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Trucks Of The Month
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TAILGATE
TALK BY Ryan Costello
For
how "rough and tumble" off-roading is, safety comes up a
surprising amount. People will harp about what to bring with you to keep
you safe, that scary steering setup that will make a truck a deathtrap,
how to drive your truck safely, and even how to get it out safely when
you get stuck. But like most messages dealing with safety and courtesy,
it still gets lost somehow. People get excited before the trail ride and
forget to pack a bit of extra food, or you're too busy getting the truck
set up just the right way and forget to put a fire extinguisher inside.
Sure, these are pretty small mistakes compared to others you can make
before you set out on a wheelin' trip, but they could cost you or
someone else with you much more in the long run. Safety checks should be
a part of your preparation before you head out though.
In the least you should have:
-Fire
extinguisher
-Spare tire (if you cannot afford to have a full size spare, why did you
buy such big tires?)
-CB radio
-First aid kit
-Flashlight (if you ever wheel at night, this is the most critical piece
of equipment you can have probably)
-SECURE tow points front and rear
-Tow strap with loops - no hooks!
Off
and on for the past three years I have worked in industrial safety, and
have heard about every possible excuse for not doing a job safely, and
have even been screamed at for calling people on their mistakes, but one
thing wont change - if you're doing something the unsafe way, you're
doing it the wrong way. You put other people at risk when your tow
points aren't secure. That SAS might be sweet, but if that track bar
mount is a ghetto rig, and you're steering breaks up at the wrong time,
getting home late will be the least of your worries.
 Money
seems to be the biggest excuse for violating equipment rules, which of
course happens a few hours into a run either knee deep in mud or in a
giant pond, but for basic equipment that excuse has never worked very
well for me. Basically anything on that list could be had for $25 or
less if you keep an eye open for deals. Sometimes you may have to spend
a bit more on a spare tire or a good tow strap, but again, this isn't
exactly like buying your lift all over again. For less than $100 you
could easily have all of the required equipment for a trail ride. With
some planning and the decision to drink Pabst instead of Bud, you could
have all of this stuff quickly without breaking the bank. If you're
prepared to ride the trail, that will make the whole run go that much
more smoothly because the group won't have to stop and try to think of a
"creative" solution to your problem.
Once you're on the trail (with the right equipment and a trail-worthy
truck) keep in mind a few other things to keep the experience enjoyable
for everyone. My biggest worry when I'm riding a trail is when I think
someone is following me too closely, especially on a hill climb or other
type of uphill obstacle. I've slid down the entire length of a
hill climb before after losing traction, especially when there's a layer
of loose rocks and dirt on the surface. If you happen to be ascending
the same obstacle at the same time, a collision is inevitable. Giving
people space to maneuver is just as important on the trail as it is on
the street, if not more so. Generally, I try to follow a "one truck
on a serious obstacle at a time" rule, assuming the obstacle is
something like a short hill climb or a set of rocks to go over. Overall,
give the person in front of you some space so that if something happens,
you won't be right in the way.
On the flip side of that, don't get so far ahead or behind the truck in
front of you that you completely lose contact. Momentarily losing sight
of another vehicle isn't necessarily a problem, but if you've completely
lost touch with the vehicles around you a small problem can become a big
problem very quickly. In general, if I lose sight of the vehicle behind
me, I will slow down a bit to make sure that person isn't suck or broken
or flipped over upside down in a ditch.
Inevitably someone will get stuck, regardless of how well built the
truck is or how experienced the driver is. There is no shame in this
(unless you're still in the parking lot), but when I get stuck I usually
try and do a few things to help it go a bit smoother. First, let people
know you're not going anywhere. Don't let them get too far down the
trail where they can't get back in touch with you. Second, if you're
stuck in the mud or water where nobody else wants to go, don't make
them. Suck it up and get yourself muddy to get that tow strap on your
truck somewhere. There's no need to be too dainty about it either.
Everyone wants to get moving ASAP and there's nothing more frustrating
than watching someone tiptoe around the mud for 45 minutes so he doesn't
get his loafers dirty. This is why bringing a spare pair of socks and
shoes are worth their weight in gold on the trail. Finally, don't do
anything dumb when you're pulling on another truck. There is a
tremendous amount of power in a tow strap. Put a blanket or towel on the
strap (though I sometimes wonder if it would make a difference if it
actually did break). Never step over a tensioned strap. Give the forces
involved in pulling a 4,000 lb truck out of the mud the respect it
deserves and you will be ten times safer on a trail. When you use a
winch, the process is even more dangerous.
Basically, don't be afraid to try new things on a trail. If you come
prepared and get stuck, nobody will hold it against you. You will learn
a lot about what you're capable of, what your truck is capable of, and
how amazing and helpful people that you just met can be. If you show up
with a barely functional truck woefully unprepared for a trail ride,
don't be surprised if someone hits you with a radius arm. ~TRS
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