Gladiator Recovery Assist Pictures: The Hall of Shame

[Mad Mac]

If a person can only have or afford one item of recovery gear
a kinetic rope provides the most bang for the buck,
in my opinion. But I could be wrong, I often am.

They weigh next to nothing,
can be stowed in a gym bag under the back seat.
Add a few wooden dowels
and some sacrificial old tow strap
for any number of connection possibilities.

In one scene I came upon
the owner of the stuck truck had cut out a seat belt
and looped it through his front suspension
to try and connect to a ragged rope to his friend's truck.
We connected my VooDoo kinetic rope
to the seat belt with a wooden dowel.

Here an inexpensive tow strap is used to connect to a hitch receiver.
Avoid the temptation to use the hitch ball.
They can snap off. A few people have been killed that way.
Likewise, do not use tow straps with hooks on the ends.

A dowel makes it easy to free connections
that would otherwise be impossible to loosen.
This pine dowel did not last long and shattered.

Here is another example of how to use a dowel
to connect two tow ropes.
Dense hardwoods like elm, persimmon or crepe myrtle
make tougher dowels and can be had for free.

Sponsored

 

[Sweetums]

I'd put a shovel above a kinetic rope. A rope is only good if you have another vehicle, but almost every recovery benefits from some digging.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I'd put a shovel above a kinetic rope. A rope is only good if you have another vehicle, but almost every recovery benefits from some digging.

Mine always has a shovel in it. I hope to never need it. Portable shovels are tiring as crap.

 

[Billyj7175]

Mine always has a shovel in it. I hope to never need it. Portable shovels are tiring as crap.

True...
However, the ability to lock the spade at a 90, makes is convenient to "drag" mud/snow out from underneath a vehicle.

They also have other uses. Ask any GI that's spent any time in the field about the "E-Tool Lean". Lol

 

[WILDHOBO]

True...
However, the ability to lock the spade at a 90, makes is convenient to "drag" mud/snow out from underneath a vehicle.

They also have other uses. Ask any GI that's spent any time in the field about the "E-Tool Lean". Lol

Very good point. I do like my Swiss Army knives.

 

[Billyj7175]

Very good point. I do like my Swiss Army knives.

Hell ya, me too!
That's the greatest attribute to the Gladiator; room to carry them all.

 

[addy003]

I admit nothing. No regrets.

Always been partial to:

Deny everything,
Admit nothing,
and
Make counteraccusations.

 

[arosen1997]

Always been partial to:

Deny everything,
Admit nothing,
and
Make counteraccusations.

Gotta apply the Lance Corporal Troop leading steps

 

[Jaxmax]

I didn’t help a New York City family back off the entrance road to the beach , they were driving a Ford Edge, with 20” rims and street tires and they were stuck. Two of us stopped to help ,I managed to get around them , and the two Jeepers were looking for something to hook to under it ,the whole time the father is telling his wife and kids to be quite and telling use what to hook to front air dam, tie rod, exhaust system , hook through his rim, car was really lacking anything other then tow stud socket. So we said we have shovels and traction boards, let’s let some air out of your tires, we can get out, he started yelling they are performance tires no need to air down to, we even told him we were aired down to 18 pounds and a pump station is right there , no they are performance tires and I want you to tow me out. I said sorry to his wife who thanked me and apologized, and I drove away. Rangers there are good but if he gives them what he gave us he’ll be ticketed for no surf permit and driving past the huge red signs, saying permits and 4WD only!
I always help people ,change tires along highways ,tow people out never take offered money, but felt bad for the family but he just would not listen….Jack

 

[Sweetums]

I didn’t help a New York City family back off the entrance road to the beach , they were driving a Ford Edge, with 20” rims and street tires and they were stuck. Two of us stopped to help ,I managed to get around them , and the two Jeepers were looking for something to hook to under it ,the whole time the father is telling his wife and kids to be quite and telling use what to hook to front air dam, tie rod, exhaust system , hook through his rim, car was really lacking anything other then tow stud socket. So we said we have shovels and traction boards, let’s let some air out of your tires, we can get out, he started yelling they are performance tires no need to air down to, we even told him we were aired down to 18 pounds and a pump station is right there , no they are performance tires and I want you to tow me out. I said sorry to his wife who thanked me and apologized, and I drove away. Rangers there are good but if he gives them what he gave us he’ll be ticketed for no surf permit and driving past the huge red signs, saying permits and 4WD only!
I always help people ,change tires along highways ,tow people out never take offered money, but felt bad for the family but he just would not listen….Jack

It's rare that I won't help someone, but I will refuse if the recovery puts the owner or others in danger.

I was up at a local ski resort during a winter storm warning (great powder day), the canyon accessing the resort has a sign that turns on during storms indicating chains or 4WD and winter tires are required. Winter tires are required between November and March regardless of weather. A couple of guys in a Grand Cherokee couldn't get out of their parking space; their tires were almost worn to the cords. They asked for a tow out and I told them to put in 4WD, I was that-many-years-old when I learned Jeep made the Grand Cherokee in a RWD model. So they are RWD on bald tires and can't get out of a parking space in a flat lot and want me to tow them out so they can get on a steep, winding canyon road that drops straight down into a stream for much of the drive.

Nope, you guys need to take the ski bus and come get your junk in the spring. I explained that I couldn't put them on the road because they would, best case scenario, crash their vehicle and risk their own lives; worse case scenario is taking out someone else.

They were not happy with me and eventually found someone to tow them across the lot to the road, but I don't know if the town marshal spotted them or not.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I didn’t help a New York City family back off the entrance road to the beach , they were driving a Ford Edge, with 20” rims and street tires and they were stuck. Two of us stopped to help ,I managed to get around them , and the two Jeepers were looking for something to hook to under it ,the whole time the father is telling his wife and kids to be quite and telling use what to hook to front air dam, tie rod, exhaust system , hook through his rim, car was really lacking anything other then tow stud socket. So we said we have shovels and traction boards, let’s let some air out of your tires, we can get out, he started yelling they are performance tires no need to air down to, we even told him we were aired down to 18 pounds and a pump station is right there , no they are performance tires and I want you to tow me out. I said sorry to his wife who thanked me and apologized, and I drove away. Rangers there are good but if he gives them what he gave us he’ll be ticketed for no surf permit and driving past the huge red signs, saying permits and 4WD only!
I always help people ,change tires along highways ,tow people out never take offered money, but felt bad for the family but he just would not listen….Jack

Frustrating. But it sounds like walking away from that one was a good call.

 

[WILDHOBO]

It's rare that I won't help someone, but I will refuse if the recovery puts the owner or others in danger.

I was up at a local ski resort during a winter storm warning (great powder day), the canyon accessing the resort has a sign that turns on during storms indicating chains or 4WD and winter tires are required. Winter tires are required between November and March regardless of weather. A couple of guys in a Grand Cherokee couldn't get out of their parking space; their tires were almost worn to the cords. They asked for a tow out and I told them to put in 4WD, I was that-many-years-old when I learned Jeep made the Grand Cherokee in a RWD model. So they are RWD on bald tires and can't get out of a parking space in a flat lot and want me to tow them out so they can get on a steep, winding canyon road that drops straight down into a stream for much of the drive.

Nope, you guys need to take the ski bus and come get your junk in the spring. I explained that I couldn't put them on the road because they would, best case scenario, crash their vehicle and risk their own lives; worse case scenario is taking out someone else.

They were not happy with me and eventually found someone to tow them across the lot to the road, but I don't know if the town marshal spotted them or not.

Good call again.

 

[RudeJeepin]

Frustrating. But it sounds like walking away from that one was a good call.

Good call again.

Sometimes "NO" is the right answer.

I refused to pull a guy out if the ditch that was well beyond visible intoxicated. He tried to get pretty belligerent with me. Just got in my rig and drove off. We were more or less in town so someone else would be along shortly.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Sometimes "NO" is the right answer.

I refused to pull a guy out if the ditch that was well beyond visible intoxicated. He tried to get pretty belligerent with me. Just got in my rig and drove off. We were more or less in town so someone else would be along shortly.

I agree with you. I’d have called the police non emergency line to get him arrested for dui on my way out.

 

[Mightytalldude]

@WILDHOBO you're nice enough that you've even changed a flat tire on a clueless SXS rental.

Sponsored