Winter rescues of stranded drivers...

[JAsh1967]

So last night and today, large swaths of the eastern US are getting a LOT of snow. This is going to be a two-part question, the one most people will reply to is:

Have you ever used your Gladiator to help someone stuck in the snow? Whether just to give them a push out of deep snow, or your traction boards under their drive wheels to get out, or all the way to hooking up your recovery gear to give them a pull? If it's a "regular" car, where do you attach your tow strap / recovery rope to minimize damage to their car?

Now, the second question, largely aimed at @Metalcloak / @Metalcloak Jon related to the previous question... Is the Metalcloak Front Bumper Winch Guard strong enough / solid enough to be used as a push bar to give a vehicle a push, or would it more likely crush and get damaged?

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[NC_Overland]

I’d never do that push bar idea. Asking for problems if you damage someone’s vehicle.

 

[JAsh1967]

I’d never do that push bar idea. Asking for problems if you damage someone’s vehicle.

Granted, it's the sort of thing I'd only do IF the person understood there'd be a very good chance of damage to the bumper.

I brought this up because the wife and I saw a car stuck in the snow going to a store, and they were still there a good 20-30 minutes later when we were heading home, so we stopped to see if they needed help.

I did bring up potentially either trying to push or pull them out (had tossed the recovery gear in the Jeep before we left, just in case), but also let them know there'd be a very good chance of damage to their bumper. They had AAA on the way, supposed to be there around 11:25 (it was about 11:30) and opted to wait, so we went on our way.

 

[NC_Overland]

I don’t trust anyone. Verbal agreements don’t hold up.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Check with your insurance company about “the Good Samaritan” law. I talked with mine and there are protections afforded you as a Good Samaritan for offering a
kind hand, no charge service if damage is done.

The other skill you need is to know EVERYTHING that can go wrong and weigh the costs of helping out.

First cost could be your life and/or theirs when working on the side of the road with other drivers that don’t see you OR can’t feel a sense of the danger/importance of why you’re parked on the side or perhaps might even be in the ditch with the stuck vehicle.

Strobes, strobes, strobes! These get the attention of the 99% that will slow down or move over. You can’t help the 1% that don’t care but be sure that if you only have your factory flashing hazzard lights on, 100% of other drivers don’t care, nor will slow down.
Stay safe with strobes when assisting others on the side of the road. 2021 Jeep Gladiator

 

[Wmkresse]

Pulled a guy out of the ditch. The winch line was frozen up so I went old school and used my rope. Nowhere to hook on the van so used a soft shackle to A arm and it came right out.

 

[Janster]

If you really want to help… You’re probably better off offering your free Gladiator services to our service men & women. Transporting EMS, police, healthcare workers, and even patients to where they need to go in this bad weather.

 

[Gvsukids]

Around here, people would appreciate the help. If they are worried about damage, I won't help.

 

[BearFootSam]

So last night and today, large swaths of the eastern US are getting a LOT of snow. This is going to be a two-part question, the one most people will reply to is:

Have you ever used your Gladiator to help someone stuck in the snow? Whether just to give them a push out of deep snow, or your traction boards under their drive wheels to get out, or all the way to hooking up your recovery gear to give them a pull? If it's a "regular" car, where do you attach your tow strap / recovery rope to minimize damage to their car?

Now, the second question, largely aimed at @Metalcloak / @Metalcloak Jon related to the previous question... Is the Metalcloak Front Bumper Winch Guard strong enough / solid enough to be used as a push bar to give a vehicle a push, or would it more likely crush and get damaged?

I have the owner of the other vehicle hook up the tow strap, that way the consequences aren’t on me. I obviously advise as much as possible on how to do so.

I dragged a Subaru out of playa muck in the Alvord desert this summer, lady didn’t even know about the tow eye in the tool kit until I showed her where to find it. I think she’ll be more realistic about the capabilities of symmetrical AWD in the future.

 

[agoldxj]

I did once, back when I had my JKU on 38s. Young kid passed me in a Subaru with only a few inches on the road. I just thought idiot and proceeded on my way, about 5 minutes later I saw headlights to my right up ahead. You guessed it, he spun it into a small ditch being a dumbass. I stopped and he asked for help, I laughed and said sure but since you endangered my life 100 bucks to hook up the winch line. He accepted and it worked out well since he had one of the those giant anodized tow hooks.

I kinda felt bad but since he was driving like a ahole not caring about anyone else I figured if he didn’t have any money, he could sit there and think about it.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I'll offer help to anyone. If they don't accept, want to dictate how I'm going to help, or are otherwise being dicks then I'm out. Pulled a minivan stuck on an orchard road out in a rain storm and then drove it out for the girl that was obviously terrified. Plugged and aired up a flat for a guy and his mom in his tacoma after he had already shredded one tire. Followed them 20 miles to pavement just to make sure they got out OK. Helped a couple out of their rolled tundra with bumper pull toy hauler blocking both lanes of I-10. Winched the truck back on the wheels and helped them clear the road before first responders even arrived. All offered money and got the same answer. Wheelers just help each other when they can because we've all been there.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I’ll throw the recovery stuff in the bed in a few weeks when we start getting dusted with snow. Never fails I’ll pass 3-4 cars on the way down the hill that slid off the road. I’ll help if I’m not on the way to school with the kids. They’re the priority. Not the idgit in the ditch because he couldn’t keep his speed down in fog, snow and ice.

 

[Gvsukids]

I have the owner of the other vehicle hook up the tow strap,

Not a kinetic rope? Hopefully it's a static pull.

 

[Rusty PW]

Over the years. I've helped a few people. Some really appreciated it. Offering money and beer. A couple, not even a thank you. It is what it is.

 

[pcrawfordpt]

Recovery is not as simple as it seems. There are risks of damage to either vehicle and injury to yourself and others. Our club recommends you video consent and waiver to damage with your phone when you help recover a stranger. Sad, but today’s reality. We had a local off roader die last year trying to help someone get unstuck during a snow storm. There are recovery classes you can take, usually with your local club, that will give you more basic knowledge. Best to have some skills and the right equipment.

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