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Open Roads Forum  >  Public Lands, Boondocking and Dry Camping

 > Boondocking-ever get stuck/broke down in a isolated spot ?

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lesmore49

canada

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Posted: 08/13/08 09:31pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Boondocking...ever get your vehicle stuck or broke down in an isolated spot...alone, with no one else close?

Did you have to use creative ways to get going again?

Any hints, which might help others ? Any equipment, types of shovel, traction aids, etc., you carry to get you going again


lesmore49

2oldman

WA

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Posted: 08/13/08 10:07pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

The worst thing that ever happened to me was near the Great Salt Lake. I pulled off on what I thought was a hard shoulder which turned out to be mud. I was stuck to my axles and no way to get out. Fortunately some good samaritans (young Mexicans) came along with truck and finally got me out. I was very grateful as my cell phone coverage was spotty and I would have waited a long time for a tow truck.

Anyway, shovels are a very good idea to always have with you. Deep gravel can really mess you up. And a cell phone and ERS are life-savers too.

skipnchar

Topeka Kansas USA

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Posted: 08/13/08 10:13pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Closest I ever came was back on a NFS road and it turned into a mud hole and we had to stay an extra day. It was a great place so it wasn't the WORST thing that could happen to stay another day


2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
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RE_Todd

Lemoore, CA, USA

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Posted: 08/13/08 10:57pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

My old 97 F250 wouldn't start one day on a dry lake bed in Southern California. After about a half hour of messing with it, I got it to start and got out of there. The next weekend I had my 06 F350, especially after spending a grand to not fix the 97


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Rvndave

Medina, Ohio

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Posted: 08/14/08 02:37am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Had a water pump go once while on vacation. I usually carry a set of tools, called NAPA they delivered the pump and I changed it right there. Took one month to locate, wheel an deal the new TV in signature. I keep vehicles until no longer reliable, the clutch slave cylinder went the day before leaving on that trip. I considered 2 breakdowns in less than a month as unreliable. After 213,000 miles I felt it was time for a new truck.


2003 Jayco 308fbs eagle 33' tt, towed by a 2003 Ram 3500 slt, quad cab dually, cummins diesel ho, trailer towing package, with 6 speed manual. Hauls better 1/2, 3 kids, myself, and a 2003 ez go clays car.. I have added so far, neon lights, clearance lights, back up lights, black light, lift kit, mud tires, and everything necessary to make the golf cart street legal. It's now ready to spend the winter in the garage for more mods. More neon, strobe lights, alarm, a pa system, maintance, and whatever else that comes along. This golf cart does wheelies and travels thru 7 inches of mud when need be. Two honda eu2000i gens twinned to supply the electrical power. Latest addition an 04 Honda Goldwing. [url]http://www.hometown.aol.com/rvnagain/myhomepage/profile.html[url]

profdant139

Southern California

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Posted: 08/14/08 02:47am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Haven't quite gotten stuck yet, but close. Along with a shovel and a pry bar, we carry carpet scraps to use for extra traction in sandy soil. I have a compressor so I can air down the tires when needed (and air up again).

Most of my "almost stuck" problems have been the result of getting into very tight spaces when boondocking -- getting almost jammed between trees. I have learned that although my rig is small, it is not as small as I think it is.





garyhaupt

Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37

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Posted: 08/14/08 07:55am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I get the tummy aches at times...going into an unknown location. I DO think about stuff that 'might' happen. The worst is that I might have a long walk out. I carry a back-up battery starter pack and of course tools/shovel. Kinda like taking the umbrella so it doesn't rain. I don't consider being stuck or having to back up for miles anything more than a price to be paid on occasion. It's the mechanical sh*t I worry about.


Gary Haupt

cewillis

Tucson, az, usa

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Posted: 08/14/08 09:26am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I been stuck twice - I wasn't exactly boondocking at the time, but they were isolated (in one case, TOTALLY isolated). The first time, I was driving over a California mountain pass on what I thought was packed snow on the road, but really was crusted ice over about a foot of snow. (did I mention that this road was 'technically' closed about 20 miles back?) When I broke through the ice, it looked like I would be there until spring. But I dug out the tires with my pitching wedge, jammed some brush and logs under the wheels, and managed to back out a few hours later.
The 2nd time, I was returning from 3 days boondocking on the Denali highway. I pulled off for a picture, and the left side of the truck sank in mud up to the axles. Another TC driver came by and pulled me out after a while.

jhufft

CALIFORNIA

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Posted: 08/17/08 09:56pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

take a tow strap with you in case you sink and a winch power or manual will work I do some off roading on occasion and out in the back country the tools come in handy

T_Bone

Arizona

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Posted: 08/18/08 12:27am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Back when I had my Dodge power wagon and 28ft TT, we were camped at 9500ft one summer and I got sick for a month. During that month the monsoon season started where it rained for 4hrs every day. I never gave it a thought.

Well after a month of being sick, I figure I better head for home and see a Doctor. On one of my good days, I hitched the trailer up and got ready too roll and slid off the trailer blocks where the trailer axles quickly sat on top of the mud high centered. It rained again for 4hrs.

I unhitched the trailer and after a hour or so I got my 4wd back up on the rock road and slid on tire chains on all four, then went back to rehitch the TT. Well I bumped the trailer thru the mud, about 5ft or so, until I just about had my chained up 4wd stuck. That was on the 2nd day of leaving and rained again for 4hrs.

I head for my chain box for more tools on the 3rd day. I rigged 60ft of 3/8" chain to a 4-ton come-a-long with a single rigged snatch block. I threw a soft choker around the largest tree stump I could find and began winching both truck and TT. After two hours and 10ft of movement, I'm done for the day and watch it rain for 4hrs.

On the 4th day I was getting really bad again and had to rest all day. I did get too watch it rain again!

On the 5th day, I winched another 2hrs and 5ft and finally had the 4wd tires on solid ground, or as solid as it was going to get. I'm done for the day. No rain at all today.

On the 6th day, I get all the winch rigging busted off and out of the way and I'm ready to try for the rocky road again. I had to jocky the TT around two trees but were finally on the rocky road. Gee's what a good feeling that was. I'm done for the day as I'm starting to get really sick again. I look upto GOD and said, "what no rain again today". Well he needed to water the forest again for 6hrs latter that day.

On the 7th day, I didn't ask GOD no stupid questions and I managed to pick up my winch rigging and move the rig down the road about 100yrds and spend another 5days at temporary camp resting up. Yep you guessed it, it rained every day for 5days straight.

On 13th day, the sun came out and we head for the paved NF road. I spend another couple hours at the gate taking off the tire chains and we headed for home






T_Bone
02 F350, 4x6, Crew, DRW, PSD, 6spd, 3:73, LWB
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Please do not trust everything you read on the internet. Use only valid engineering information from well established Companys.
Buy UNION Work UNION
It pays off in the long run

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