Stuck in no man's land-what to have and what to do.

[Engel]

Lots of us overland alone. That's not a problem, if you are prepared!

I have yet to go on a trip where at some stage have to use my equipment to either repair or recover a ill equipped fellow holiday maker.

Now not everyone has the knowledge to deal with situations like these, that are mostly preventable by proper trip planning and sufficient equipment. Taking all the necessary provisions with you, be aware of the overloading monster. So that is where you have to evaluate and re-evaluate all the stuff you take with.

Like we have had again today there are certain priorities. My recovery gear have priority above beer. Sorry bad example, but you get it!

I have 3 golden rules
1]Do not drive where you are not 100% sure you can get through
2]Always have water and food that can sustain you for 5 days,
3]Have a proper maintained vehicle, emergency spares, equipment and communications.

Let's elaborate on the above and what they mean.
Make sure you can drive the road
*Do make sure you can cross water. If you are not sure, walk it. If too dangerous to walk, dont drive it. Petrol vehicles easily cut out in water crossings.
*Mud is dangerous. Wet tracks easily turn into mud. Stay away. If you don't have MT tyres be even more carefull
*Deflate in sand
*Do not be fooled by well driven routes. Most are from the operators. They know the roads and are usually equipped to deal with deep crossings.
*Turn around, go back, somewhere there will be a route safe enough to take.

Be prepared
You just don't know when the next vehicle will pass. You might get stuck or break down. So I like to have enough rations with me. So its 2l water pppd and food, mostly tinned to sustain me for 5 days and whoever is with me. You don't need much. There will be plenty wood to burn. Eat early and wait for help. STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. Much easier to spot a shiny white vehicle from a scouting plane.
You have lots of protection in a vehicle. It will help against predators, snakes, creepy crawlies and so on. Now your vehicle have some great equipment you can use.
*use your mirror [break it off] to signal planes.
*burn greens or your rubber mats for nice black smoke. Remember to first clear a safe area for this and not set the whole park alight [incl your vehicle].

Maintenance and emergency equipment
*Service your vehicle properly. Replace or service all fan belts, fluids, regulators, car batteries, Filters, radiator pipes.
*Take emergency equipment like spare fuses, fuel filters, globes,
*Your tires will probably be the most likely to give you problems. So a compressor, tire repair kit, spare valves etc must always be in your emergency box
*I like a winch and for self drive adventures even more. Proper recovery equipment will almost always get you out...
*Know your routes. Plan your routes. Know exactly how your gps works.
*ICE. In Case of Emergency-Have communication. Not negotiable. Have planned communications times, giving your position and your intended route, and stick to it. That will be the first point where a rescue mission starts

My recovery gear
For various reasons I have lots of those.
Winch. A working winch. Inspect your cable/ rope and replace if necessary. Spray your terminals on the solenoids [open the plastic box yes] and protect them. The winch will stop working at any time if corroded.
A tree protector also works well as a bridal, and the winch extension strap doubles as a towrope or a kinetic rope extension. Waterways are wide and trees usually do not grow inside streams and rivers.
Sand ladders, I have a set of alu ladders that can be used as in various applications like winch anchors, bridges etc.
Hi lift jack with winch chains as it has plenty uses.
Exhaust jack. Very very important. Lifts in mud and sand where conventional jacks do not work. I only use takla as the quality is good on a critical part.
Good strong rope. Lots of it. Its a washing line, winch extension, tie down material....you name it
Then a Pofadder.

Tools and spares
A tool is only as good as the spanner operator. If you have 5 thumbs on each hand....sorry. Really.
I stick almost everything here on the list in a ammobox. I wrap tools in mutton cloth bundels as I pack them. Small space to give up in an emergency.
In no order of priority, Welding rods [20] and only the shade 10 glass of a welding helmet.
Jumpers. Decent stuff, also acts as your welding leads.
Spanners , screwdrivers, pliers, vice grip, hacksaw, hammer.
I always have a Drill, bits and grinder. So I use the makita 18v Baby grinder and drill. If you have a 2000w inverter then electric tools will be good enough.
Electrical: Fuses, wire, ferrules, insulation tape, Spare regulator and brushes, headlight bulb
Lubrication: Copperslip, Q 20 Wheel bearing grease, engine oil [lots if you have a Landrover] raidiator leak, all in small amounts
Fasteners: HT bolts and nut selection. 2 x12mm and 10mm HT threaded rods. Some automotive bolts and nuts [fine thread] that fits anywhere.
Fire extinguisher, you have plenty stuff just waiting to burn, electrical, grass around the exhaust, gas etc.
Duct tape, Silicon, pratley glue, Pratley Putty, superglue. Silicon works great as a gasket material.

Communication
Satellite phones.The be all and end all if you travel solo.You can rent them. Tuff Stuff also have them for their customers at a very reasonable price.
Keep your phone charged. Make sure you have enough air time, and know the codes and pin numbers!!!
Test it every now and then. Know how to sms gps coordinates.
Keep contact with someone at home every 3rd day at least on where you are and where you are going to.
Save your emergency numbers on the phone and let everyone know you have a sat phone, should you be out of action.


ICE. Emergency, what now
The pawpaw has hit the fan. You have cut your sidewall going through a water crossing. Water starting to get inside your vehicle. What now?
In emergencies quick thinking is good......but if not life threatening, stand back, assess the situation, communicate your plan and start working your plan.
At this stage have someone be responsible for safety, mostly wildlife.
For this reason [water] I have learned not to stick electronics, inverters, cameras, phones etc under the seats. Water indigestion happens quickly.
In this situation, the best will be to get to high ground. Its a bad idea to change wheels in mud and water. Trust me.
Sometimes the route back will be best. But this is where the trouble start, With a winch in front, no close trees, backwards winching will be difficult, if not impossible.
Assuming the vehicle is stuck now use assisted winching. IOW idle out while you winch. If no winch, jacking the wheels up and filling the holes might be a good starting point. Do not get irritated if the process is slow, will not help you at all.



How to use your gps, set up and Format

[i can do it or anyone else want to tackle this topic?]


.....more coming.

Please post other topics relevant so we can stick it all on this one page.

[GasHog]

ScribD

[Chris Stoffel]

I do not understand why people would go alone into some god forsaken places, is this not the first rule, to not do it alone?

There is no 100% certainty that you can get through. One might be 100% certain but only a fool is 100% certain?

[Tony Weaver]

Rule number one: Rather drive an extra 100km than do a dodgy water crossing.
Rule number two: Weight is the enemy - reduce, reduce, reduce. Leave the fridge behind.
Rule number three: Reduce tyre pressure, carry a compressor and a snot plug kit.

[Tony Weaver]

I do not understand why people would go alone into some god forsaken places, is this not the first rule, to not do it alone?

No. Wrong. I go alone into "godforsaken places" all the time. No rule there, unless you don't understand the rules.

[Todd]

I do not understand why people would go alone into some god forsaken places, is this not the first rule, to not do it alone?

I thought that was the whole point of 4x4'ing and overlanding. Just because no one else has been there doesn't make it reckless or dangerous.

Todd
D4 V8 HSE
Metalian Midi

[Papsak]

No. Wrong. I go alone into "godforsaken places" all the time. No rule there, unless you don't understand the rules.

Just wanted to say the same.

I like traveling alone with SWAMBO.

[Engel]

Rule number one: Rather drive an extra 100km than do a dodgy water crossing.
.

Last year about this time on the way to third bridge I turned around and looked for other routes as the ones the gps gave me were flooded. Could not take that chance with a caravan behind me. Easy way to screw up a holiday

[Kalahari Safari]

I do not understand why people would go alone into some god forsaken places, is this not the first rule, to not do it alone?

There is no 100% certainty that you can get through. One might be 100% certain but only a fool is 100% certain?

I'm afraid there is no such rule as your first rule.
If I am traveling alone I follow strictly what Tony says, rather be safe than sorry.
If I have a second vehicle as a back-up I take more risks as we can recover when the situation requires.

And with the mistakes and recovery comes the experience and you learn, brings me to your second rule which I can contest.

Only a fool makes the same mistakes twice, an adventurer makes new ones every time.

[0000ms]

Tools
A tool is only as good as the spanner operator. If you have 5 thumbs on each hand....sorry. Really
In no order of priority, Welding rods [20] and only the shade 10 glass of a welding helmet.
Jumpers. Decent stuff, also acts as your welding leads.
Spanners , screwdrivers, pliers, vice grip

To add to your list I always carry a baby grinder (with various discs) and a small 700w drill. Have found they have come in very handy on a few occasions

[Kiri]

I also prefer to travel by myself or rather one vehicle. The "wrong" travel companion, is the worse accessory you can have...

I'm not the biggest trip planner either, sort of make it up as I/we go. But for that approach you require being well prepared in general terms.

Have recovery gear and KNOW how to use it....

Like Tony said: vehicle weight and tyre pressure.

Also drive to the track conditions, rather a bit slower when you're by yourself.

[Engel]

To add to your list I always carry a baby grinder (with various discs) and a small 700w drill. Have found they have come in very handy on a few occasions

Jip, still busy compiling. I keep a makita 18v grinder and drill with 12v charger . The joke is how many times I have had to use it. Good point.

[Sebastiaan]

Winch. A working winch. Inspect your cable/ rope and replace if necessary. Spray your terminals on the solenoids [open the plastic box yes] and protect them. The winch will stop working at any time if corroded.

Is silicone spray sufficient, and how often do you clean and spray them in general (if one tries to avoid water crossings like the plague). What protection product is recommended if not silicone spray

[Engel]

You need to keep the oxidation away. Cheap winches have cheap coatings. So the moment you live at the coast, the oxidise much quicker. I got a battery terminal protection spray that I use on all battery types. Even a regular squirt of Q20 works. But wont last.

[JohanMaree]

Moresê

Reg!

[Jaco_Dup]

Well written and food for thought.

[Patrick L]

Is silicone spray sufficient, and how often do you clean and spray them in general (if one tries to avoid water crossings like the plague). What protection product is recommended if not silicone spray

Good old reliable messy blob of grease!


As for venturing into 'god-forsaken remote places'-well, that's half the thrill of it all-isn't it?-the bit of risk there is that one may get stuck for a while!

Just always be sure to have at least a week of life-sustaining food and water available-after that week or two one is probably meant not to be found!

[SarelF]

Dont forget proper fire extinguisers.The small 1kg models are useless if your car catch fire.

[Chris Stoffel]

I do not understand why people would go alone into some god forsaken places, is this not the first rule, to not do it alone?

There is no 100% certainty that you can get through. One might be 100% certain but only a fool is 100% certain?

People, please don't understand me wrong, I just thought that there is safety in numbers!

[JohanMaree]

Rule number two: . Leave the fridge behind.
.

Ag nee jislaaik Tony.
Moet mens nou vir 24h warm bier drink terwyl jy wag vir 'n ander ou se hulp.
Die lewe is wreed genoeg, man.