Triangle Road, Richmond..Me In a ditch..

[scottmb23]

:oops:

Well Ladies and Gentleman, do not under estimate Triangle Road...Had quite a nice little Saturday jaunt with the kid in the back, even got the Disco up the big hill without the CDL and got the truck nice and dirty splashing
around the puddles. But wouldn't you know it, one victory lap later (as we are leaving) the dyke gives way about 150ft from the exit to the roadway and the Disco is sunk and listing horribly to the reeds and pond below..

Here is how we started, doesn't look to bad right? Almost like you can just back out..maybe if I had that damn CDL working...The 4Runner that came to help didnt have the power and the truck fell deeper into the ditch..

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1910.jpg

At this point, the young driver of the 4Runner, sorry, forget your name and thank-you so much for helping, called his Dad, none other than Matt of Kakadu camping, a fellow Rover Lander no less (what are the chances) who
hopped in his lovely 110 and headed for Triangle Road to help, love this community! Unfortunately, various tow out attempts seemed to further bury the Disco and left it a literal tipping point.

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1911.jpg

A last resort call to BCAA had them send a tow-truck who dutifully told me I was hooped and good luck. A follow up call to another company had a more eager fellow come out to lend a hand (or take a photo for Facebook) and
after some inspection decided he might give it a go in his bosses new rig...however he got stuck...and had to be towed out.

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1926.jpg

There Ladies and Gentleman is where this tale ends, I left my Disco in the ditch which is where she sits right now. I trust she will be respected by the brotherhood in the extended offroad community but I would be lying if I didn't
have concerns about leaving her there overnight. Right now and I am fresh out of options as to how to get out of the ditch, dont let the pictures deceive you, its quite the predicament, this thing is ready to roll. Its going to take a
team to move it...open to ideas, winches and possibly cranes.. :blackeye:

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1921.jpg

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1923.jpg

[Arcades]

What happened when the 110 tried to pull you out? Did he have lockers?

I may be able to make an attempt tomorrow early AM.

[scottmb23]

I mostly sank and tipped further to the right (reeds/pond and a 2ft drop which will likely roll the truck) and we didn't move back much. We tried to tow forward next and at that point we did move but banked the entire front-end in the sand and didn't move up the slope. The sand
is very loose and the whole situation is made worse by the angle of the truck and what is below. I don't believe Matt's truck has lockers, its a hefty diesel but the sand and approach made it a difficult task..hope the weather holds out, rain may decide the fate of this truck..

[Arcades]

Was he pulling you or mostly spinning out I.e. was he getting any traction? Air down his tires? I'm assuming you weren't getting any traction on your end?

Are you up for another try?

Did he try a winch out?

Sounds like you could use some sand ladders... Anyone have a set we could borrow?

[scottmb23]

I'm up for anything that might get me out of the ditch, but I'm sleeping on it tonight, speak in the AM?

[Arcades]

I'm up pretty early with my kids and have a brunch date in stevston at 11... Give me a call when you are up...

[franko]

You need a couple winch trucks, one to pull it from the back and one to pull/hold it from the side to stop it from sliding in more. Winching is you best bet I would think. That or a crane,good luck :-)

[Arcades]

Yah franko is probably right...I was thinking the same thing after my last post last night...

[scottmb23]

So, putting an official call out to all local winchers, need your help!

[scottmb23]

I would like to start by saying a massive thank-you to all that got in touch to help me out of this mess, a number of you got in touch to see how you could help and it is really appreciated.

Woke up to a couple of options but wasn't going to head out for part.2 until I was sure it would be worth it, by all accounts we needed Two winchers and I could only muster One. So, we decided
to give it a go anyway, calling on Matt of Kakadu camping again for his support (thanks Matt!). I was too meet Matt and Chris Olson (brother of another Roverlander) at the site and Chris was going
to use his Jeep to winch me out, I wasn't hopeful but willing to give it a shot. On arrival, I was greeted by the biggest freaking army truck I have ever seen, not sure what it was, not a Unimog but
something German, amazing! He had seen the story re-linked on another 4x4 site and lived nearby so came by to join the effort, how good is that!?

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1928.jpg

I didn't want to be stood around taking photos as other people dealt with my truck so you'll have to forgive the lack of action photos...I know, thats what you all want to see (maybe someone has
them) but we did it! Im out. The Jeep used it's winch to keep a tight tug on my middle cross beam to stop me rolling and the Troop carrier tugged from the receiver hitch while I slammed it into
Reverse (with a little too much gas...I was anxious to get out). Lifted up and out, first try with no damage other than my rear mud-flap which came off and my rear right spring which had come
away from the tower.

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1930.jpg

A massive thanks to this motley crew of people and vehicles, so grateful.

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1932.jpg

And here is the offending ditch, watch yourselves in there next time, its a doozy and I dont envy the next person that ends up in there.

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1934.jpg

Took the ol'girl for a well deserved soak after:

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1937.jpg

Back home, somewhat unscathed and in the driveway, like it never happened. Thanks Roverlanders and random strangers! Faith in humanity restored.

http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/IMG_1939.jpg

[franko]

I reposted this earlier this morning.
http://www.crawlinbc.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36049
Glad I could help you get your disco unstuck,amazing what social media can do.

[Greg S]

Having a few miles of winching experience, I can tell you that the easiest and surest method to get out of a ditch is to go sideways, not forward or backward. The jeep winch holding some sideways torque did more than you might think.

[ANDYD]

Hey Scot, we are just back from our Oregon trip and catching up on the website news....
Very good news that you were able to get her out of there. I remember crossing that point a few times at our Club gathering up there a couple of weeks ago and thinking how narrow that sand shelf was!
Nice to see the guys coming out to help (gotta love that big army truck!). There is no worse feeling than being stuck sideways on a loose hill like that!
Cheers,
Andy

[Crs]

Just logged back in after the Portland ABFM and was wondering if you still needed help. I'm glad you got it out (mostly) unscathed. :D

[Crayfish]

I am going to show my wife this post....all the more reason for me together a winch for the TD5 Defender...

[scottmb23]

Hey Scot, we are just back from our Oregon trip and catching up on the website news....
Very good news that you were able to get her out of there. I remember crossing that point a few times at our Club gathering up there a couple of weeks ago and thinking how narrow that sand shelf was!
Nice to see the guys coming out to help (gotta love that big army truck!). There is no worse feeling than being stuck sideways on a loose hill like that!
Cheers,
Andy

Thanks Andy, yeah was a bit shorthanded with no winch of my own and I haven't gotten around to unsticking the CDL in my truck yet (Anyone here done this on a Disco? Would like to get it done ahead
of Ochi Basin if you have any tips). That sand bar is a lot worse now, feel for the next poor soul that ends up down there, still the big 'Deuce' that pulled me out is a local fella, sure he'd be happy to help, it would
be great to see that thing in action again, great truck, so was the Willys Jeep.

Thanks again to all the rover landers who helped get the word out and helped pitch in. Cheers!

[Crs]

Yep, you rarely need a winch, BUT when you do need one, you REALLY need one!

[scottmb23]

Couple of action shots, care of Matt from http://www.kakaducamping.com

Preparing the straps and winch lines for the big pull.
http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scott/photo%204.jpg

The big Deuce getting ready.
http://wickwinder.com/images/staff/scot ... %202-1.jpg

:blackeye:

[BOlson]

cross post

youtube vids of the festivities


I hate to spoil the surprise but he got out no problem......... took a fairly big truck to do the job though.... and a built Diesel Willys too

part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4

[scottmb23]

Ha, suffered from a bit of a case of 'Lead Foot' in my excitement to get out of the hole! :oops: