it’ll also be clean.
    6. Clear the exhaust pipe periodically.
    7. If you decide to dig yourself out, start on the leeward side of the car. Don’t exert yourself, because you need to minimize sweating. Getting damp and cold can be deadly. Brush off the snow before reentering your vehicle.
    8. As a last resort, burn your spare tire. The smoke (or fire) will be visible for miles.
    Being stuck in a snowstorm can be a terrifying experience. With the proper preparation and response, you can enhance your chances of surviving and being rescued.
    Source: Tom Severin, 4x4 Coach, teaches 4WD owners how to confidently and safely use their vehicles to the fullest extent in difficult terrain and adverse conditions. Visit www.4x4training.com to develop or improve your driving skill."

    As winter is coming. Good stuff Pete!

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    One of a ton of helpful threads, would love it if they were in some sort of informational forum of all of Pete's posts like this.

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    Brody previously posted:
    "As a last resort, burn your spare tire. The smoke (or fire) will be visible for miles."

    Hadn't thought of that!

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    Go prepared too, extra clothing(warm), coat/hat,balaclava/gloves, blanket, winter boots, hand/foot warmer packs(small, easy to store many), food(power bars are great/beef jerky/bag of dehydrated fruits), water, be sure to have a way to start a fire too(road flares are nice/waterproof matches/lighter). Small shovel to move snow!! Always go out with a FULL tank of gas!! I take a power pack/jumper box with me as well to charge or power my phone, or power a mini 12V heater or lamp/spotlight.
    Miss Ya Pete!

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    glacierpaul previously posted:
    "Miss Ya Pete!"

    x2!
    ___________
    Chris in Florida

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    glacierpaul previously posted:
    "be sure to have a way to start a fire too(road flares are nice/waterproof matches/lighter)"

    While matches / lighter are perhaps the most convenient...

    Barring matches, one can use jumper cables (if available), connected to battery, and then snap the other ends together - good sparks to start a fire.

    Another possible spark source would be to pull one spark plug wire off of a spark plug.

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    ColoDisco previously posted:
    "One of a ton of helpful threads, would love it if they were in some sort of informational forum of all of Pete's posts like this."

    If anyone wants to spend some time gathering the URL's of Pete's Informational posts I'll see what I can do.
    ___________
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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    Jim Williamson previously posted:
    "While matches / lighter are perhaps the most convenient..."

    9V battery and steel wool

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    Allays go down...
    Down will lead to water
    Water will lead to people

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    I have learned to carry at least a 48-72hr bug out bag (72hr when I am wheeling with my son or friend). This also includes a decent knife, flashlights, batteries, Sven Saw, first aid kit, and everything else that the OP listed. There are plenty of YouTube videos out there to help setup a system. And no, you are not a wacko that thinks the end is near for having such a thing LOL. If anything, it is a lesson on self-reliance.

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    hey, thread revival! haha...

    anyways, just some things to add...often times we forget some of the "basic" 4-wheeling techniques that can help us in the snow. like airing down...airing down gives you a much better floatation on your tires in the snow, especially if they're oversized. and using our winches + 2 wheel drive to help swing the back end of our trucks around...I've used that in tight situations before to help get a better angle when I slid off the side of the road.

    another random thing I have packed in my winter box, is a phillips screw driver and a bunch of small (1/4-1/2") screws. if all else fails, and airing down doesn't work, you can always give your lugs a little bite by putting some screws in them. only do the lugs, mind you, but it could save you if you were really in a dire situation.

    J.

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    jayson44 previously posted:
    "using our winches + 2 wheel drive to help swing the back end of our trucks around"

    Can you describe how this is done better?

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    it's sort of like doing a backwards "front dig" when you have a twin-stick transfer case. you can pivot the vehicle by anchoring the front end to a tree with the winch, then while in 2wd, give the back wheels a spin to swing the end around. it's almost like doing a controlled "cookie" so you can get your truck pointed in the right direction again.

    does that make sense?

    J.

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    So anchor point is off to the side and you end up pointing at the anchor point?

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    that's how it's worked the last 2 times I've done it. :thumbsup:

    I've also used 2wd to pivot when my front bumper was on a tree. but that was more as an experiment...not an actual situation.

    J.

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    We have used this technique for the same situation but had to use a hand winch to pull the back of vehicle sideways. Once both back tires slowly start to spin they break the friction on ground and will slide easier. Reverse concept of anti-lock brakes and the physics of friction.
    ___________
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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    Here is the set up for snow runs plow up front, winch out back, and chains.
         

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    Default Re: Surviving an off road emergency



    Glacier wins the snow run lead position.

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